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Days 34-42 (November 10-18) Rapa Nui/Easter Island Travel Day & Day 1

Published: 23.11.2025

is the Pitcairn Islands, almost 3,000 km away.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'><b>Rapa Nui</b> is a relatively old inactive volcanic island (technically, the summit of a 2,500m high underwater volcano), about 24 km long and 13 km wide, resembling a geometric triangle. The highest volcanic cone measures about 500m out of the ocean. The coastline is rocky or steep in most places, with only two sandy beaches. The largest and, in my opinion, the most beautiful beach is ‘Anakena’ in the north of the islands. There is a sort of ring road, along the coast in the south, and through the middle of the island to about 300 meters elevation in the north. Hanga Roa, the only town, is located in the northwest, directly next to the airport. Most of the approximately 7,500 inhabitants likely live here. The two ports are small: one for tourism and fishing boats, the other with a small pier and two landing boats for unloading cargo. Maritime cargo must be transferred at sea from classic cargo ships to these landing boats. The flora is tropical and colorful, but the fauna is rather limited. More about Rapa Nui here: <a href='https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osterinsel'>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osterinsel</a></p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>The travel day started relaxed: 6:45 breakfast, 7:30 drive to the airport, luggage drop-off. So far, everything as expected … Only with the subsequent, special entry regulations required for Rapa Nui did we get the feeling we were entering a restricted area or a prison island: already during the flight booking we had to fill out a special online form for the Criminal Police😳 of Rapa Nui with detailed information about our stay. Okay, the form was relatively easy to fill out - but reading through the numerous legal references and threats of penalties for incomplete or incorrect information was a bit time-consuming 😳🤪.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>At check-in at the airport, there was also a special area for “domestic departure” to Rapa Nui. Once again, I felt like I was showing my boarding pass and ID for the fifth time … along with the special RapaNui entry form. After everything was checked for correctness, we received a printout that allowed us to travel to Rapa Nui. And - you won’t believe it - just 10m(!) beyond the security checkpoint - actually again “Por favor, su pasaporte y tarjeta de embarque” 🥳! Nevertheless, everything went quite swiftly: after about 40 minutes, we were through and at the gate. <i>(Note: Interestingly, unlike the Galapagos Islands, we didn't have to pay an entry fee. “Oh how nice, finally no scam” … we thought so nicely … unfortunately, we were short-sighted … but more on that later … 🤯🤬😤). </i> Then, between the gate and the airplane, stood a stern-looking plainclothes officer😱 with a badge on his suit - and collected - after another obligatory glance at the passport - the printout we had received earlier😳. A simple “Permission granted” stamp in the passport would have probably been the easier solution 😂.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>The flight on a Boeing 787 takes about 5 1/2 hours. The airport is small - only a maximum of three larger planes can fit there. However, the runway on Rapa Nui is surprisingly long at almost 3,400m and crosses the island horizontally in the western part. Background: NASA was looking for an emergency landing site in the South Pacific for its Space Shuttle in the 1980s and “sponsored” the expansion of the local airport to its current size. And if the pictures can be trusted, a Concorde has even landed here!</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>At the airport, we were surprisingly picked up by a very friendly landlord couple, even with a flower garland and taken to our Cabaña, which is what the small standalone houses (huts) are called here. Ours was simply but functionally furnished (<a href='https://www.booking.com/hotel/cl/tourvarua.de.html?chal_t=1763134951659&force_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F'>LINK</a>) (the hotel alternative at the upper end of the price scale would have cost €13,400😅).</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>In the afternoon, we walked through the center of Hanga Roa - the time difference to the mainland is +2 hours. My friend was shocked at how much everything has changed here since his last visit - unfortunately, not for the better! A few cars had turned into hundreds, many new regulations, most of them restrictions, and also significantly more tourists than expected. Even at the sights, many things had evolved negatively, in our opinion.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>Our then very nice landlord couple offered to show us the sights of the island in the coming days - we should get the car for ‘only’ $45/day from a good friend - as we later realized, a typical example of the local “business model.” <i>… more on that at the end of the travel report on Rapa Nui.</i></p><p></p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'><br /></p>
is the Pitcairn Islands, almost 3,000 km away.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'><b>Rapa Nui</b> is a relatively old inactive volcanic island (technically, the summit of a 2,500m high underwater volcano), about 24 km long and 13 km wide, resembling a geometric triangle. The highest volcanic cone measures about 500m out of the ocean. The coastline is rocky or steep in most places, with only two sandy beaches. The largest and, in my opinion, the most beautiful beach is ‘Anakena’ in the north of the islands. There is a sort of ring road, along the coast in the south, and through the middle of the island to about 300 meters elevation in the north. Hanga Roa, the only town, is located in the northwest, directly next to the airport. Most of the approximately 7,500 inhabitants likely live here. The two ports are small: one for tourism and fishing boats, the other with a small pier and two landing boats for unloading cargo. Maritime cargo must be transferred at sea from classic cargo ships to these landing boats. The flora is tropical and colorful, but the fauna is rather limited. More about Rapa Nui here: <a href='https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osterinsel'>https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osterinsel</a></p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>The travel day started relaxed: 6:45 breakfast, 7:30 drive to the airport, luggage drop-off. So far, everything as expected … Only with the subsequent, special entry regulations required for Rapa Nui did we get the feeling we were entering a restricted area or a prison island: already during the flight booking we had to fill out a special online form for the Criminal Police😳 of Rapa Nui with detailed information about our stay. Okay, the form was relatively easy to fill out - but reading through the numerous legal references and threats of penalties for incomplete or incorrect information was a bit time-consuming 😳🤪.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>At check-in at the airport, there was also a special area for “domestic departure” to Rapa Nui. Once again, I felt like I was showing my boarding pass and ID for the fifth time … along with the special RapaNui entry form. After everything was checked for correctness, we received a printout that allowed us to travel to Rapa Nui. And - you won’t believe it - just 10m(!) beyond the security checkpoint - actually again “Por favor, su pasaporte y tarjeta de embarque” 🥳! Nevertheless, everything went quite swiftly: after about 40 minutes, we were through and at the gate. <i>(Note: Interestingly, unlike the Galapagos Islands, we didn't have to pay an entry fee. “Oh how nice, finally no scam” … we thought so nicely … unfortunately, we were short-sighted … but more on that later … 🤯🤬😤). </i> Then, between the gate and the airplane, stood a stern-looking plainclothes officer😱 with a badge on his suit - and collected - after another obligatory glance at the passport - the printout we had received earlier😳. A simple “Permission granted” stamp in the passport would have probably been the easier solution 😂.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>The flight on a Boeing 787 takes about 5 1/2 hours. The airport is small - only a maximum of three larger planes can fit there. However, the runway on Rapa Nui is surprisingly long at almost 3,400m and crosses the island horizontally in the western part. Background: NASA was looking for an emergency landing site in the South Pacific for its Space Shuttle in the 1980s and “sponsored” the expansion of the local airport to its current size. And if the pictures can be trusted, a Concorde has even landed here!</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>At the airport, we were surprisingly picked up by a very friendly landlord couple, even with a flower garland and taken to our Cabaña, which is what the small standalone houses (huts) are called here. Ours was simply but functionally furnished (<a href='https://www.booking.com/hotel/cl/tourvarua.de.html?chal_t=1763134951659&force_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F'>LINK</a>) (the hotel alternative at the upper end of the price scale would have cost €13,400😅).</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>In the afternoon, we walked through the center of Hanga Roa - the time difference to the mainland is +2 hours. My friend was shocked at how much everything has changed here since his last visit - unfortunately, not for the better! A few cars had turned into hundreds, many new regulations, most of them restrictions, and also significantly more tourists than expected. Even at the sights, many things had evolved negatively, in our opinion.</p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'>Our then very nice landlord couple offered to show us the sights of the island in the coming days - we should get the car for ‘only’ $45/day from a good friend - as we later realized, a typical example of the local “business model.” <i>… more on that at the end of the travel report on Rapa Nui.</i></p><p></p><p style='color:rgb(0, 0, 0)'><br /></p>
Days 34-42 (November 10-18) Rapa Nui/Easter Island Travel Day & Day 1
Days 34-42 (November 10-18) Rapa Nui/Easter Island Travel Day & Day 1
Rapa Nui - Easter Island
Rapa Nui - Easter Island
… on foot from the plane to the terminal
… on foot from the plane to the terminal
Even Erhard had to laugh
Even Erhard had to laugh
The “road” to our Cabaña - right side by the large tree
The “road” to our Cabaña - right side by the large tree
our Cabaña Varua: living room, kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms
our Cabaña Varua: living room, kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms
… I guess I still have to practice my laughter 😆
… I guess I still have to practice my laughter 😆
The smaller harbor described in the text, also a bathing “beach” …
The smaller harbor described in the text, also a bathing “beach” …
Fishermen with their catch
Fishermen with their catch
… the turtles swim among the fishing boats and the bathers …
… the turtles swim among the fishing boats and the bathers …
…
…
… and here now the first Moai, as the stone figures are called
… and here now the first Moai, as the stone figures are called
right next to the second
right next to the second
… this island is quite lonely,
… this island is quite lonely,
The harbor from the other side with the “public swimming pool” and a view of the highest elevation
The harbor from the other side with the “public swimming pool” and a view of the highest elevation
Small town tour with typical shops
Small town tour with typical shops
And here, freshly caught fish is shared and sold right on the street
And here, freshly caught fish is shared and sold right on the street
the church … referred to in English as “Temple”
the church … referred to in English as “Temple”
Note the atypical shape of the figures - likely a concession to the still revered gods by the Rapa Nui
Note the atypical shape of the figures - likely a concession to the still revered gods by the Rapa Nui
Even though there are only very few of the estimated 10 Mui palms left … other tree species have settled
Even though there are only very few of the estimated 10 Mui palms left … other tree species have settled
Buildings are usually one story and colorful - the condition is rarely good
Buildings are usually one story and colorful - the condition is rarely good
Many buildings are also well maintained
Many buildings are also well maintained
… or decorated with figures
… or decorated with figures
One of several vehicle repair shops
One of several vehicle repair shops
The fish hall with a view of the western volcano
The fish hall with a view of the western volcano
Here is the second fishing and industrial harbor with the two landing boats in the background
Here is the second fishing and industrial harbor with the two landing boats in the background
for the next few days, the Pan American Championships in deep-sea rowing were on the agenda
for the next few days, the Pan American Championships in deep-sea rowing were on the agenda
Here the single sculls - out into the open sea - respect!!
Here the single sculls - out into the open sea - respect!!
how many people can fit on a quad?! 4 should be enough 😂
how many people can fit on a quad?! 4 should be enough 😂
One of the many two-wheelers
One of the many two-wheelers
The cars drive as long as possible - bumpers, fenders, headlights can be acquired, but they are not mandatory 😬
The cars drive as long as possible - bumpers, fenders, headlights can be acquired, but they are not mandatory 😬
Dogs are running around everywhere - all absolutely peaceful with dog looks “Do you have something to chew on for me” 😅
Dogs are running around everywhere - all absolutely peaceful with dog looks “Do you have something to chew on for me” 😅
and this is also normal - free-range chickens on the streets
and this is also normal - free-range chickens on the streets
Everywhere blooms lush and colorful …
Everywhere blooms lush and colorful …
…
…
…
…
The Christmas star grows several meters high
The Christmas star grows several meters high
Flight
CJC → IPC
5h 30m · Economy
Accommodation
Cabaña in Hanga Roa
Holiday apartment · Hanga Roa
Taxi
Flughafen Mataveri → Cabaña in Hanga Roa
Hanga Roa, Chile
Worth seeing
Hanga Roa
Hanga Roa, Chile

Day 0: San Pedro de Atacama - Calama - Santiago de Chile - Rapa Nui

This time, the private pickup at the hostel in San Pedro worked out well!😅 We took a modern and comfortable minibus for 75 minutes over the 95 km back to the airport in Calama. Shortly after departure, we actually saw wild Pequnias near the road!

Check-in, flight, … by 3 PM we were already at the hotel in Santiago de Chile. The afternoon was still long; the weather was sunny but cool. So we took an Uber downtown to Placa de Armas, exchanged some money. Afterwards, we had an excellent dinner at Erhard's favorite restaurant and returned to the hotel - time to catch up on sleep!!😂

Day 1: So today we are off to Easter Island, Rapa Nui!

The anticipation for this small remote island in the middle of the South Pacific was high. Rapa Nui, as it is called by its inhabitants, is located about 3,800 km west of Chile and is the easternmost island of Polynesia. The nearest inhabited

At a glance

Automatically extracted from the post
Length of time
2 Days
Weather
Spring
Accompaniment
For two (2)
Mood
Adventurous
Highlights
  • Flug nach Rapa Nui
  • Ankunft mit Blumenkranz am Flughafen
  • Spaziergang durch Hanga Roa
  • Plaza de Armas in Santiago
Topics
TransitCityNature
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