Rapa Nui is the most isolated island in the world. In 1772, Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutchman, discovered the island on Easter Sunday, hence the name Easter Island. In 1888, Chilean Navy Captain Policarpo Toro declared the island part of the Chilean territory. Between 1895 and 1953, Easter Island was leased to a Scottish company as a sheep farm. In 1935, it was declared a Chilean National Park and acquired historical monument status, however, regular archaeological research and monument restoration activities were only undertaken in the mid 1950′s, which boosted the pride of the Rapa Nui people.
Day 1:
Flight from Santiago to Easter Island. Transfer to hotel.
Evening Folkloric Dinner Show
A wonderful introduction to Easter Island culture. This evening activity exhibits the island’s colorful traditions through music, dance, stories, typical cuisine, and a cast of local artists who recreate the atmosphere of the “Tupuna” or mythical ancestors of the Moai (stone statute) era. The buffet dinner is offered in the Te Ra’ai Lounge. The food begins to be prepared early in the day, including chicken, pork ribs, sausages, and fish, along with seasonal vegetables such as yams, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and potatoes. All these are cooked underground on the heat of volcanic stones for a period of approximately two hours.
Day 2:
The “Hotu Matu’a” Route
This full-day private tour explores the southeast and northeast coasts of the Island. The first stop is to visit Ahu Akahanga, also called “Platform of the King”. The legend is that Hotu Matu’a’s tomb is nearby. He is known to be the legendary first settler and ancestor of the Rapa Nui people. Here we can see four Ahu (stone base platforms on which the face statutes are set upon), 12 Moai (stone face statues), 8 Pukao (stone hats that are placed on top of the Moai) and towards the interior it is possible to see the best preserved village of the island.
We continue the tour to the Rano Raraku volcano where most of the statues were carved. Here you can see about 400 Moai in various stages of carving.
A stop will be made to have a traditional island barbecue.
Later, we go to Ahu Tongariki, the biggest Ahu on the island with 15 Moai. We then visit Ahu Te Pito Kura, which has the tallest statue of the island raised on Ahu Moai Paro (10 meters high and 85 tons with a Pukao of 11.5 tons). Next to Ahu Te Pito Kura is a spherical stone identified as the navel of the world Te Pito or Te Henua that, according to legend, was brought to the island by Hotu Matu’a in his ship.
Then, we arrive at Ahu Nau Nau, a complex construction due to its different levels where we find 5 Moai with Pukao and petroglyphs on the backs of the statues.
To finish our adventure, we go to Anakena, a wonderful beach of white sands (with a pinkish hue due to the mixture of coral and hanihani rock) chosen for the arrival of Ariki Hotu Matu’a and his sister, Avareipua. Anakena is the name of a small cave next to the beach.
On the way back to Hanga Roa, we make our last stop at the Vaitea farm.
Day 3:
The “Birdman” Journey
This half-day tour begins at 9:30 a.m. with a visit to Tahai’s Archaeological Complex, an ancient ceremonial center with three Ahu: Ahu Vai Uri with five Moai, Ahu Tahai with one Moai and Ahu Ko Te Riku with one Moai. From this site you can see wonderful island landscapes.
On the way to Rano Kau volcano, we will visit Ana Kai Tangata or “The Cave of the Cannibals”, one of the most interesting and accessible caves on the island where you can still appreciate rock art.
The tour then goes to Orongo’s Ceremonial Village, an ancient village located on the western cliff of the Rano Kau volcano. There are approximately 53 elliptically-shaped houses with a small square access looking to the sea. This was the most important ceremonial place of the second period of the island, the Tangata Manu (“The Birdman Era”) which ended about 150 years ago upon arrival of the first Christian missionaries.
The “Seven Explorers” Tour
We begin the tour at 3:00 pm from Hanga Roa and first visit Ahu Vinapu, a ceremonial center with three Ahu used by the islanders in the year 1200. The first has six Moai painted in red color; the second one is supposedly a female Moai, which had two heads and the third, the most ancient Moai on the island.
We will continue our way to the Puna Pau quarry, an archaeological site to the east of Hanga Roa. It is a small crater from where the Pukao which crowned the Moai were made. Along the way, there are some incomplete and abandoned Moai.
We will continue towards Ahu Akivi, the first Ahu scientifically restored in 1960. The platform with 7 Moai is characterized for being one of the few located in the center of the island with its statues facing the rising sun. According to legend, these Moai would represent the seven young explorers sent to investigate the island before Hotu Matu’a’s arrival.
Our adventure ends at Ahu Huri a Urenga Moai.
Day 4:
Option A: Horseback Riding
This ride leads to the highest point of the island where you can see the horizon at 360°.
Leaving the village, we ride through Ahu Akivi and climb the path to Rano Aroi crater to reach the highest point in Terevaka.
- Departures: 9:30 and 14:30 hrs.
- Approx. time: 4 hours.
Option B: Rapa Nui From The Sea: Boat Trip & Snorkling
To watch the landscape, geography and volcanos of Rapa Nui from the sea is one of the most amazing activities offered on the island. The best way to do it is by taking a boat tour in Hanga Roa Bay. The tour includes the Mataveri caves, the cliffs of Rano Kao to reach the Motu: small islands where a vast number of birds nest.
Next to Motu Nui, where the waves are less strong, snorkeling is possible wearing only a wet suit, fins and a mask to witness the beautiful underwater cliffs in some of the clearest waters in the world. On good days, visibility underwater reaches 60 meters. An unforgettable experience!
Option C: Cavern Trekking
We will start our hike from the Hanga Kio’e sector along the northwestern coast of Rapa Nui.
We will visit the caves of Ana Kakenga (the two windows), Ana Te Pora, Ahu Tepeu and Ana Te Pahu (a cave with natural plantations inside).
Option D: Hanga Roa City Tour
Departing from your hotel, we begin the tour through the town of Hanga Roa. We will visit the fishing dock, Ahu Riata, the craft market, and historic Catholic Church to finish at the Father Sebastian Englert Archaeological Museum.
Day 5:
Airport transfer for flight to Santiago.
