Easter Island Independent Adventure - Upgraded

Arrive on Easter Island at any time and transfer to hotel. Arrive at Mataveri Airport on Easter Island. Be greeted by a G Adventures representative and be transferred to the hotel. Rapa Nui, located at the easternmost vertex of the Polynesian triangle in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, lies 3,700km (2,299 mi) from the Chilean coast and 4,000km (2,485 mi) from French Polynesia. The island has an area of 16,600 ha and enjoys a subtropical climate with minimum temperatures of 16°C and a maximum of 28°C. The island was created as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions some 3 million years ago.

When landing on Easter Island there is a national park fee of 83 USD that you need to pay in cash at the airport. A Rapa Nui Entry Form (IRN) must be completed by every passenger from 72hrs prior to travelling to Easter Island. Please check the Visa and Entry Requirements section on the Tour Details page. Please note that the included day tours on this trip are sometimes shared with passengers of other nationalities. When passengers are French or Spanish speaking the tours will be conducted in both English and French/Spanish.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Day: Begin your adventure today. There are no planned activities so feel free to explore or rest up for the excitement ahead.
• Welcome Package Airport Transfer: Receive a welcome package from your transfer driver that includes a schedule, documentation/vouchers, and pick-up times for all included activities. The package will also contain contact information, should you have any questions about the tour.

Set out on a full-day private tour with a local guide along the moai route of Easter Island. Visit the ruins, towns, volcanoes, and beaches of this unique island. See the monolithic statues that make this island so famous. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore on your own.

Included Experiences

• Moai Route Tour: Enjoy a full-day tour along the moai route. Start the tour with a visit to Vaihu, a place surrounded by enormous statues that have toppled face down. Next, stop at the ruins of Ahn Akahanga. Still in their original condition, they are the location where the first king of the island was buried. See the Rano Raraku volcano located further along, close to the southern shore of the island. At the base of Poike, the most spectacular crater in the zone, former islanders carved giant statues from the volcano’s quarry — they are 20m (65t) long and just under 200 tons. Carry on toward the beautiful beach of Anakena, to see Ahu Tongariki, the largest of the 15 moais on the island; they weigh an average of 50 tons and were destroyed by a tidal wave in 1960. Before Anakena, we will check out of Te Pito Kura and the moai of Ahu Nau Nau.
• Free Time: Enjoy some free time to relax or explore on your own.

Take a half-day private tour of Orongo. Visit Rano Kao volcano with its lake-filled crater, and see its ceremonial centre perched on the crater lip. Stop at Ahu Vinapu for a look into the architectural skill of the islanders. In the afternoon visit Aku Akivi and the quarry of Puna Pau.

Included Experiences

• Half-Day Orongo Tour: Depart Hanga Roa and go toward Rano Kao Volcano; inside its deep crater there is a freshwater lake covered with totora. Located on the top of the crater is Orongo, the centre where the Tangata Manu or Bird Man ceremony is celebrated each year, usually during summer. There are more than 100 petroglyphs, representing the god Make Make, the Tangata Manu, and the Manutara sea bird, among others. Continue on to the ceremonial platform of Ahu Vinapu, well known for its architectural perfection.
• Sightseeing Tour: Head north to visit the Ahu Akivi, a platform made up of seven moais – these are the only moais on the island that were positioned facing the sea. Move on to Huri a Urenga before visiting the Puna Pau, a quarry where the Pukao where carved (Pukao is also known as the typical hairstyle or the hats of the moais). Learn more about the making, building, and transportation process of these colossal sculptures carved on volcanic rock.

Transfer to the airport for departure.