Easter Island travel guide
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is one of the most remote inhabited places on the planet, in the middle of the Pacific and a territory of Chile. Its famous moai, ceremonial platforms and volcanoes form a unique archaeological landscape, now within Rapa Nui National Park. It is reached by flight from Santiago, and the visit centres on the main sites.
Season by month
When to travel- Peak season
- High season
- Shoulder season
What to do on Easter Island
- Rano Raraku and Ahu Tongariki approx. 9 h A full day: the quarry where the moai were carved and the platform of fifteen figures.
- Orongo and the Rano Kau crater approx. 4 h A half-day; the ceremonial village of the birdman cult on the crater rim.
- Tahai at sunset approx. 2 h Steps from the town; the natural close of any day on the island.
- Anakena and Ahu Nau Nau approx. 4 h The island's main sand beach, with a moai platform behind it; a half-day that also swims.
- Ana Te Pahu and the lava caves approx. 3 h The island's longest lava tube, with banana trees growing at its mouth; a torch and closed shoes.
- A Rapa Nui dance evening approx. 2 h The island's own company rather than a hotel show; fixed nights in the village.
- Diving off Motu Nui approx. 3 h Some of the clearest water in the Pacific; certified dives and first-timer dives from Hanga Roa.
Neighbourhoods in Easter Island
- Avenida Atamu Tekena The commercial spine of Hanga Roa, the island's only town, with most of its shops, tour agencies and restaurants.
Beaches in Easter Island
- Ovahe A small, sheltered cove about 1.5km from Anakena, its sand tinted pink by a mix of red volcanic rock and crushed coral; no facilities and stronger currents than Anakena, so not recommended for swimming.
Where to eat on Easter Island
- Tataku Vave A restaurant just behind Caleta Hanga Piko, with a terrace metres from the water, known for its fish dishes.
- Haka Honu An ocean-view restaurant serving fish, steaks, homemade pasta, burgers and salads.
- Kuki Varua A restaurant sourcing fish delivered daily from the harbour, including tuna and grouper.
What to do on Easter Island without booking an excursion
- Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert A free, self-guided anthropology museum near Tahai, about a 20-minute walk from central Hanga Roa, holding roughly 15,000 objects including the island's only known female moai; open Tuesday-Sunday.
- Caleta Hanga Roa The town's working fishing harbour, freely walkable, with restaurants and cafés along the water and green sea turtles (honu) commonly visible.
- Santa Cruz Church A parish church in the town centre blending Catholic and Rapa Nui iconography, open to visitors without a guide.
Who to offer it to
When to go
The subtropical climate allows a visit year-round, with mild temperatures. The driest, most pleasant months run from October to March; February brings the Tapati festival, which draws more visitors.
How many days
Three to four days allow an unhurried tour of the main sites and time to settle into the island's rhythm. Travel times are moderate, but it is best to spread the visits so no single day is overloaded.
What not to miss
Ahu Tongariki with its fifteen moai; the quarry at Rano Raraku volcano; the Orongo ceremonial centre on Rano Kau; and Anakena beach, with moai beside the sea.
What to offer and why
Four nights is the honest minimum: flights are not daily and the island is not a two-night stop. Two full days for the archaeological sites, one for Anakena and the north coast, and the sunsets at Tahai.
When to book
Six to eight months, and more around Tapati: the island's capacity is fixed and does not grow with demand.
Practical and operational
Access is a single long flight from Santiago: a missed connection is a missed island, so leave slack in the mainland itinerary. The sites are visited with an authorised guide and there is a national-park admission.
How we arrange it
We coordinate guides, Rapa Nui National Park entries and transfers with licensed local suppliers and sell net rates to the agency. We confirm flights and lodging well ahead given the island's limited connectivity and capacity.
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Booking & policies
Are the prices shown net or retail?
Rates are net (wholesale) and reserved for travel agencies and tour operators, who sign in to see them and add their own margin. Public visitors see an indicative retail “from” price; the net rate is never shown outside the B2B Portal.
What happens after I book?
When you book, we receive your booking and start working on it: it shows as “In process” and we let you know of every update. Vouchers are sent once payments have been received.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations follow Clause 7 of the Terms: more than 30 days before the service, no penalty and a full refund; 15 to 30 days, 25%; 8 to 14 days, 50%; 3 to 7 days, 75%; less than 72 hours before commencement or a no-show, 100%. Certain destinations — Patagonia, the Amazon region and high-demand dates in peak season — apply stricter terms, stated in the quotation. The schedule above is indicative: the conditions that apply to each booking are those stated in the quotation, and may be stricter in high season, on public holidays or where a service has its own policy.
Can dates or passenger names be changed after booking?
Amendment requests must reach RUMBO LIBRE at least 72 business hours before the service begins. Changes are managed subject to availability, and any resulting rate difference applies. For private services, a name change may require re-issuing the booking at the current rate.
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