Easter Island is one of the most remote islands in the world and a dream destination for many. A mysterious history, beautiful untouched landscapes, art, culture and plenty to discover, this island ticks all the boxes…so let’s find out more!
- Where is Easter Island?
- Why the name?
- How do I get there?
- When should I go?
- How much does it cost to visit?
- Can you swim in Easter Island?
- What are Moais?
All you need to know in 90 seconds
Where is Easter Island?
Easter Island is a volcanic island that marks the southeastern corner of the Polynesian triangle in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and it is part of Chile.
Easter Island is the first place on the United Nations’ Isolation Index and the most secluded inhabited island in the world. Chile is the closest country to this place and it is still 3,800 km off its coast.
Why the name?
Easter Island is also known with other names, like Isla de Pascua or Rapa Nui. Generally speaking, only tourists use the name Easter Island, while local people use the name Rapa Nui and like it when visitors use the same name.*
So, how did the island get its name? On Easter Sunday 1722, Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutch admiral, arrived on this isolated Polynesian island. He was the first European person to ever land here and named it Paasch-Eyland – Dutch for ‘Easter Island’.
The A Vere moai, known as the traveling moai, in Tongariki on Easter Island.
There are also some discussions on whether the name Rapa Nui is the island’s original name or not, as same think that this name was given by a Peruvian trading enslaved people who compared this island to the Rapa Island in French Polynesia.
Another name the island is know with – which is probably the very first name of the island – is Te Pito te Henua that translates into the Navel of the World.
*I will be using the name Easter Island too in some of my posts, just because most people look for this name online rather than Rapa Nui.
How do I get there?
The only way to get there is to fly from Santiago in Chile and it will take approximately 5 hours. The only company that flies there is LATAM, which is very good.
While everything went perfect on the way day, we experienced a two hour delay on the way back, but we found out this is pretty normal due to very strong winds.
Alternatives include flying from Pape’ete (Tahiti) in French Polynesia, which would take 7 hours, getting there with a cruise, or getting the Aquiles, a boat that belongs to the Chilean Navy. The Aquiles departs only twice a year to Easter Island and it takes 7 days to get there, and it almost always is reserved by Navy officials. So overall, the best option it to fly there.
When should I go?
Like I said here, Easter Island is a year round destination. December through February/March are the summer month and so it high season for travelling here. This means that prices are higher and there are many tourists. Even though – because of price and location – not many people visit Easter Island, you would notice the crowds as it is such a small island.
The best time to visit Rapa Nui is either side of the high season, when you can expect temperatures around 20°C to 24°C, prices are lower and you won’t overcrowd the island.
April and May are the rainiest months of the year. We visited the Island the last few days of March and start of April and we got a few showers during our stay, but the weather was okay overall.
How much does it cost?
One of the reasons why people don’t visit Easter Island is because they think it’s going to be an expensive trip. But it doesn’t need to be.
The main expense will be flights to get to the island. LATAM is the only company that flies there and, while prices can get up to €1,000 return for flights from Santiago, the price considerably drops outside the high season.
Like I said above, we visited Easter Island between the end of March and start of April, which end of the high season and start of the rainy season and we got our flights for €350 return, even though we only book them 5 days in advance!
We were very lucky – I know! – but we were travelling without a plan and so this worked out perfectly for us. However, you could set up an alert on the LATAM website and get notified about prices and try to book them in advance to make sure you get the best fare.
Anu Tongariki on Easter Island, Chile
Here is a list of other expenses:
- Rapa Nui Park Entrance: 54,000 CLP (€60). To enter the Rapa Nui National Park, you must pay an entrance fee, which remains valid for a period of 10 days and will give you access to he ceremonial village of Orongo, Rano Kau and Rano Raraku volcanoes and the Moais platforms around the island.
- Dinner and culture show: 15,000 CLP (€16) for just the show or 40,000 CLP (€45) for both. You can watch this traditional Polynesian music and dance show, with ancient dances like the Hoko (war dance), Kai-Kai, the Sau-Sau or Ute, just after eating traditional food from the island.
- Accommodation: €30 per night in a private room in a hotel. Obviously the price for the accommodation will depend on whether you choose a hotel, hostel, dorm, etc… We stayed in a 3 start hotel in a private room for €30 per night (pp). A private room in a hostel would cost about €20 per night per person. A shared room in a dorm would be between €15 and €20 euro per night. There are also, of course, high end luxury hotels on the island.
- Renting a quad bike to visit the island for 3 days: 40,000 CLP (€45). Alternatively you can also rent bikes for the same price. There are several spots in Hanga Roa where you can rent them.
- A guided tour of the island: 40,000 CLP (€45). A full day tour of the island, which includes a guide, lunch, snacks and transport. You can visit the island on your own, but I would really recommend taking this, as you will learn a lot about the history of Rapa Nui and the different Moais around the island.
Can you swim in Easter Island?
Yes! You can swim in different parts of Easter Island all year around.
There is Anakena, which is the main beach on Easter Island. The second most popular beach on Easter Island is Ovahe beach, famous for its wild beauty (although you can’t officially swim here). Other swimming spots include Pea Beach and Poko Poko.
Anakena beach, Easter Island, Chile
What are Moais?
Moai are the famous giant head statues that are the symbol of Easter Island. You can fin them everywhere on the island and there are lots of stories and legends around them, although their origin is still a mystery.
Most people think that these statues only have heads, but they also have bodies that in some cases are hidden in the ground and in some cases are visible. see the famous photo of the Moai buried neck-deep at Rano Raraku quarry before arriving on the island and are surprised to know that the statues also have torsos or bodies.
The Moais are protected by law because they are deteriorating at a fast pace as due to their geographical position they are exposed to string winds and sea water. Tourist activities accelerate this process too. So, while you can take pictures of the statues from a distance, it’s forbidden to get close or touch the Moais. If you break this law, or damage one of the statues, you could get a big fine up to 20,000 USD.
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I really enjoyed my stay on Easter Island, mainly for the moai and the history which still has parts that are ignored. It is necessary to take the time to read, to listen, to learn, to explore and to question oneself. The nature is also beautiful to observe, like all those horses roaming freely. I chose to rent a car, it gave me more autonomy, like leaving early for the sunrise in Tongariki.
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Pingback: 13 Unmissable Experiences in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) - Travel Notes