Easter Island Holidays and Tours

Discover one of South America’s gems on our fabulous Easter Island holidays.  A far distant speck in the Pacific Ocean, rich in history and culture, this destination is one of Chile’s highlights and a visit not to be missed. 

Highlights to visit in Easter Island

Easter Island is a tiny volcanic triangle, named Rapa Nui and meaning ‘Navel of the World’ by its early Polynesian settlers.  It lies 2,300 miles (3700 km) off the coast of Chile and is the most remote inhabited island in the world.

Best known for its archaeological treasures, Easter Island holidays offer the possibility to visit the more than 600 Moai stone statues that are spread throughout the island. Some of them reach up to nine metres high. The island is also home to many caves and rocks decorated with fascinating etched petroglyphs and painted pictographs that give us some indication of the island’s history.

Since Easter Island became known to Europeans in 1722, it has been something of a mystery how the island’s native people first arrived. The full details of its history is a puzzle still being unravelled today.

How to get to Easter Island

It is a five-hour flight from Santiago on mainland Chile to Easter Island. We recommend four or five days for your Easter Island holiday. This allows time to visit the top sites as well as relax and enjoy the island’s laid-back feel and warm tropical climate.

We recommend tours with local expert guides who explain the history of the Rapa Nui culture as you visit Easter Island’s top sites such as Ahu Tongariki, Anakena beach and the volcanic crater of Rano Raraku.

If you have more time, you can choose to stay longer in or near to the main town of Hanga Roa. If so, take advantage of the pleasant climate and the chance to explore this fascinating and friendly island on foot, by jeep, on horseback or bike. Or just enjoy swimming in the sea and relaxing on the beautiful beaches.

Top Rapa Nui top sites of interest

An Easter Island holiday will include visits to volcanoes, Moai sites, caves, beaches and a number of other culturally significant sites.

The volcanoes that make up the island include Rano Kau, Rano Raku, Terevaka, Poike and Puna Pau.

One unmissable site is Rano Raraku volcano. This is home to the quarry that supplied stone for 500 years, for the building of Moai statues.  The slopes of the volcano are littered with 400 statues, some still in-situ with others erect on the slopes.

Another Easter Island site to visit is Rano Kao, a water filled volcanic crater in the south west of the island.  The ceremonial village of Orongo is spectacularly located on the crest of the crater. This site was significant for the Tangata manu (Bird Man) cult, the competition to establish the ruling power was held here annually.

Ahu Tongariki (substantially restored in the 1990s), is one of the most impressive Easter Island Moai sites. It consists of fifteen large Moai statues including the heaviest ever erected. The Moais are lined up facing inland from the Pacific towards Rano Raraku.

The other top Moai sites to visit are Ahu Nau Nau, where Moai are set amongst palm trees near to Anakena beach. Distinct features of the Moai here are their elaborate topknots (pukao) and their coral inset eyes. Also, Ahu Akivi is the only inland Moai site on the island, with seven Moai statues facing out towards the sea.

Special dates in Easter Island

If you can, time your visit to coincide with the local festival of Tapati Rapa Nui, the highlight of the year for many locals on Easter Island. Held in February each year, it is a two-week-long celebration of Rapanui culture, traditional art, craft, dancing and sporting prowess.

An Easter Island holiday to enjoy this beautiful remote tropical location will be a memorable highlight for anyone visiting Chile in South America.