Easter Island

Hello,

I would like to know what you guys think. I always wanted to visit the Easter Island. We have finally bought our RTW ticket but it wasn't possible to stop on any of the Pacific Islands flying to NZ or OZ from SA.
I am contemplating to get a return flight from Santiago to Easter Island for a visit.
Do you think it's worth a visit and how much time would you spend if you would go?
Also, do you have any idea how much a return flight would be...approximately?

Thanks a lot for your help, Yvonne

The minimum stay should be about three days, ideal five. A return flight from Santiago is going to start at about US$600 if booked far in advance. It is a very unique place, but you need to decide if you think it is worth it.

Thanks a lot for your reply. I will look into it...I'd love to go but wanted to hear some other people's opinion. I don't think my boyfriend really fancies going there but maybe I can persuade him to go :)

I have got a returnflight from Buenos Aires for U$S 570,- which is a very good deal, but you have to book at least one month or better more in advance.

Sorry to be a downer but I have purchased a One World network RTW ex Sydney which includes Santiago - Easter Island - Papeete - Sydney. I'm flying Lan Chile to Easter Island and Papeete then Air Tahiti Nui to Sydney. The connections are not always easy but they are possible if you can be flexible.

I definitely think a visit to Easter Island is well worthwhile but I hear that 3 to 4 days gives plenty of time to get a taste of the island and see the key sites. It can be expensive and sometimes hard to find accommodation although there are many commentaries on this thread that suggest otherwise.

Good luck

Excellent, thanks a lot for the replies. I am not sure why we couldn't get the stop over on the Pacific Islands. Maybe it was just with the travelagent we went for in the end.
I had a look at LAN's website and if I'd book early in advance I could even get a return flight for around $400. That's great and I don't mind paying this.

Thanks a lot for all your responses, I will definitely consider going over there. It was always my dream to see the Moai :)

It had long been an aim of mine to visit Easter Island too, and I finally made it there in 2005. It was well worth the fuss and cost, as it's a unique place. Perhaps tell your boyfriend that not only are the Moai fascinating, but also the place is warm, relaxed, scenic in a rugged way, and there's a great beach at Anakena. Evenings in Hanga Roa there are some nice places to hang out as well. I spent 8 days there and enjoyed it all, but you could tour around Rapa Nui in less, say 3-5 days.

Thank you so much for all the replies! I definitely want to go now! I can start working my persuasive skills on him now :)

I went to Easter Island in 1990 - and I still regard it as a major treat. Ironically I only decided to go there shortly before leaving for South America, so I was not particularly hyped.
My advice is: if your keen on going to EA - don't miss it!!!
Prepare your visit by some reading - the guide book entry on EA might suffice. If you can tell your boyfriend something about what you are going to see, and why it is unique, he might have a better time, and be easier to convince. I to something similar to my children (aged 9 & 12) - that way they find ruins fascinating, which, otherwise, would only by heaps of boring stones...

It is well worth going for at least a week. I wouldn't mind going again, and for 2-3 weeks.
To appreciate the island, visit all the major sites, go on long hikes or mountain bike trips, do some boat trips to see the wildlife, get some snorkelling or even scuba diving, try all the delicious seafood, explore the volcanoes on your own (you can walk unguided to the top of one of them, across the runway from the village), explore the caves, go to chill, snorkel and swim at Anakena beach several times because it is so beautiful.
You will ask yourself why you lead such a stressful life ;-)

Easter Island was absolutely the high point of our trip to Chile (and we enjoyed the entire trip). I highly recommend you try to go during the "Tapati Festival". It lasts about two weeks in Jan/Feb and it is very interesting and fun. Local competitions (like riding a banana tree down a huge hill) during the day and singing, dancing and eating all night!!!!

Tapati Festival sounds like fun :) Unfortunately we'll be in Venezuela and Brazil around this time. Thanks again for all the help guys!!!

hey yvonne, where did you see the return flight for $400? i am checking the LAN site and the cheapest i can find in november is $1,400

cheers!

easter island is an amazing place, it has the atmosphere that makes you feel like an explorer...even though it is totally tourist orientated. but i loved it there, maybe try and hook up with some other people before you arrive - the casa roja in barrio brasil normally has people leaving on each flight. i would recommend walking around the island with a tent, you can hire them in hostels in santiago if you dont have them (expensive when you get there) because it is really easy and you see lots of things that you would otherwise never get to see....

Hi Bauhaus, I have checked for flight next year! You'll have to book 3 months in advance to get a cheap-ish deal on that website. I haven't checked since

next year? you do prepare things in advance! :)

:) I will only be in SA next year but obviously won't book the flights now. But I have checked how much they are if booked 2 months in advance and you should still get them for around $600 return

Hi All,
I am travelling to EA as part of my RTW trip as well. I am travelling in the other direction though.
Starting in Sydney AUS, trevelling to Canada, through USA, then on to RIO and an 83 day tour
with GAP through Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chille, Bolivia, Peru and finishing in Ecuador.
We then fly down to Santiago out to EA for 6 days then back to Santiago and on to Madrid.
Like #4 we booked a one world ticket and are flying the EA leg with LAN Chile.

I was thinking of changing and not doing EA and spending more time in Ecuador but after reading the above posts
will be saying with original plans. Will be there in the last week of June 2008! Will be locking in all our flights within the next month.

Thanks for the info

By the way does anyone know what the weather in EA is like at the end of June?

I was at the beginning of august and the weather was fine, some rain, but we still get very sunburned in 7 days.

I I going to Easter Island next jahr (april).

They exist Campings in the Island? thanks

I had hoped to visit Easter Island this January but alas having reserved seats with BA and while awaiting a fare (2 weeks) LAN chile dropped all our LAN flight reservations from the RTW route chosen. I had been constantly phoning BA to get a fare so we could pay I already know roughly what it will be, but cannot get fare and therefore cannot pay. Not sure what is happening now. It seems BA are trying to re-instate flights to reservations but LAN are refusing. There are now few flights available for RTW at this time on this route.