The reason to travel here is to follow in the footsteps of polynesian sea explorers. Who found the island and created an immense heritage of stone statues. All on a 20x30km or 10mi/15mi island of volcanic rock, similar in nature to Hawaii and the Azores. So if nature, cultural heritage and adventures is your way of travel, this is a place for you to consider.
One flight per day from Santiago is the primary way to access the island. With a weekly extension to/from Papete on Tahiti. Expect it to be hard to find direct connections from intercontinental flights into Chile. A day-trip coming or going will likely be part of your plan. For cheaper airfare consider booking a round-trip to Santiago and one to Easter Island as separate trips . Easter Island have a single airport, Mataveri (IPC). Long enough to serve as an emergency landing spot for the Space Shuttles with its 4km long runway. The main town Hanga Roa is a 5min ride from the airport. Tour jeeps double as taxis in the evenings if you land with the late flight and is inexpensive (~5000 chilenean pesos).
STAYING DURING YOUR VISIT
The number of visitors have been growing to around 90 000 per year in 2015. All night accomodations are around Hanga Roa the main, or rather the only, town on the island. The range of accomodations span from a tent camp site in town to the $1000 a night. The prices are higher than in mainland Latin America so expect $200 a night for what you would pay $100 on the mainland. Nice hotels just outside town are Altiplanico (north) and Iorana (South). All parts of the island is withing easy day trips from Hanga Roa by car or by bike for the fit ones.
WHAT TO DO DURING YOUR VISIT
The gems of the island is the cultural heritage around the first settlers and the natural beauty of a volcanic island. 43% of the island is a national park and world cultural heritage site. Consider the island as a gigantic outdoor museum. The stone statues (Mo'ai) sitting on top of stone platforms (Ahu) are across the whole island. 887 Mo'ais have are, but most are laying down. Abandoned in transit or taken down by tribal fights in the old days or more recently tby the 1960 tsunamis. Guided tours have more to offer than in other places and we found James Grant-Peterkin to offer a broad variety of tours with knowledgeable guides. The obvious ones are Ahu Tongariki (with the 15 standing Mo'ais). Rano Raraku (the Mo'ai quarry) and with a vast collection on display on the hillside. The only beacj =h have have 2 platforms with 5+1 Mo'ais in a unique setting. There are many volcano craters with beautiful nature views. Biking around the island or diving just of the island are other popular options. At the time of our visit locals are guarding the parks without park fee ($60).
FOOD
Sea food is the main attraction. Local variants of ceviche. The lack of plankton around limited the local fish access variety of local fish. Many restaurants in town provide variety for a week without any problems.
MISCELLANEOUS
Internet via Sattelite so surf at home and expect early days of dial-up like access speeds from hotels. Bring a spanish pocket dictionary. You will get along with English in most situations but be ready to explain yourself in Spanish. There are 2 ATMs in town, but not one at the airport, so bring a bit of cash from Chile. The "tourist exchange rate" in stores is 500 chilenean pesos per USD. But as in most other places you are best off with local currency or credit card. If you rent a car, there is little risk of running out of gas since the island is small with few roads. Don't get scared by the fact there is just one gas station. Mountain bikes dominate the pedaling rental scene. Climate is tropical with a twist, cooler than Tahiti and Hawaii and a bit more windy in the winter season from May to August.
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