Rapa Nui (named Easter Island 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.
Today, most of the key locations on the island can only be toured with a guide. The cost of guides can truly range. 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, money will get you a more personalized and detailed experience. Reach out to your host or hotel for any tour guide recommendations. These 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.
It is important to note that 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: Arrival to Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Arriving in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is a refreshing experience. 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.
Leaving the airport, you will be greeted by your host or hotel concierge with a lei and a hug. They will then take you to your accommodations. Our host had mango juice ready for us and even drove us to the national park office to purchase our tickets for the week.
After this, 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 your second day, 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.
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 it with dinner. We did ours with Te Ra’ai and the dinner and show was excellent. We got to participate in a ceremony, blessing the food that we were about to eat and learning about their traditions. They had cooked a traditional Umu (steaming meat, fish, and vegetables covered in leaves in the ground with hot stones) and we had the opportunity to uncover it before they served it to us. After eating, their dance group performed their traditional dances for us. These companies may also pick you up from and drop you off at your accommodations!
Days 3 & 4: Tour Days Around Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
These 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 your final full day, 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.
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. The tour will pick you up and drop you off from your accommodation. We did not have the opportunity to do this tour because we went during the full moon but it is the only one of its kind on the island.
Day 6: Sunrise Before Leaving Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
On your final day, 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 even leave you with a little gift.
Breath in this fresh air and reflect on the beautiful island you had the opportunity to experience.
