Explore Easter Island

Arrival into Easter Island and transfer to your hotel.
UNESCO World Heritage Listed Easter Island is a remote volcanic island that lies in the Pacific Ocean some 3,700kms to the west of Chile. One of the most isolated places on earth and one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is famed for its archaeological sites that include around 900 moai statues. These carved human figures were created during the 10th-16th centuries and many are found resting on massive rock altars.

Most of Easter Islands 900 moai come from the slopes of the Rano Raraku volcano and it is here on the South Coast of the island that we head for our first stop today. We will see more than 300 of the volcanic stone statues that were produced by skilled craftsman between the year 1000 and 1680. Lunch will be enjoyed at the base of the volcano before we continue to the Tongariki Platform and Te Pito Kura where we find the island's biggest moai.

In the afternoon we make our way to Anakena beach where pure white sand and calm waters make it an ideal place to swim and relax. It is also probably the only beach in the world that boasts two important archaeological sites, Ahu Ature Huki and Ahu Nau Nau which you are free to explore.

At the end of the day we head inland in order to return to Hanga Roa Toen.

Includes lunch.

We set off for the Orongo village which sits on the edge of the extinct volcano Rano Kau. The village which consists of 54 stone houses is believed to have been a ceremonial centre for the birdman culture from the 16th century until its abandonment in the mid-19th century. In addition to its incredible natural beauty, the site boasts a high number of petroglyphs depicting tangat manu - the birdman. This is a truly a magical place where the views will memorise you and the stories and legends will intrigue you.

We head to Ahu Akivi the site of the seven moai. The sculptures which are close to 4.5 metres tall, are thought to represent the seven young explores sent to scope out the island before the arrival of Horu Matu and his people. We will also visit Pun-a-Pau quarry from where the Pukao cylindrical hats were sourced . The 1 - 2 metre cylindas weighed between nine and twenty tonnes and were rolled down hill to the moai sites.

Transfer to the airport for your outward flight from Easter Island..