Rapa Nui, named Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) by colonizers, is an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific ocean that is currently governed by Chile. While it is completely accessible to get to today by flight, it can be overwhelming on how to organize your trip on the island. Many of the key destinations have similar names and it can be challenging to try to plan as most sites have restrictions on how to visit them. This article is intended to help you plan your Easter Island itinerary so you can enjoy this little paradise. If you are interested in the logistics of visiting Easter Island or other frequently asked questions about this unique destination, you can read more about it here.
Today, most of the key archaeological locations on the island can only be toured with a guide. The cost of guides can range significantly. There are some less expensive tour groups that you can use or you can spend more on a private guide. If you are interested in learning more about the history and culture of the island, we recommend looking into spending more money on a tour or even getting a private guide because here, the added expense will result in a more personalized and detailed experience that is worth it. Reach out to your host or hotel for any tour guide recommendations. These organized tours can be one day long, if you want to see the most famous sites, or two days long, if you want to see a more holistic view of the history of the island. A good tour can really make or break your Easter Island itinerary so be sure to select the right one that works for your preferences.
A 6 Day Easter Island Itinerary
In this Easter Island itinerary, days 2 through 5 are completely interchangeable based on the weather. In addition, you may cut out some days if you won’t be on the island for this duration based on your desires and interests, but we would recommend a 4 day minimum to see the main sites and enjoy the rich culture that the island has to offer.
Day 1
Arrive in Rapa Nui. Purchase your pass for the national park so you will be able to explore the island throughout your time here. Explore Hanga Roa, the main town on the island. Catch the sunset at Ahu Tahai.
Day 2
Check out the Rapa Nui museum. Spend more time in the different swimming holes around Hanga Roa. Attend the traditional Umu dinner and dancing show at Te Ra’ai
Day 3
Take a guided tour of the island to explore some of the Moai statues in the national park and learn about the history, theories, and culture here
Day 4
Take another guided tour of the island to explore different parts of the island and history
Day 5
Spend the day relaxing at the Anakena beach. End the day with a stargazing tour.
Day 6
Catch the sunrise at Ahu Tongaraki before leaving the island.
Day 1: Arrival to Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Arriving in Easter Island is a refreshing experience, different from most airports around the world. You immediately know that you are on a small tropical island when you get off the plane and walk directly on the tarmac to a small building that is the airport security and waiting area. Because there are only 1-2 commercial flights a day, the airport is quite small.
Getting to Your Accommodation
In Easter Island, it is typical to be greeted by your host or hotel concierge with a lei (flower necklace) and transported to your accommodations to start your Easter Island itinerary. You will not have to figure out your transportation to your accommodation. Tourism on the island has been developed so that you do not need to rent a car to visit the island. All group tours provide transportation and pick you up from your accommodations. You can choose to rent a car on the island from within the town of Hanga Roa to explore the island independently and you may need your own vehicle if you use a private tour guide. To visit the top Moai statue locations around the island and the national park, you need to have a registered tour guide with you.
Check out some of the various hotels to stay at on Easter Island.
Exploring the Town
After you get settled into your hotel or accommodations, consider heading to the tourist office within Hanga Roa to purchase your national park pass. You will need this pass to visit the various sites around the island throughout your Easter Island itinerary. The national park pass lasts 7 days but you can only visit some of the top attractions one time to help minimize the impact that tourism has on these archaeological sites. After getting your pass, you can find a place for lunch and hop into one of the swimming holes that you can find along the coast of the town. Here, the waves are broken by rocks, creating a protected cove, and while there are still waves, they are much less rough than out at sea.
At the end of the day, head to Ahu Tahai, the Moai statues that are within town, to watch the sunset. There is a restaurant here where you can watch the sunset over the statues called Te Moai Sunset but you will need a reservation. (You can call a few days in advance to make that reservation.)
Day 2: Learning, Swimming, and Dancing
For the second day of your Easter Island itinerary, you will want to start with an introduction into the history of the island. Head to the Rapa Nui Museum to learn about the history of the island. This museum does a great job of presenting facts and theories in a comprehensive way and is a great baseline before going on your tours. This is also the place where you will get to see a Moai eye on display, one of the only ones left in existence today.
After this museum, spend the day at another swimming hole, taking in the tropical weather.
The Cultural Show of Te Ra'ai
In the evening, you will be going to a traditional Rapa Nui dance performance. You will want to book these in advance as well and we recommend you reserve a performance with dinner with Te Ra’ai. You will participate in a ceremony, bless the food that you are going to eat and learn about their traditions. They will typically cook a traditional Umu (steaming meat, fish, and vegetables covered in leaves in the ground with hot stones). After eating, their dance group will perform a variety of their traditional dances for you. These companies provide the options to pick you up from and drop you off at your accommodations!
Days 3 & 4: Tour Days Around Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
These two days of your Easter Island itinerary will be your tour days. The guides will pick you up from your accommodations and take you on a tour of the sites. If you are taking a private tour, make sure to let the guide know your interests. However, these tours are designed to take you to all the sites, especially the most famous and culturally relevant ones. There is a lot to see so two days is sufficient to see it all. However, if you only have one day to tour the island, look for a tour that goes to Ahu Tongaraki and Rano Raraku.
Day 5: Relaxing Beach Day at Anakena Beach
For the final full day of your Easter Island itinerary, spend the day relaxing at Anakena Beach. You may have already seen this beach on your tour the previous days but it may be nice to have more time to yourself. To get to the beach, you can rent a car in town. If you do not want to rent a car, you can use Te Ao Tour as a shuttle service to the beach. This website shows their shuttle hours but you may want to reach out to them on Whatsapp or directly in town to confirm.
The Blueprint Travelers Beach Staples
If the weather is favorable and the moon is not full, you can reserve a stargazing tour where guides will help you look at and read the stars overhead, which is one of the methods that the Rapa Nui people used to navigate the oceans to get to Easter Island. The tour will pick you up and drop you off from your accommodation.
Day 6: Sunrise Before Leaving Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
On your final day of your Easter Island itinerary, you are departing the island unfortunately. However, there is one final activity that you cannot miss before leaving the island: experiencing a sunrise at Ahu Tongaraki. Most tour groups provide this opportunity. The tour group will pick you up from your accommodations before the sunrise (and don’t worry! It’s not typically that early on Rapa Nui!) and drive you over to the Ahu area. You’ll have a chance to get settled and wait for the sun to come over the horizon. You do not have to do this activity on the final day and it’s best to do it on a day with good weather.
If you have time, you can take a dip in one of the swimming pools to take in this tropical destination one last time. Your host or hotel will take you to the airport and may even leave you with a little gift as a thank you for your visit.
Breath in this fresh air and reflect on the beautiful island you had the opportunity to experience.
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