The legendary Easter Island, Rapa Nui, in Chile is truly one of the most magical destinations I have ever been to. Upon arrival at Easter Island’s small Mataveri airport, one is already enchanted by the allure of this small island. The real highlight of the Easter Island sights are and remain, of course, the large stone heads, the Moai, which are located everywhere on the island.
But also the rest of the island is definitely worth a visit. Because here you can expect not only fantastic food, a fascinating culture, incredibly hospitable inhabitants and lots of great attractions, but also picturesque landscapes, paradisiacal beaches and much more.
That’s why in this comprehensive Easter Island Itinerary, we want to take you with us to explore the most beautiful places to visit on Easter Island. In addition, we give you a few helpful info about the island as well as travel and planning tips, so that nothing stands in the way of your dream vacation of a special kind.
What to find out in this post
- 1 Easter Island Facts
- 2 Where is Easter Island located?
- 3 Best time to travel to Easter Island
- 4 How many days on Easter Island?
- 5 Easter Island Travel Cost
- 6 How to get to Easter Island?
- 7 Transport on-site
- 8 Our Easter Island Itinerary – Explore Rapa Nui
- 9 Preparations to your Easter Island Trip
- 10 Day 1 – Arriving on Rapa Nui
- 11 Day 2 – Get to know the history of Easter Island
- 12 Day 3 – The Birdman Cult
- 13 Day 4 Mo’ai
- 14 Day 5 – Relaxed Easter Island Sightseeing
- 15 Day 6 – Discovering the natural beauty of Rapa Nui
- 16 Day 7 – Departure
- 17 FAQ about Easter Island
Easter Island Facts
- Belongs politically to Chile, but geographically to Polynesia
- Is considered the most isolated island in the world
- The island is relatively small with dimensions 13 x 24 km
- is a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site
Where is Easter Island located?
Easter Island is located in the South Pacific, about 3,800 km from the Chilean coast and about 4,500 km from Tahiti. Due to its location, the island geographically belongs to Polynesia. If you look at Easter Island on the world map, you quickly realize how remote it is.
Best time to travel to Easter Island
Generally, October – March are considered the best Easter Island travel season. At this time, the average daytime and water temperature are around 77 °F (25 °C). In general, however, you can visit Easter Island at any time of the year, as temperatures and rainfall do not vary too much. The average lowest daytime and water temperatures are around 68 °F (20 °C).
The most popular time to visit Easter Island is during the traditional Tapati Festival, which takes place in the first half of February each year.
How many days on Easter Island?
Although Easter Island only covers an area of about 162.5 km², you should definitely take enough time to discover this fascinating piece of earth. We recommend you to stay at least 4-7 days on the island to experience all the places worth seeing on Easter Island.
Easter Island Travel Cost
The average traveler spends about 70 – 80 € per day during his trip on Easter Island. Those who travel with a smaller budget as a self-caterer come to about 45 – 50 € per day. As a backpacker (dormitory or camping) you can even get by with about 30 € a day.
How to get to Easter Island?
Due to its remoteness, the only way to reach Easter Island is by a flight of about 5 hours from the Chilean capital, Santiago de Chile. There are also occasional flights to, or from Tahiti. Currently, the airline LATAM, the only one that flies to the remote island.
It is therefore worth booking your flight well in advance to get a good price. I prefer to book my flights .
Transport on-site
Airport Transport
Since you must have booked your accommodation before arriving on the island, you will usually be picked up from the airport by a representative of your accommodation. Therefore, do not forget to inform them of your arrival time.
On Rapa Nui, similar to other Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, it is customary to welcome arrivals with a flower chain. A perfect tropical welcome, with which the vacation feeling begins immediately.
Car Rental
The best and most flexible way to explore Easter Island on your own, in our eyes, is to rent a car. In the city center, Hanga Roa, there are so several car rental companies to choose from. The prices differ only slightly from each other and also the ratings of the individual rentals are in the same range. We chose Oceanic Rapa Nui and were more than satisfied with the service. If you rent a car for several days at a time, you can also negotiate a discount.
You can choose between different types of cars. Probably the most popular variant is the 4×4. But we did pretty well with the smaller car, which we ended up renting because all the others were already rented.
Saving tip: Depending on where on the island you are staying, you can also easily reach some of the Rapa Nui sights on foot. We therefore rented our car for only 4 out of 7 days and this was perfectly sufficient.
Important information: There is no car insurance on the island. You should be aware of that if you want to rent a car. However, the traffic on the island is very light, so there is not a high risk of accidents.
Join a guided tour
Another way to reach Rapa Nui’s attractions farther from the center is to join a tour. This way you don’t have to drive yourself. On a guided tour, you will also have the opportunity to meet other travelers. In addition, you will get a lot of interesting information about the history of the island and its attractions.
Even if you decide to rent a car, you can additionally join a tour on the first day. This way, you will get the first insight into the history of the island and learn more about the background of the Moai statues. Guided tours are available either locally in Hanga Roa or book online through GetYourGuide.
By bike
Many visitors decide to rent a bike and use it to explore some of the island’s attractions. Especially the attractions that are located near the island center Hanga Roa can be reached quickly and easily.
However, the warm tropical climate of the island will make you sweat easily. It should also be noted that some of the main attractions are located on hilltops. After all, Rapa Nui is a volcanic island. However, if you are reasonably physically fit, biking is a great and cheaper alternative to driving.
Bikes can be rented at some accommodations as well as in the center of Hanga Roa.
Walking
On the days we didn’t rent a car, we used our time to explore many places on the island on foot. Our accommodation was located about a 20-minute walk from Hanga Roa, which made it a great option to explore surrounding places walking.
Easter Island offers some breathtaking scenery that can only really be enjoyed on foot.
Our Easter Island Itinerary – Explore Rapa Nui
Author’s note: We’ve already broken down the things to do in Easter Island for you into a Rapa Nui itinerary. This round trip is designed for one week on Easter Island. However, you can customize, shorten or extend the itinerary by combining tours or omitting some attractions, visiting more than once, or adding alternative activities. We also took plenty of time to explore the island on our own and included some extended walks and time for relaxation.
Preparations to your Easter Island Trip
Whoever wants to fly to Easter Island must first travel to Chile’s capital, Santiago de Chile. That’s because flights to the island depart from here. Sporadically, flights also depart from the island of Tahiti.
In addition, you should have already booked your accommodation on the island, as you will need to show a booking confirmation before departure. There are a number of certified providers on the island – more on this later.
We also recommend you arrive early and spend a few days in Santiago. Because this is also a great city with lots of things to see. The day before departure it is worth it to buy some groceries. Especially bring fruits, vegetables, noodles, rice and the like. Everything that fits into your luggage. Because that way, you can save quite a bit of money, since food on Easter Island is anything but cheap.
Day 1 – Arriving on Rapa Nui
Flight from Santiago de Chile to Easter Island
The first day is mostly about getting there. As one of the most remote places in the world, that namely takes its time. Accordingly, the outbound flight to the island takes almost 6 hours. You might want to arrive on time (just under 2-3 hours before departure) at the airport of Santiago de Chile.
Before you check in your luggage, you can already purchase your Rapa Nui ticket, which is the Easter Island National Park entrance ticket, at the Santiago airport. This ticket allows you to admire all the major sights of the island within 10 days. The ticket currently costs 54,000 pesos, or $80 USD (equivalent to about € 63), and should be paid in cash.
It is also important that you fill out the entry form and show your booked accommodation on the spot. Alternatively, you can show an invitation from a resident if, for example, you found a host through Couchsurfing or know someone on the island you’re staying with.
Arrival at the Airport of Rapa Nui
Easter Island’s airport is very small. But this also means that only one plane arrives at a time. Accordingly, the on-site arrival and pass control are quite fast, and also the luggage is available to pick up directly.
When leaving the airport building, you can directly see the representatives of the different accommodations waiting in front of the door to welcome the arriving guests. Typically Polynesian, the new arrivals are greeted with a chain of flowers. Could there be a better way of starting your tropical vacation?
Check-In and get comfortable
After a long flight, you will surely want to get to your accommodation first. Do the check-in, unpack your things and settle in. You may also want to take a short nap, shower or eat something.
Walk through Hanga Roa
After you’ve settled in a bit, you’re ready to go. Walk through the main street of Hanga Roa town center. Here you can also buy some more groceries for the next few days. Anything you didn’t bring from the mainland, like fresh bread, yogurt, milk and of course a few bottles of water.
Day 2 – Get to know the history of Easter Island
Hanga Roa
Let’s start the second day on Easter Island by taking a closer look at the center of the island. Even if you’ve already had breakfast at your accommodation, don’t miss the fresh and juicy pineapples that are sold here for just under $2.
Playa Pea and Caleta Hanga Roa
Stroll through the small center of town to the Caleta Hanga Roa harbor. In addition to the small-town beach, Playa Pea, and a refreshment option in the water that is especially popular with children, you can discover your first moai here at Ahu Tautira. With its back turned to the sea, it almost seems as if it is watching over the goings-on in the harbor.
But also a look behind the Moai is worthwhile. Because with a little bit of luck, you can discover a couple of sea turtles swimming relaxed in the shallow water of the port. In addition, the diving schools of the island are located in this corner of the city. So if you want to discover Easter Island from the water as well, this is the place to be. More on this later in the alternative activities Rapa Nui.
Rapa Nui Museum – Museo Padre Sebastián Englert
Opening Hours Museum: Tue – Fri: 09.30 – 17.30; Sat + Sun: 09.30 – 12.30; closed Mondays
Entrance Fee Museum: free of charge
The Rapa Nui Museum should definitely be a stop during your trip to Easter Island. Because here you will learn all the important background information, theories and interesting facts about the island and its inhabitants. In addition, you can experience an eye of a moai and the rare female moai here.
Most of the information in the museum is available in English as well as Spanish. Feel free to take your time. Because in this museum, you will find a lot of interesting facts about the inhabitants and the island itself.
By the way, the name of the museum, which opened in 1973, goes back to the Bavarian missionary Dr. Sebastian Englert, who came to Easter Island as an important linguist and was the first non-Rapa Nui to learn the language.
Rent a Car or book your tours
If you have decided to rent a car for the next few days, now is a perfect time. In Hanga Roa, car rental agencies are located almost next to each other. This way you can compare prices or choose one of the rentals directly.
We were very happy with our provider Oceanic.
Option: Traditional Danceshow
Price: around $ 20
If you feel like immersing yourself even further in the culture of this small Pacific island, a traditional dance show may be just what you’re looking for. Although the shows are geared toward tourists, they are still considered authentic. The shows are also a great way for the island’s youth to get in touch with Polynesian dance and their culture.
There are several providers in Hanga Roa. You can watch a simple dance performance or combine it with dinner. You can either make reservations for the show on-site (ask in your accommodation for advice on this) or online in advance via GetYourGuide.
Day 3 – The Birdman Cult
Author’s note: Getting to the volcano can be done easily and quickly by rented car. There is a large parking lot on-site. However, we opted for a hike up to enjoy the view. Both are great options.
Rano Kau
Rano Kau is probably one of the most scenic places on the island. One could almost assume that a meteor has hit here. However, it is a volcanic crater. Inside the crater, there are reeds, which were already used by the natives of the island. An employee told us that today, however, no people were allowed inside the crater to protect its unique nature.
If you want to walk around the crater to enjoy the unique view from the other side, make sure you don’t underestimate the length of the walk. This is because the crater itself has a diameter of 1.6 km. However, from the Mirador Rano Kau, you already have a unique view of this impressive volcanic crater. The rock of the 200-meter deep crater is estimated to be about one million years old.
Cultural Site Orongo
Opening hours Orongo: 9 am – 6 pm
Entrance Fee: With the Rapa Nui Ticket – one time use only
Orongo is the place that made Easter Island so famous around the world. This is because it was once the site of the Birdman contest, which is also the subject of the movie Rapa Nui. The cult site is located just a few minutes’ walk from the Rano Kau crater, on the cliffs of the island. From here, you also have a great view of the three small islands located right next to Easter Island, which were of great importance to the Birdman cult.
When you enter the complex, you first find yourself in a small museum room where the history of the Birdman cult and thus the history of the island’s indigenous people is explained in more detail. We strongly recommend that you read the information panels before proceeding, as the facts serve as a perfect introduction to the history of this place. This way, you will also be able to better understand what made this place so special on the island and how it was used.
Basically, the birdman cult was the annual contest that decided the new ruler of the island. Residents came here to cheer along as the potential rulers sent their representatives into the race. These swam under dangerous conditions to one of the offshore islands and waited there for days until the terns began to breed. As soon as one laid an egg, one of the competitors would steal the egg, tie it on his head, and swim back to Easter Island to be crowned as Birdman.
On the site, you can still examine the small stone houses and petroglyphs around the cult. There are also the remains of two ceremony platforms (Ahu).
Ana Kai Tangata
Whether you make your way back to Hanga Roa by car or on foot, either way, you’ll pass our next sight: Ana Kai Tangata. This is one of the most impressive caves on the island. Our Airbnb was located directly across the street from this popular Easter Island tourist attraction during our stay on the island, so it happened that we visited this place almost every day.
First you walk across a long meadow to get to the cliffs. Here a great view of the ocean and its raging waves awaits. If you tilt your gaze a bit, you can spot the entrance to a magnificent cave.
Inside the cave are ancient petroglyphs. Researchers confirmed that the records are images related to the Birdman cult. The connection is not surprising, considering that the Orongo cult site is located not far from Ana Kai Tangata.
Time at free disposal
Before heading to the sunset later, you will have the rest of the day at leisure. For example, you can stroll through the city, try a delicious fruit juice or do one of the alternative activities listed below.
Sunset at Ahu Tahai
As a perfect end to your day on this unique island, you can watch the sunset from Tahai. The ceremony place (Ahu) of Tahai is located about 1 km from the city center. Therefore, you can easily reach Tahai on foot.
The place is considered one of the most beautiful places on the island to watch the sunset. Accordingly, you should get here early enough to reserve a spot. Easter Island sunset takes place between 6:30 pm and 9:20 pm, depending on the time of year. You can find the exact time for each day on this website. You may even want to bring a picnic blanket and some snacks while you watch the mesmerizing sunset.
Tahai is home to some awesome moai statues. I will never forget that incredible feeling when you first set eyes on these impressive statues. It’s even more breathtaking when the sun disappears into the ocean behind these special heads.
Fun Fact: In Tahai, you’ll find the only moai whose eyes have been restored.
Day 4 Mo’ai
Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki
On the fourth day on Rapa Nui, we have to get up early. Because we want to see the sunrise at one of the most beautiful places on the island, Ahu Tongariki. This traditional place enchants especially at sunrise with a kind of mystical atmosphere. Ahu Tongariki is not only home to the largest ceremonial platform (Ahu), but also the heaviest moai on the island.
Fun Fact: The 15 moais all face the point where the sun sets on midsummer day.
Ahu Tongariki is located on the other side of the island from Hanga Roa, about a 35-minute drive from the city center. Therefore, you should get up early. The road that takes you along the coast has a lot of potholes, some of them are pretty deep, so you should drive carefully. Also, it happens that you will find free-roaming horses or cows on the roadway.
Although the moais here have been destroyed several times (during the civil war and by a tsunami), they have been rebuilt and attract dozens of visitors every day. Most of the pictures you’ve seen of Easter Island so far were taken either here or at the nearby Rano Raraku volcano.
An extra tip: Be sure to take a jacket with you, as it is still quite chilly so early in the morning. Together with the damp wind blowing from the ocean, it can therefore already be really fresh at this time of day.
Extra tip II: There are hardly any food options in the area. It may, therefore, be worth bringing a small breakfast. However, residents often sell homemade hot coffee in the neighboring parking lot, which is just great at this time of day.
Anakena Beach
Once the sun has risen behind the backs of the impressive moais, the place gradually empties out. Many travelers now return to their accommodations to first have a hearty breakfast and catch up on missed sleep. Exactly at this time of day, you have the perfect opportunity to experience one of the most popular places on Easter Island completely without tourists.
So instead of following the others in the direction of Hanga Roa, we now head in the opposite direction, to Anakena Beach. During the day, this beautiful beach is littered with tourists, while early in the morning you have Anakena all to yourself.
Anakena is exactly what you imagine when you think of Polynesian beaches: white sandy beach, crystal clear warm water surrounded by palm trees. For the locals, however, this place is much more than just a paradise beach. Because according to a legend, the founding father once reached Easter Island here. For this reason, Anakena is also considered the birthplace of Rapa Nui culture.
Besides the beautiful beach, you will also find two Ahus here. On Ahu Nau Nau there are still seven moais. This ceremonial platform is considered one of the best-preserved on the island, as it was protected from the weather due to the sand. Next to it is Ahu Ature Huki. Even though there is only one moai left at this one, it is even more important historically. Because this moai is the first one that was put back on the island during renovation works in 1956 to investigate the theories around the moai.
Rano Raraku
Opening Hours Rano Raraku: 09 am – 08 pm
Entrance Fee: With the Rapa Nui Ticket – one time use only
After relaxing on the beach in the morning, you’re off to one of Rapa Nui’s main sights, Rano Raraku. The volcano, which is up to 150 meters high, is the birthplace of the Moai, making it one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited.
Already the landscape is absolutely romantic. The grassy slopes and volcanic cliffs against the background of the Pacific Ocean simply form a dreamlike picture.
Inside the now inactive volcano is a crater lake overgrown with reeds. This landscape also exudes an absolutely harmonious atmosphere. Settle down on the wooden bench and enjoy the view of this picturesque piece of earth. Sometimes you can even spot a few free-roaming horses on the other side of the lake, making the overall picture even more vivid and unique.
The true highlight of Rano Raraku, however, are the numerous moais that can be found scattered throughout the grounds here. Walking around the site, it quickly becomes clear that the volcano is where the moai were once carved out of the rock. For everywhere the imposing heads extend out of the ground, while their bodies are mostly buried underground. You will find various Moais of all sizes and shapes and can experience them as close as at probably no other place on the island.
You can discover even a few unfinished moais lying on the ground, still connected to the volcanic stone. Be sure to take enough time to explore this unique place and let the effect of these mystical statues work on you
Afternoon at leisure
Since we got up very early this morning, let’s end the evening on a leisurely note. Return to your accommodation for an afternoon nap or stroll the streets of Hanga Roa to look for souvenirs. You may also want to return to Ahu Tongariki to experience the moais once again without the crowds.
Day 5 – Relaxed Easter Island Sightseeing
Ovahe Beach
After we already visited the main beach of Easter Islands Anakena yesterday, today we go to a less crowded beach. The beach is not far from Anakena beach, but less accessible and therefore far less popular.
But also on this beach you can expect crystal clear water and a gorgeous, slightly smaller pink sandy beach. The pink coloring of the sand can be attributed to the reddish volcanic rock that surrounds the beach.
Although the slightly stronger surf makes swimming a bit more strenuous on some days, the water here is usually even clearer than at neighboring Anakena Beach.
Akahanga
Opening Hours Ahu Akahanga: 09 am – 07.30 pm
When driving along the scenic coastal road on the way back towards Hanga Roa, you will inevitably pass this island landmark. Ahu Akahanga is a great place to learn more about the life of Rapa Nui’s indigenous people. Because here you will find mainly remains of an old village. Their houses, which resemble small boats, are still clearly visible today. Also, you will find remains of small ancient stoves on each of the small houses.
You can also spot an ahu (ceremonial platform) in Akhanga. The 13 moai that once stood on the ahu, unlike most of the moais on the island, were not put back up. Instead, they were left in the condition in which they were found. This way you get an idea of what the island must have once looked like before renovations began.
Vaihu – Ahu Vanga Te’e
Opening Hours Vaihu: 09 am – 5.30 pm
If you travel a little further along the coast from Akhanga, you will come to Ahu Vanga Te’e. Here you will first discover eight more moais lying face down on the ground. Not far away from the bodies you will find some red volcanic stones. These once served as headgear for the giant Moai statues.
A little further on is a large circle of individual stones that was once used for ceremonial rituals. This kind of stone circle is called Peina by the locals. Also, on this part of the island, you can discover ancient houses and even a well.
Lastly, Vaihu is also home to a single smaller moai, which was reinstalled in 2002 after initially being buried underground for years.
Ahu Vinapu
Opening Hours Ahu Vinapu: 09 am – 05.30 pm
The Ahus of Vinapu, located near Mataveri Airport, are different from the others you can view on the island. But not only for Easter Island, but also for all Polynesia, the processing and construction of this ceremonial platform is unique. It is even believed that these platforms were built in collaboration with the Incas of ancient Peru.
The first of the two ceremonial platforms, Vinapu I or also called Tahira, is built to face the direction of the sunrise during the winter solstice. However, the moai and their headdresses, puakos, which are also on the ground here, are typical for Rapa Nui.
The second platform is located a bit further. The five preserved moais are also scattered around the site, face down, along with their headdresses. One of the puakos, made of red volcanic stone, stands out in particular. This may be because it has been resurrected.
Also noteworthy are the remains of the female moai that stands here. Even though all that is left of it nowadays is a simple stone pillar, researchers clearly recognized from its petroglyphs that this was a female moai.
Day 6 – Discovering the natural beauty of Rapa Nui
Author’s note: The following sights Ahu Aviki, Ana Te Pahu, Ana Te Pora, and Ana Kakenga can be visited together as hikes on the Te Ana circuit. In fact, Ana Te Pora and Ana Kakenga caves can only be reached on foot or by bicycle.
Ahu Aviki
Opening Hour Ahu Aviki: 09 am – 07.30 pm
What would a day on Easter Island be without moais? So now, on our last day on the island, we visit one of the most important and best-preserved ceremonial platforms on the island. Ahu Aviki is considered the only ahu on Easter Island whose moais do not have their backs to the sea but look directly out in the direction of the sea.
Another characteristic that sets Ahu Aviki apart is that all seven moais look similar. While the moais of the other Ahus usually differ in size and design, with Ahu Aviki it quickly becomes clear that the moais here were built on the same model, which creates a harmonious shape.
This ahu was also aligned according to the solar cycle. This is because the moais look directly at the point where the sun sets on the day of the equinox in September, while their backs point exactly at the point where the sun rises on the day of the beginning of fall (in March).
Ana Te Pahu
Opening Hours Ana Te Pahu: 09 am – 06.30 pm (Closing of the gate at 08 pm)
You probably already know that Easter Island is a volcanic island. During ancient volcanic eruptions, several cave and tunnel systems were formed, extending up to 7 km below ground. Ana Te Pahu, which can be translated as drum cave, is probably the most famous tunnel system on the island.
If you want to visit the cave, we strongly recommend a pair of comfortable (and preferably non-slip) shoes, as well as a flashlight or cell phone with flashlight function to find your way in the dark corridors of the tunnel. Already a few meters behind the entrance you can discover a tree growing inside the cave. For many, this is a real highlight and the main reason to visit the tunnel system.
But before entering the cave, you will first find a small banana tree garden at the entrance. The magnificent trees, along with other plants such as avocados and yam, grow right into the first few feet of the cave, which is why Ana Te Pahu is also known to locals as Banana Cave.
To reach Ana Te Pahu, you must first pass through the gate (checkpoint) and follow a trail for about 15 minutes.
Ana Te Pora
Ana Te Pora is a small cave near the coast. It is believed that the cave served as a shelter and refuge for many during the civil war of the different tribes of Rapa Nui. Inside the cave, you can discover a kind of stone formation, which consists of collapsed stones. However, its function is still not explained. While some suspect that it is a kind of bed, others believe that the stone structure was used as an altar or burial place.
Ana Kakenga
Ana Kakenga is two caves located right by the sea, offering a great view of the Pacific Ocean. However, access is to the caves is quite difficult and better avoided if you suffer from claustrophobia. The entrance to the cave is also very inconspicuous, which is why it is best found with a guided tour.
But you also have a great view of the caves and the sea from the top. Especially when the sky fills with vibrant colors towards sunset. Among the locals, this place is known as a refuge cave, as there is a legend surrounding this place. According to it, the cave served as a refuge for a pair of lovers, whose love was not accepted by the locals, until their deaths. However, their bodies were never found.
Puna Pau
Opening Hours Puna Pau: 09 am – 05.30 pm
After already discovering at Rano Raraku where the island’s moai come from and getting a rough idea of how they were carved from stone, you can experience the place of origin of the moai’s pokai (headdresses) at Puna Pau.
The red volcanic stone of this volcano quickly makes it clear that this must be the birthplace of the Moai headdresses. Because the red volcanic rock here is relatively soft material, it could not be used to construct shelters. In addition to the Pokai, the Rapa Nuis made eyes, decorative elements, and water containers from the red rock.
Nowadays, the volcanic crater of Puna Pau is overgrown with grass. Therefore, only a few pokai lying around indicate the origin of the headdresses.
Day 7 – Departure
And already the last day of our trip to one of the most fascinating places on earth has come and it’s time to say goodbye to this wonderful island. Depending on when your flight leaves, you will have time for the last walk through Hanga Roa or to buy some souvenirs.
Getting to the airport
In some accommodations, the way back to the airport is already included. If this is not the case, you can take a cab to get to the airport. Another option is to specifically look for airport transportation. Since the airport is located just a short way outside the city center of Hanga Roa, you can theoretically even walk to the airport.
FAQ about Easter Island
Why is Easter Island called like that?
The Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen and his team reached the island on Easter Sunday 1722, which is why Easter Island is still called Easter Island in various languages. However, the locals call Easter Island Rapa Nui.
What language is spoken on Easter Island?
Since Rapa Nui is politically part of Chile, the main language, as in the rest of Chile, is Spanish. However, in addition to Spanish, the island’s native Polynesian language, Rapa Nui, is also spoken by the island’s inhabitants.
What is Easter Island called in Spanish?
In Spanish, Easter Island is called Isla de Pascua, which also means Easter Island. In Chile, however, the actual name of Easter Island, Rapa Nui, is increasingly used for the island.
Can I search for my accommodation on Easter Island locally?
To be allowed to fly to Easter Island, you must have your accommodation booked before departure. The accommodations must be approved as such and you must therefore show a booking confirmation before departure to be allowed to board the plane.
Easter Island or Easter Islands?
Easter Island is one island (with two small island offshoots), which is why it is called Easter Island. Incorrectly, however, many refer to the island in the plural as Easter Island.
