EASTER ISLAND (RAPA NUI) 81 (stat- Poike Península © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © Rano Raraku Maunga Terevaka La Cathédrale Ceremonial Village

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Rano ( p92 ) ( p93 ), Hanga Roa Anakena ( p89 ), Península Poike Península emanate mystical vibes. The fact that they are scattered amid scattered fact that they are The vibes. mystical emanate Motu Nui do ( p92 ) or snorkel in ) or snorkel in p92 ( ( p87 ) or surfing course have finished working their magic on you, there’s a startling finished working on you, there’s such a variety (for have their magic many people). On land, there’s no better ecofriendly way to experience the no better there’s many people). On land, ( p88 ), then to p88 ( too moai La Cathédrale ( p89 ) ( p88 ) for fabulous panoramic views p88 ( dramatically perched on the edge of Kau Rano Raraku Orongo Ceremonial Village Orongo Ceremonial swaying palms under the ) for a snooze p88 ( ance of a Rapa Nui group in Terevaka Maunga dive dive off crystal-clear waters

at the island’s enigmatic past Ponder over a Get wet! Take ‘Awesome!’ at the Hear yourself scream and sensual dance perform- music or get hypnotised by the furious Hoist a drink, hear live Climb to the top of the extinct volcano

„ „ „ „ „ HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

Punctuate all this with the hugely popular Tapati Rapa Nui festival, featuring an incredibly an incredibly featuring Rapa Nui festival, all this with the hugely popular Tapati Punctuate Although it’s world famous, has managed to hold on to that slow-down- Island has managed Easter Although it’s world famous, When the supernatural stage. They They supernatural stage. these strikingly standing on stone platforms, like enigmatic statues puppets on a colossal it’s time to check out the real thing. Truth is, you’ll never forget your first encounter with your first encounter forget Truth is, you’ll never thing. real it’s time to check out the ues), either at sunset or with the indigo-blue waters of the Pacific as a backdrop. Now as a backdrop. Now of the Pacific or with the indigo-blueues), either at sunset waters

Somewhere you’ve seen that classic photo, beloved of brochures, of a row of of brochures, beloved seen that classic photo, you’ve Somewhere Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Nui) (Rapa Island Easter couldn’t offer up a better finale. finale. up a better couldn’t offer vibrant programme of music, dance and traditional cultural events, and the South Pacific and the South Pacific cultural events, vibrant programme of music, dance and traditional remains small and personable, and that’s the beauty of it. small and personable, remains blend unobtrusively into the environment. Although visitors are on the increase, everything everything on the increase, visitors are into the environment. Although blend unobtrusively ensures your money goes straight into local pockets, your money goes and a handful of luxurious options that ensures out to the max. There are no showy resorts, just a smattering of family-run pensions, which no showy resorts, just a smattering are out to the max. There it’s-the-South-Pacific feeling. There’s only one road and few cars. The atmosphere is chilled is atmosphere The cars. only one road and few There’s feeling. it’s-the-South-Pacific do is recharge the batteries, a couple of Bounty-licious expanses of white sand beckon. a couple of Bounty-licious expanses of white the batteries, do is recharge island’s savage beauty than on foot, from a bikeisland’s savage beauty than on horseback. saddle or to But if all you want you won’t tell you won’t tell small island) of adventure options available. Diving, snorkelling and surfing options available. fabulous (promise are small island) of adventure an eerie landscape adds to the thrill. an eerie landscape adds EASTER ISLAND (RAPA NUI) ble inthe budget category, CH$30,000 to for adou- less than CH$30,000a night find theislandfairly good value… Tahiti, you’llheave of asigh relief and will pricey forwhatyouget. Ifyoucome from dation andrestaurants Island fairly onEaster prepared forashock. You’llfindaccommo- If youcomehere frommainlandChile,be COSTS &MONEY and atthistimehotel prices are highest. runs fromlate Decembertolate February, typically Island, butthepeakholidayseason can occurduring any season. but are anidealtimeforhiking.Downpours beabitchillyAugust might forsometastes, make thetemperatures feel higher. Julyand August. Insummertropicalhumiditycan coolest (butstillrelatively warm)inJulyand land ishottest inJanuary andFebruary and temperatures around20°Cto25°C.Theis- Island hasamildclimate withaverage daily 82 Just southof theTropicof Easter Capricorn,

CLIMATE &WHENTOGO Kau Information EASTER ISLAND We’ve placed accommodationcosting Any timeisagoodtovisitEaster Motu La Cathédrale ATRILN RP U) • lmt hnt o ISLAND(RAPAEASTER NUI)••Climate&WhentoGo Aeropuerto See HangaRoa (Dos Ventanas) Motu Nui Mataveri Ana Kakenga Map (p86) Hanga Tautara Roa Orongo CeremonialVillage Motu La Pyramide 0º5W109º20'W 109º25'W (410m) Rano Kau Puna Pau Te Pahu Ana Ahu Tepeu Ahu Vinapu Maunga (220m) Orito Ahu Akivi Explora en Terevaka Rapa Nui Maunga (507m) Rapa Nui Nacional Parque Vaihu Ahu Cerro Pui Ahu AtureHuki Ahu Nau the Pacific islands fromSouth Americaon expedition proved itwaspossibletocross to ThorHeyerdahl’sAlthough 1947 ter pricesare for season. high months (December toMarch). Inthischap- ations, withrates risingduringthesummer prices in US$. number of alsoquote establishments their over CH$60,000inthe top end. CH$60,000 inthemidrange category and HISTORY Akahanga S OUTHPACIFEN Ahu There are price vari- significantseasonal Note thatpricesare listed inpesosbuta Anakena EASTER ISLANDFACTS Website Greeting Languages Currency International telephone code Land area Population Capital city Ahu Hanga Pito Kura Tetenga Ahu Te Ovahe Information www.netaxs.com/trance/rapanui.html

Chileanpeso(CH$) Hola 117sqkm Spanish and Rapa Nui SpanishandRapa Petroglyphs 4800 HangaRoa Papa Vaka (Spanish); Pérouse Bahía de La Raraku Rano 4km 2miles 0 0 Iorana I ko 's T

Tongariki Ahu r en (Rapa Nui) (Rapa

Pu AKatiki c h Marotiri lonelyplanet.com Maunga Motu (400m) 109º15'W

% Grotto ofthe 56 32 Virgins Kon-Tiki Lying moai Península Poike 27º05'S

27º10'S