Easter Island Tours

Easter Island’s main attractions are, of course, the more than 900 giant, mesmerizing Moai statues scattered across the island. Some stand proudly against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, while others are buried up to their necks in soil, and still others found underwater.

On top of this, explore sites such as the postcard-perfect Anakena Beach, the petroglyphs of Papa Vaka, Terevaka Volcano, and Tahai, with the latter making for a glorious sunrise scene and the best photographs.

For Pacific Ocean sailing, scuba diving, authentic cultural presentations and fantastic seafood, a trip to Easter Island should feature high in your Chile vacation list!

It’s hard to think of any safer place than Easter Island. Tourists being victims of violent crimes is unheard of. And unless you’re out looking for a fight, you can walk by yourself at night without worrying about your safety.

Something that does happen is opportunistic theft when valuable items are left out for others to see. So, keep you valuable in your hotel room’s safe-box, just to be safe.

Also, while the tap water on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is clean and drinkable, some people might note a slight salty taste and the chlorine used for disinfecting it. So, if you’re not used to that and/or have a very sensitive stomach, it might be a good idea to buy bottled water.

Though belonging to Chile, Easter Island is located a distant 2,182 miles from the Chilean mainland. Travelers to Easter Island must fly first to Santiago de Chile. Landing in the Chilean capital, you will be met, welcomed, and assisted by Surtrek representatives at Santiago’s international airport.

Given the long flight to Chile from abroad, as well as the relatively long flight ahead to reach the island, we recommend a stay in the Chilean capital of at least one day.

Assisted by our representatives in departing Santiago, you will fly for around six hours before landing at Easter Island’s Mataveri International Airport, outside the town of Hanga Roe, where you will be met and privately driven to your world-class Easter Island eco-hotel.

Getting to Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, typically involves flying from mainland Chile or Tahiti. The main gateway to the island is Santiago, Chile, where you can catch direct flights to Mataveri International Airport (IPC) on Easter Island.

Several airlines operate flights to Easter Island from Santiago, including LATAM Airlines and Sky Airline. Flight durations vary but generally take around 5 to 6 hours. It’s advisable to book your flights well in advance, especially during peak travel seasons, as seats can fill up quickly.

Alternatively, if you’re coming from Tahiti, you can also find flights to Easter Island operated by Air Tahiti. These flights usually have a layover in Mangareva before continuing on to Easter Island.

Once you arrive at Mataveri International Airport on Easter Island, you’ll be greeted by the island’s unique landscape and warm Polynesian hospitality. From there, you can easily explore the island’s attractions, including the famous Moai statues, volcanic craters, and beautiful beaches, either independently or with the help of local tour operators.

Though Easter Island has a warm tropical climate throughout the year, we at Surtrek have found that the very best time to visit the island is during off-peak shoulder seasons: either April-June or October-December. Throughout these months, cooling ocean breezes will help to keep you even more comfortable during your stay.

The climate and lifestyle on Easter Island allow travelers to dress casually and comfortably. From the southern hemisphere’s late spring to early autumn (October/April), swimwear and sarongs can even be worn during the day, while casual shirts and shorts provide comfort while exploring the island. During the hemisphere’s late-fall and winter (April/October), packing warmer clothes is recommended, especially windproof and rainproof clothing. Bring along a hat or jockey, the sun is very strong no matter the season or temperature.

Though you’ll receive a detailed packing list after you book your once-in-a-lifetime Easter Island adventure tour with Surtrek, the following tips and general pack list provides useful guidelines for traveling to this Polynesian paradise:

Clothing:

• 2 pairs of pants
• 1 pair of shorts (optional – we both wore pants every day)
• 5 t-shirts (1 per day – shirts will get dusty and possibly sweaty)
• 5 underwear/socks (1 per day)
• 1 bathing suit and beach towel
• 1 waterproof raincoat
• 1 sweatshirt or hoodie for cool mornings/evenings or around Orongo crater
• 1 hat

For Your Feet:

• 1 pair of flip flops for apartment and/or beach
• 1 pair of waterproof hiking boots

Accessories:

• 1 pair of sunglasses
• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, etc.)
• Hand sanitizer (optional)
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellent
• Water bottle
• Backpack or daypack
• Camera (or phone)

With over 25 years of introducing adventurous travelers to authentic, tailor-made luxury travel experiences across South America, Surtrek is adept at offering some of the best and most complete tour services on an Easter Island tour.

With our experienced travel team of 25 members strong — including native speakers of five different languages — we will work one-on-one with you to custom-design an Easter Island tour that perfectly suits your particular interests and needs.

Contact one of our South America experts to plan your perfect Polynesian and Chilean getaway.