3-Day Private Easter Island Tour from Santiago with Rapa Nui Highlights

15:00 – Tour Begins in Hanga Roa

• After arriving on Easter Island and settling into your hotel in Hanga Roa, begin your half-day journey through some of the island’s most iconic sites.

15:15 – Ahu Tahai Historic Site – 30 Minutes

• Visit the coastal ceremonial complex of Ahu Tahai, located in the heart of Hanga Roa.
  Admire three restored platforms and a unique moai with white coral eyes—the only one of its kind on the island.
  Feel the ancestral presence as you gaze out over the Pacific Ocean.

15:45 – Ahu Akivi – 45 Minutes

• Continue to Ahu Akivi, where seven majestic moai stand facing the sea.
  Restored in 1960, these stone guardians symbolize the anticipation of Polynesian ancestors and a vision toward the future.
  This sacred site, aligned with celestial events, invites reflection on the harmony between earth and sky.

16:30 – Puna Pau Volcano – 45 Minutes

• End the tour at the crater of Puna Pau, the source of red scoria used to carve the moai’s ceremonial “hats” or pukao.
  From the summit, enjoy sweeping views of Terevaka volcano and the vast expanse of Hanga Roa below.

17:15 – Return to Hotel

• Conclude the day with a sense of wonder and a deeper connection to Rapa Nui’s living history.

09:00 – Departure from Hanga Roa

• Embark on a full-day adventure along the island’s southern coast, rich in culture and breathtaking landscapes.

09:30 – Vaihu Village – 30 Minutes

• Explore a restored Rapa Nui village featuring traditional homes that reflect the lifestyle of the island’s ancient inhabitants.

10:00 – Ahu Akahanga – 45 Minutes

• Visit a ceremonial platform with 12 moai facing inland, surrounded by remnants of a typical Rapa Nui settlement: stone ovens, caves, and sacred structures.

10:45 – Ahu Tongariki – 45 Minutes

• Marvel at the island’s largest restored platform, where 15 moai stand in solemn formation overlooking the ocean.

11:30 – Rano Raraku Volcano – 1 Hour 30 Minutes

• Walk among nearly 400 moai in various stages of carving on the slopes of this sacred quarry.
  Your guide will share insights into the techniques used to sculpt and transport these colossal figures, while you absorb the mystical energy of the site.

13:00 – Anakena Beach – 2 Hours

• Relax on the island’s most idyllic beach, with white coral sand and turquoise waters.

Discover the platforms of Ahu Nau Nau and Ahu Ature Huki, key sites of archaeological significance.

Enjoy free time to swim, sunbathe, or simply take in the serene beauty before heading back.

15:00 – Return to Hanga Roa

• End the day refreshed and inspired by the cultural and natural splendor of Rapa Nui.

09:00 – Departure from Hanga Roa

• Begin your final day with a journey through sites steeped in symbolism and legend.

09:15 – Ahu Vinapu Platform – 30 Minutes

• Observe the Ahu Tahira wall, built with a masonry technique reminiscent of Inca architecture.
  The red scoria and perfectly fitted stones reveal a sophisticated ancestral craftsmanship.

09:45 – Rano Kau Volcano – 45 Minutes

• Peer into the vast crater of Rano Kau, one of the island’s most spectacular natural wonders.
  Its inner lagoon and dramatic cliffs offer a view that feels otherworldly.

10:30 – Orongo Ceremonial Village – 1 Hour

• Explore this ceremonial enclave, essential to understanding the final phase of Rapa Nui’s cultural evolution before missionary contact.
• Immerse yourself in the legends of the Birdman cult (Tangata Manu), where competitors swam to Motu Nui islet to retrieve the first egg of the manutara seabird.
  The winner was crowned king and spiritual leader of the island for the year.

11:30 – Return to Hotel

• Conclude your experience with a profound appreciation for the spiritual and political legacy of Rapa Nui.