Two million years ago
deep geological changes and volcanic eruptions created remote Easter
Island, a tiny pinprick in the great Pacific Ocean, and a mound
of consolidated Lava and ash from the three submarine Volcanoes.
The natives call their Island "Rapa Nui" or "Te Pito
O Te Henua"; The Navel of the Earth. In Chile the
Island is called Isla de Pascua, the perfect triangle shaped piece
of land, at the centre of the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles west
from Santiago, Chile's capital city, a fascinating outdoor museum
of mysterious ancient people.
Without a doubt, Easter Island is a must to any traveller who wants
to know and explore the hidden secrets of this incredible civilization.
Easter
Island Tour: 5 days/4 nights
Day 1 Reception at Mataveri Airport with flower and or shell
necklaces. Transfer to the hotel overnight.
4 nights at a Hotel of your choice.
Day 2
A full day tour, along the Moai route, visiting Vaihu, a place which
is surrounded by enormous statues which have fallen face down, the
ruins of Akahanga, which are in their natural condition and where
the first King of the Island was buried. Further along you will
see the Rano Raraku Volcano, situated close to the Southern shore
of the Island, and at the base of Poike, which is the most spectacular
crater in the zone and where the former island-people carved the
giant statues from the volcanoe's quarry. Here you can see the different
stages in the construction of the Moais, the biggest of all that
still remains at the base of the quarry and which is more than 20m
long and weighs just under 200 tonnes. You will visit the Anakena
where there is the restored Ahu Tongariki, the biggest on the Island
with 15 Moais (Statues). In the afternoon, free time to enjoy the
warm sea waters which surround the Island.
Day 3
Half day tour to Orongo, visiting the Rano Kao Volcano, whose crater
of lush vegetation contains a fresh water lake covered with Totora.
From there you will continue onto the cultural centre of Orongo,
situated at the top of the crater at over 300m above sea level and
where year after year the Bird Man or "Tangata Manu" ceremony
takes place. You can see more than 100 petroglyphs which represent
the Make-Make God and the Manutara seabird, amongst others. Next
you will proceed to Ana Kai Tangata. Then you will visit Ahu Vinapu,
where the interesting architectural style reminds you of the Inca’s
handiwork. This is due to the perfection of the cuts and location
of the stones.
Day 4
Half-day excursion visiting Ahu Akivi, the big platform, which is
composed of 7 Moais, all of them facing the sea, the Ana Tepahu
caverns, the quarry of Puna Pau, where the top part of the Moais
were sculpted, and Ahu Tahai.
