Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Short Break

Journey to enigmatic Easter Island and experience the remote beauty and fascinating folklore of ‘Rapa Nui’. This Short Break Adventure allows plenty of time to admire the many stone moai that have made this island so famous. As the trade winds blow, view remnants of the past at ancient ceremonial sites and villages, as well as rock art depicting strange deities. For a dose of natural beauty, be blown away by the scale of a dramatic volcanic crater and uninterrupted views over the horizon.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanga Roa

Welcome to Easter Island! When you arrive at the Mataveri Airport, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Hanga Roa – the island's main town. After hotel check-in, the rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace. Hanga Roa is a small place with 3800 resident, but has many shops, restaurants and bars to hang out in. At the port in the middle of town, you’ll be greeted by your first moai – Ahu Tautira. To the north are some scenic spots complete with more moai, as well as the Sebastian Englebert Museum of Anthropology – a good place to get acquainted with the Easter Island story.

Day 2: Hanga Roa

After breakfast, join the other travellers on a guided excursion around Easter Island. The island covers an area of 117 square km, so you’ll see most of the island in a day. Leave Hanga Roa and travel along the south coast to AHU AKAHANGA, an area of toppled moai and legends that tell of the burial site of the island's first king. Continue to Rano Raraku – a volcano also known as 'the nursery of the moai' because the statues around the island were cut from the stones that came from this quarry. Here, you can find the 21-m-high moai – the largest one ever carved! At Ahu Tongariro, see the 15 restored moai on the coastline. The originals were destroyed by a huge tidal wave in 1960. This stop makes the perfect prelude to TE PITO KURA, a ceremonial center that houses the largest moai ever built. Along the north coast visit Anakena – a beautiful sandy beach with swaying palm trees, with a moai standing guard. Here, you can also take a moment to relax, contemplating and enjoying its beautiful beach with palm trees, white sand, and turquoise waters.

Day 3: Hanga Roa

Today you’ll visit the Orongo Ceremonial Village, set 400 m high on a ridge with the ocean on one side and the crater lake of Rano Kau on the other. This village is home to remnants relating to a birdman cult that has been around for centuries. Learn about these art remnants, then check out the moai at Ahu Vinapu. In the afternoon, travel to Akivi to see the seven moai that overlook the site of an ancient village. Tonight, watch the sunset and enjoy a free evening to find dinner.

Day 4: Hanga Roa

With no further activities planned, your adventure will come to an end today after breakfast. You’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward flight home.

Departure Dates