3 or 4 Night Easter Island Tours from $US 595

Our Easter Island tours show you the best of Rapa Nui (to give it its original name), a place that has much more in common with Polynesia than Chile and is the most isolated, inhabited place on Earth. Famous for its huge stone heads and buried bodies, it is a fascinating and mystical place.

Remember: We custom design all of our trips to suit you. If you wish to add days to your Easter Island tour, or change schedules, just let us know – we are here to give you exactly what you want! 

The Rapa Nui dances and music are very important Polynesian traditions
The Rapa Nui dances and music are very important Polynesian traditions

Day 1 | Fly to Easter Island from Santiago

You will leave Santiago on the Chilean mainland on a direct flight and, upon arrival at the Mataveri airport on Rapa Nui, you will be met with a traditional Polynesian welcome of flower necklaces. We will meet you and escort you on a short transfer to your hotel in the town of Hanga Roa. Depending on flight schedules you may have the afternoon free to make visits or wander the town itself. You can then spend the rest of the day at your leisure to relax after the flight.

There are some Moai statues near the town’s wharf if you need to get a quick fix in advance of dozens you will see over the next few days. The local arts and crafts markets are a must-see and the local museum, which contains a collection of Rapa Nui artifact reproductions, is also good to visit.

There are many hotel options to make your Easter Island tour very comfortable. From 3-star, mid-range places with bed and breakfast arrangements to high end, luxury lodges offering all-inclusive and open bars. Ask us to advise and we can help you choose according to your budget and travel style.

Day 2 | Full day of Easter Island tours

Today, we will leave Hanga Roa and head along the coast where you will enjoy beautiful views of the black volcanic outcrops and the moody Poike Peninsula. We will visit the archaeological sites in Vaihu, where several moai mark the “Trail of the Traditional Moai”. This site has not been restored and is an example of the results of internal battles on the island when statues were toppled.

We will have lunch en route, or maybe a picnic at the Ranu Raraku quarry. Here we will see where these huge statues were originally made and that many are still littered around unfinished. After some wandering and photo-taking, we will walk up to the spectacular Ranu Raraku volcano for some stunning views.

Picture postcard Moai backdrops everywhere you turn
Gary and Malka with a picture postcard Moai backdrop

The highlight of today is probably the visit to the restored Ahu Tongariki and its 15 moai, the largest worship site on the island. We will have some time here before continuing our drive around the coast road to the idyllic Anakena Beach, where you can take a dip in the inviting Pacific Ocean.

If you wanted more time at this lovely beach another day, no problem. Let us build it in for you. We will then drive back to Hanga Roa for the evening and maybe a Rapa Nui dinner and dance show. 

Day 3 | Further Exploration of Rapa Nui

Today, we will make the short journey to the ceremonial village of Orongo which is perched on the edge of a huge volcanic crater. The site affords great views of three small islands out in the Pacific: Motu Nui, Moto Kau, and Moto Iti and is the site of the strange “Birdman” cult, which will be explained to you during your tour.

The impressive Orongo crater, site of the Birdman cult
The impressive Orongo crater, site of the Birdman cult

After this, we will take you to visit the Ahu Akivi site, which is made up of seven more huge moai statues. No matter how many of these statues you see they all seem to be different, walking among these Moai is for many a spiritual experience, it is definitely one that you will never forget.

There are a number of options to fill your days if you have more time or want to be even more active. Horse riding, trekking, mountain biking, and snorkeling are just some of the things you could do. Of course, you may just want to add a couple of extra days to relax before you go back to work? Some of the hotels are a real treat to just kick back in with a drink in hand.

Day 4 | Back to Santiago and onward?

Today we say farewell to this unique destination as we transfer you to the airport in order to catch a flight to either Santiago de Chile (or Tahiti in the other direction?). You may be visiting Easter Island at the end of a combo tour with us but if not it is easy to connect with tours to other Chile destinations such as Torres del Paine or San Pedro de Atacama are also easy to add. You could also add a wine tour in Chile?