Easter Island (Rapa Nui, also known as Rapa Nui Island) has been a long-awaited destination, and finally, I got to see the amazing natural scenery and the mysterious Moai statues. We stayed on the island for four days and three nights, rented a car 🚗 after landing, and hired a tour guide for a day and a half.
The rest of the time, we explored on our own.
🔴 Main expenses:
– Round-trip airfare (¥6354)
– Homestay (four days and three nights, one room ¥2423)
– Entry ticket to the island scenic area 🎫 (CL$ 74250)
– Theater performance 🎲 (CL$25000)
– Car rental 🚗 (for three days, calculated as 24h*3days, CL$150000)
– Tour guide (a full-day guided tour with a vehicle CL$110000, and a half-day cave exploration with a local guide intercepted on the road CL$70000)
🟠 Itinerary:
Day 1️⃣
– ✈️ Santiago – Easter Island 🗿 09:10—12:50
– Check-in and rent a car from the rental company 16:00
(There is no 📶 signal on the island, need to contact the landlord in advance to arrange for a driver to pick up and drop off, CL$10000, and the driver will keep raising the price, not very ethical)
– 🚗 Anakena + Ovahe 7+1 Moai statues 🗿 + hidden beach 🏖️ 16:30—18:30
(Located at the northernmost part of the island, no entry ticket needed 🎫, there are small trails, and the Moai statues 🗿 are quite intact, pretty good 👍🏻)
– Went back to the supermarket in town to buy ingredients for dinner + some souvenirs
Day 2️⃣
– 🌅 🚗 Ahu Tongariki 15-rowed Moai statues 🗿 6:00—8:00
(⚠️ Without a guide, you need to drive a bit further to see the sunrise panoramic view of the front of the Moai statues 🗿, it’s stunning! After sunrise, many cattle and horses come out to forage, and the morning light is beautiful)
– 🚗 Drove around the island for about two hours 10:00—12:00
(Got a general idea of which places require a guide and where you can just park and take photos 📷)
– 🚗 Hanga Roa, the town of Hanga Roa 12:00-15:30
(Here you can eat and drink, watch surfers 🏄♀️, the tourist center is here, where you can get free 🆓 Moai stamps, and also inquire about tour guides)
– 🚗 Ana Kai Tanata 16:00 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
(This spot is located on the southwest side of the island, found randomly on Google Maps!
Surprising! 🤩 No entry ticket 🎫 or guide needed! A breathtaking spot! You can see the movement and shape of the waves, the waves are high! But incredibly blue! A great place for taking photos)
– 🚗 Orongo, the Birdman Village 17:00
(A guide is required for this place, but when we went, there was no guard, so we climbed up the crater 🌋 and looked around the village!
It’s one of the highest points on the island)
– Watched the performance 🎲 Varua Ora 20:30—22:30
(The performance was very passionate and featured local characteristics, and after it ended, you could go on stage and take photos with the actors)
