Chile: Easter Island Extension
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Easter Island ©Stephanie Wunsch
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Santiago City Tour ©Stephanie Wunch
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Santiago ©Stephanie Wunsch
One of the most remote places on earth, tiny Easter Island is home to 5000 or so people. Endowed with the most logic-defying statues in the world – the strikingly familiar moai – Easter Island emanates a magnetic, mysterious vibe.
Dates
2017 & 2018 dates available on request
Suggested itinerary by Air
Day 1
Santiago – Easter Island
Upon arrival at the Mataveri airport you are welcomed with the traditional flower necklace. Then a short transfer will take you to your hotel. You will have free time for the rest of the day; visiting the church of the village is strongly recommended. Among the diverse statues you will find traditional Roman Catholic symbols together with indigenous ones. Next to the church you will find the arts market and the local museum. In the museum you can admire reproductions of Rapa Nui artefacts as unfortunately the originals were removed from the island.
Day 2
Easter Island
Today you will learn more about the fascinating history of Rapa Nui. After leaving Hanga Roa, you will drive to the south along the coastal road. You will have views of the Poike and the whole coastline consisting of black volcanic rock. The first stop will be Vaihu. On the way to the next stop you will pass several moais lying along the road indicating the “Camino de los Moais” (trail where Moais were moved). At Ranu Raraku (the quarry where all moais were sculpted) you will have a picnic lunch. You will afterwards start walking up to the Ranu Raraku volcano. You certainly will be impressed by the next highlight – the restored giant Ahu Tongariki and its 15 moais. Continuing on the excursion you will take a small break to visit two beaches. The first is Ovahe, a small bay with a cave and nearly pink-coloured sand. The second is Anakena. The white sandy beach with coconut palm trees invites you to rest in the sand and swim in the warm Pacific water. You will then drive back to Hanga Roa and have the evening at leisure.
Day 3
Easter Island
Near Hanga Roa is the volcano Rano Kau with its ceremonial village Orongo. It is a 30 minute drive up to the volcano. You will be surprised by the perfect round shape of the crater lake. Orongo is the ceremonial centre of the cult to the bird-man “Hombre Pajaro”, which started when the “Short Ears” stopped building moais. Your guide will explain this “new” culture of the island and will show you the petroglyph images of Tanga Manu (bird man), Make Make (the god who created him) and Komari (a fertility symbol). This site displays a view of three small rockeries: Motu Nui, Moto Kau, Moto Iti.
Day 4
Easter Island – Santiago
Enjoy the morning at leisure and transfer to the airport in time to board the flight to Santiago. Arriving in Santiago in the evening, with a private transfer you will be taken to your hotel.
Day 5
Return back to the UK
After breakfast you will be privately transferred from your hotel to the airport to board your flight back to the UK.
