Chile & Easter Island

Welcome to Santiago, the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the biggest cities in the Americas. It is situated smack bang in the center of Santiago Metropolitan Region, which is Chile most densely populated region, with a population of 7 million. Filling the country’s central valley, was founded in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago is rare among South American capital cities in that it has served as the capital city since the colonial occupation.

Downtown and central Santiago is largely made-up of 19th-century neoclassical architecture and winding side-streets, but has smatterings of art-deco and neo-gothic architecture, amongst others. Like many cities in along the Western confines of the continent, Santiago is surrounded by hills as the Andes begin to rise behind it. The main river in the city is the fast-flowing Mapocho River, and Santiago is known in South America for being modern, organized, and very safe, as well as a clean, prosperous city with important financial and industrial clout in South America.

Upon arrival in Chile, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel.

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On today’s excursion, we explore the historical and modern sights of Santiago de Chile. Discover Chile’s capital city which combines colonial buildings with ultramodern architecture. Start your tour downtown on the “Alameda”, a colorful main avenue with important buildings like the Chilean University, the San Francisco Church, and the Santa Lucia Hill where Santiago was founded in 1541. Continue towards the “Plaza de Armas” and visit the central market. Next, go to the “Bellavista” bohemian district. When you arrive at “San Cristóbal Hill”, appreciate the finest panoramic views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains. End your day admiring the daring architecture in the modern residential areas as you drive back to your hotel.

After this amazing tour, we will call it a day and return to the hotel.

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Today we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Easter Island!

Upon our arrival at the Mataveri airport in Hanga Roa, we are welcomed with the traditional Island flower necklace. After a short transfer to the hotel, we will have the rest of the day to spend as we please. A visit to the nearby church and village is recommended, where we can observe both Catholic and indigenous symbols and statues (Sunday mass available if time permits).  Next to the church, there is a local market and museum rich in Rapa Nui artifacts and culture. 

Meals (B)

Today we will learn more about the fascinating history of Rapa Nui as we head south along the coast. Drive to the south coast and visit representative examples of not restored platforms, Ahus Vaihu in the bay of Hanga Te’e, and Akahanga, where supposedly the famous king Hotu Matua was buried. Proceed to Rano Raraku, a quarry of almost 900 stone statues, 397 of them still lying or standing on the slopes of the extinct volcano with a crater lake. Then visit Ahu Tongariki (restored with 15 Moais), the most recent and biggest restoration on the island. Drive to the east coast and visit Ahu Te Pito Kura and the “Navel of the World”. Finally, visit the beach of Anakena with its restored Ahus Nau Nau and Ature Huke. There, we have the opportunity to enjoy the warm Pacific Ocean and then back to hotel.

Meals (B, L)

After breakfast in the hotel, we take a drive up the Rano Kau, an extinct volcano that offers spectacular views from the track that takes you towards the summit. Along the way we will be able to stop and appreciate beautiful panoramic views of the island from different heights and angles – these stopping points are great places to take some really impressive pictures of the dramatic scenery.  Further up, we make a brief stop at an outlook point from which we can see the beautiful lake which is nestled neatly inside the old volcanic crater. 

From there, we will head to the ceremonial village known as Orongo and learn about its fascinating past and how such traditions have been preserved to this day. Orongo is home to the birdman cult, Tangata-Manu, an epic annual race in which competitors needed to swim to a nearby island, harvest the first egg of the sooty tern, and return to Rapa Nui, climbing the cliff with the egg intact!

Here, we can also see some ancient petroglyphs and have a fantastic view of the three islets situated on the opposing coastline. Afterward, we will drive down the volcano to the Ahu Vinapu that includes an ahu – a sacred ceremonial site where several moai stand – with its intricate stonemasonry. Our last stop of the morning before heading back to the hotel will be the cave of Ana Kai Tangata, famed for the ancient cave paintings that adorn its walls

Meals (B)

After a good rest and a delicious breakfast, we set off to Ahu Akivi, a sacred place that features seven re-erected moai. This Ahu is situated inland, and as such, varies a little from other statue collections. Our guide will tell you about the story and legends around this sight and the belief that these statues represent the first seven explorers who were sent to Rapa Nui by the late King Hotu Matua.

From there, we continue to Hanga Poukura, a site with a few ahu in various states of disrepair. One of the most famous and varied statue sites on the Island, where we can see the widest variation of stones, with the famous “topknot” statues featured heavily. 

Next, we will visit the important quarry of Puna Pau that provided the sole source of the red scoria that the Rapa Nui villagers used to carve the Pukaos, with every single one traceable back to this one quarry site. We conclude our visit by heading back towards shore and a visit to the ceremonial site of Tahai which boasts three completely intact ahus, some other statues that have been lovingly and carefully restored and the remains of the old boathouses and ramp system used many years ago. This is a day filled with history, culture, and breathtaking sights! 

Meals (B)

Today, after one last breakfast in our hotel, it is time to bid farewell to this fascinating and mysterious island and head back to Santiago de Chile.

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Today we have a final breakfast. If you have not already, you should try the Chilean empanadas!

As we have slept at the airport hotel for convenience, we simply check our departure times and make our way to the check-in counter for our flight home.

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