3500 kilometres
east of Chile, far into the Pacific Ocean you will find (Isla de Pascua). Don’t
be alarmed when you don’t see the name Easter Island, the island has many names
including Isla de Pascua (official Spanish name), Rapa Nui and Great Rapa.
This small island
is famous for the 500 year old plus Moai stone statues that are scattered
across the landscape. Many of the giant rock carvings of the Moai stand stall
against the Pacific Ocean, whilst others are high up on the volcanic slopes,
buried to their neck in soil. There is much debate and mystery around the
creation and transportation of the Moai, it is somewhere you need to visit to
appreciate fully.
Though Easter
Island is mostly famed for the Moai statues, there is a lot to see and
do. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rapa Nui National Park covers nearly half
of the island and is the place of concentrated Rapa Nui people and culture and some
of the best preserved Moai statues. Hanga Roa harbour is the best place on the
island to spot sea turtles and the place to be for surfing. Visit one of the
many volcanoes on the island, including Rano Raraku, Poike and the spectacular
Rano Kau; follow the trails to the top of these craters for spectacular views.
Easter
Island Information
There is always
some useful information you need when visiting somewhere so remote:
·
Spanish
and Rapanui are the main languages
·
The
currency is Chilean pesos
·
Credit
cards are accepted but often incur a hefty fee – take plenty of cash
·
The
flight time is 6 hours from Santiago
·
The
time zone is GMT-4, 2 hours behind Santiago
·
The
airport is Mataveri International Airport or Aeropuerto Internacional
Mataveri de Isla de Pascua
Getting to
Easter Island
It isn’t the
easiest place on Earth to reach. In fact, the only viable way of getting to
Easter Island from Santiago is by plane. The flight soon leaves Santiago,
heading west towards the south pacific and you likely won’t see any land until
you suddenly see Easter Island upon landing.
LATAM is the only
airline who flies the route. Although flights are subject to change due to
COVID, there are usually three flights per week. These depart from mainland
Chile in the morning and take just under 6 hours to get to Easter
Island.
Flights to Easter
Island are not cheap, but it is worth the visit. You need to book in advance if
you want to pay less than $500 per person, but if you decide to visit at short
notice, you could pay closer to $1000.
Best time of
year to visit Easter Island
The size of the
island means that when there are crowds, they are noticeable. As it is located
in the Southern Hemisphere, the summer is January to March just like the rest
of South America.
Though January to
March is the summer, temperatures don’t vary massively across the year. It is best
to visit either side of these months, when rainfall is still low,
temperatures are good and the island is quieter. September, October, November,
April and May are good months. If you choose to visit between May and September
you will likely find it to be very damp, grey and wet.
As it is an island
in the middle of the pacific, wind and rain are possible at any time. Always be
prepared by packing a rain and wind-proof coat.
How long to
spend on Easter Island
Considering the
distance from anywhere, you will want to spend at least two days on the island.
This will ensure that you aren’t tired for the duration and that you can enjoy
the island fully. I would recommend four days if you want to get the
most out of Easter Island.
At only 163 square
kilometres, it is a small island, but it is packed with historical and cultural
sights. Around 7000 people call this island home, therefore there are always
places to visit, eat and shop.
Four days on the
island will provide you enough time to see everything, including many of the
Moai scattered across the island, the amazing sunsets and sunrises, the capital
of Hanga Roa and the spectacular volcanoes.
Tangol Tours
on Easter Island
Tangol has a wide
selection of tours available on Easter Island, from those lasting just three
hours to others lasting four days.
For a taste of
everything that Easter Island has to offer, Tangol have a classic Easter Island tour. This tour takes in some of the best
sights that Rapa Nui has to offer, including volcanoes, Ahu Tongariki (preserved
Moai), beaches and historically important sights. The Easter Island adventure package
lets you experience the island in a more adventurous style. Hiking up the
Terevaka volcano, snorkelling the turquoise waters and watching a cultural show
are some of the activites included with this tri.
Both of the four
day trips provide you with plenty of free time for you to explore the
island at leisure, for example, enjoying a fantastic sunset across the south
pacific behind the Ahu Tahai archaeological site. These multi-day tours also
include your accommodation and breakfast, tours and airport transfers, though
flights, national park fees and extras are not included.
Day trips offered
by Tangol include watching the sunrise in Tongariki, a historical and cultural tour or a surfing lesson in the heart of the capital city, along with many others!