Chile Easter Island Tour

Today is the day you set off on your journey to Rapa Nui–Easter Island! Transfer from hotel to airport for your early morning flight. You will be met at Mataveri airport and taken to your hotel. Settle in and get to know your surroundings and rest up for tomorrow’s full day tour.

Prepare for today by bringing:
• comfortable walking shoes (running shoes or trekking shoes)
• water
• sunscreen and bathing suit (in case you want to have a swim in Anakena Beach).

Drive to the south coast and visit representative examples of the original platforms of the iconic Easter Island statues– Ahus Vaihu in the bay of Hanga Te’e, and Akahanga. This is said to be the place where the famous King Hotu Matua was buried. Proceed to Rano Raraku, quarry of almost 900 stone statues, 397 of them still lying or standing at the slopes of the extinct volcano with crater lake.

Then visit Ahu Tongariki (restored with 15 Moais), the most recent and biggest restoration on the island. Drive to the east coast and visit Ahu Te Pito Kura and the “Navel of the World”. Finally, the visit ends up at the beach of Anakena with its restored Ahu Nau Nau and Ature Huke. There you will have the opportunity to enjoy the warm Pacific Ocean.

Return to hotel for overnight.

Prepare for today by bringing:
• comfortable walking shoes (running shoes or trekking shoes)
• water
• sunscreen
Drive to restored Ahu Akivi with 7 Moai (statues), built in the middle of the island. Legend tells us that these Moai are dedicated to the 7 explorers who were sent to Rapa Nui by King Hotu Matua. Proceed to the unrestored Ahu Hanga Poukura. Then visit the topknot-quarry Puna Pau with its red volcanic scoria stone, where all the Pukaos (‘topknots’ on statues, which may have symbolized status) were made. We will also visit the ceremonial site of Tahai with 3 Ahus and restored statues, remains of boathouses, a boat ramp and other features. Here we see the only statue with eyes. (Half Day Tour)

Prepare for today by bringing:
• comfortable walking shoes (running shoes or trekking shoes)
• water
• sunscreen
Drive up the extinct volcano Rano Kau. On the way, appreciate the view over the whole island and see its distinct geological features. The scenic drive leads to an outlook at the crater lake. Afterwards drive to the ceremonial village of Orongo. Centuries ago, the heroes of the birdman competition would swim to Motu Nui, and the winner would collect the first sooty tern egg of the season, fast for a while, swim back with the egg and climb the cliff to Orongo to his waiting patron who would be elevated in status for that year.
For more insights into this culture, you can see spectacular petroglyphs here and enjoy the breathtaking view of the 3 islets: Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao. Drive down again to Ahu Vinapu (not restored) and for some evidence of the influence of pre-Incan architects on Rapa Nui culture. Last stop is Ana Kai Tangata, a sea cave with paintings of boats and of the tern that was once sacred to local people.

We return to the hotel where you can rest up and prepare for your flight tomorrow.

This morning say good-bye to Easter Island, we will transfer you to Mataveri airport for your flight to Santiago. Once in Santiago, you will be transferred to your hotel for overnight.

Today is a full day to explore Santiago at your leisure or choose one of the following excursions (extra charges apply):
Choose a FD activity: (see optional services on the last page)

– Viña & Valparaíso option OR
– Santa Cruz Vineyard at Colchagua Valley