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Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Easter Island: The Majesty and Mystery of Rapa Nui

Program No. 16342RJ
Alongside an archaeologist, dig into one of the world’s most enduring mysteries as you explore Easter Island and its ancient moai. Plus, share a traditional meal with a local family!
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Start
Small Group
Length
12 days
Rating (4.95)
Activity Level
Starts at
6,799
Special Offer
Flights start at
1,000
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
25 meals ( 9B, 9L, 7D )
2 expert-led lectures
12 expert-led field trips
1 flight during the program
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel rooms reserved from 3:00 p.m. today to guarantee early arrival tomorrow morning. Participants who have already arrived in Santiago this day may check in this afternoon.
Evening:
Participants depart North America on overnight flights to Santiago, Chile. Refer to your personal air itinerary for specific flight information.
Activity Note
Hotel rooms have been reserved from the evening before to guarantee early check-in after flights land early-morning. Getting on/off a bus, multiple stops.
Morning:
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Lunch:
At the hotel. Lunch — almuerzo — is typically the main meal of the day.
Afternoon:
We will board a bus and explore historic Santiago and surrounding neighborhoods. We expect to make stops at the city's historic center, the Plaza de Armas; the Metropolitan Cathedral; and the Presidential Palace. Moving on, we will reach San Cristobal Hill with its iconic, 46-foot -high statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception for great views of Santiago (weather and smog permitting). We will also drive through the neighborhoods of Providencia, Las Condes, and Vitacura to see some of the highlights.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Dinner — cena — is typically lighter than lunch/almuerzo.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and flight to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. The non-stop flight from Santiago to Rapa Nui is approximately 5 hours. Local time in Easter Island is 2 hours behind mainland Chile. There is no jet-bridge at the airport in Rapa Nui so you will need to walk down a flight of stairs while carrying your carry-on bags to descend from the plane. Please note that we are unable to confirm your seat assignment for this flight until arrival at the airport. Standing during field trips, walking approximately 1.5 miles.
Breakfast:
In the hotel lobby, we’ll have a “grab and go” breakfast.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will transfer via bus to Arturo Benítez Airport and board our non-stop flight to Rapa Nui (Easter Island); food is served during the flight. Please note that we are unable to confirm your seat assignment for this flight until arrival at the airport. Your Group Leader will do their best to accommodate your seat request but it is subject to availability at the airport. After a midday at Mataveri International Airport on Rapa Nui, we will transfer to our hotel and check in.
Lunch:
At the hotel, we will have a light lunch.
Afternoon:
Next, we will head to Tahai to see and learn more about the world famous monolithic figures, the moai themselves. The fact that Easter Island is the most remote inhabited island on earth makes these achievements even more astonishing. There are three ceremonial platforms, called ahu, that support moai figures. The site and its figures were restored by an American anthropologist, William Mulloy, beginning in 1968.
Dinner:
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening:
After dinner, enjoy a leisurely walk back to the hotel along the coast.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Hiking 5.5 miles round trip to a summit of 1,600 feet on sloping, uphill grassy paths with no shade.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll be joined at the hotel by a local expert who will give us a presentation on Rapa Nui, the indigenous name of Easter Island. The Rapanui people called it Te Pito O Te Henua, roughly translated as "Navel of the World." The island, covering only 66 square miles, is a speck in the ocean 2,500 miles from Chile and 2,000 miles from Tahiti. The greatest mystery is why and how the people made and moved nearly 900 gigantic figures — moai — some weighing more than 80 tons. The Rapa Nui National Park that covers much of the island is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “A society of Polynesian origin that settled there c. A.D. 300 established a powerful, imaginative and original tradition of monumental sculpture and architecture, free from any external influence. From the 10th to the 16th century this society built shrines and erected enormous stone figures known as moai, which created an unrivalled cultural landscape that continues to fascinate people throughout the world.” Late morning, we’ll set out for our hike to the summit of Maunga Terevaka, the largest of three volcanos that formed the island hundreds of thousands of years ago. We will begin the slow ascent up the grassy hillside to the summit at 1,600 feet. The mountain was once covered in trees but now is home to only a few sparse trees and shrubs – a pattern you will see throughout the island. From the summit, which is also the highest point on the island, we will have a 360 degree view of the island. After descending down Terevaka we will visit Ahu Akivi, significant due to its location 1.5 miles inland from the coast.
Lunch:
We will return to the hotel for a late lunch.
Afternoon:
Afternoon at leisure. If you’d like to see some of Hanga Roa town, the local Sernatur Tourism Office will stamp your passport with a unique moai statues stamp free of charge. (The stamp does not have any legal implications; it's simply a nice memento of your time in Rapa Nui.) You could also take a short walk to the harbor, through the main street of Hanga Roa, or just relax.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Hiking approximately 6.5 miles throughout the day. In the morning, walking through caves – some with low ceilings of 5 feet that require bending over; walking down uneven stone stairs without handrails to enter caves; some require crawling on hands & knees to enter.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we’ll set out for the cave circuit of the island’s Western Coast. The island’s volcanoes created numerous caves and tunnel systems that were used by the Rapa Nui people as dwellings. Ancient umu pae (stone ovens) and crops such as banana, avocado, and sweet potato can be found throughout. If weather and safety conditions permit, we will enter multiple caves throughout the morning, some that require crawling on hands and knees to enter. We will eventually make our way down to the coast to view the archaeological remains of a village settlement before returning to the hotel.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
At leisure.
Dinner:
At the hotel. A short walk from the hotel, we’ll enjoy a Rapa Nui folkloric traditional dance, featuring island dancers accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Hiking approximately 2.5 miles throughout the day. At the quarry, the 1 mile trail has 100 feet of elevation gain – approximately 100 steps to climb without handrails.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At leisure.
Lunch:
On own.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we’ll be joined by a local expert who will give us a presentation on the people of old and Rapa Nui ancient culture. Following the lecture we will depart for the island’s South Coast. From the coast, we will walk the Southern Moai Road up to the Rano Raraku Quarry – the same pilgrimage that the Rapa Nui people took when they would meet with the carvers who would create a future moai. The 1.25 mile walk will take us past fallen moai that departed the quarry but never made it to their intended destination. We will explore Rano Raraku, the volcanic crater and “nursery of the moai”. We will climb the mountainside path on to view the quarry where the massive moai were carved out of hard basalt. Moai in all stages of production cover its southern flank. We’ll then move on to Tongariki, the largest ahu on the island. Demolished by a tsunami in 1960, it has been restored by Chilean archaeologist Claudio Cristino and Sergio Rapu, a scholar and former island governor, with the help of Japanese archaeologists, financial benefactors, and the Rapa Nui people. It once again supports its 15 moai.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus. Longest hike today of about 6.5 - 7 miles total. Terrain varies from grassy fields to uneven rocks. Gradual elevation change to 1200 feet with steeper incline on the ascent to the summit. Very little shelter/shade from trees or rain. No bathroom available on the trail. Walking along high cliffs so not advised for those with vertigo or afraid of heights. Participants must carry their packed lunches in their day packs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast we will head out for an all day hike of the Poike volcano, one of the island’s three, that makes up the Eastern point of the island. The windswept peninsula is one of the most eroded parts of the island, and the Eastern face features 300-foot tall coastal cliffs. We’ll pass the Poike Ditch where legend says the Long Ears and Short Ears had their famed battle. Long Ears and Short Ears are oral tradition names that more likely referred to people of tall and thin stature compared to those who were short and stocky. They had a difficult relationship, with the Long Ears considering themselves dominant and the Short Ears subservient — until the battle that changed everything. Around 1100 AD, a group of Rapa Nui migrated from the Western side of the island (where Hanga Roa is today) to settle on the Poike peninsula. The expansion of this population led to the deforestation of the peninsula by 1500, forcing the inhabitants back to other parts of the island. We will hike around the peninsula, stopping at archaeological sites along the way including the three trachyte hills and the only trachyte moai on the island.
Lunch:
Sack lunch along the trail.
Afternoon:
In the late afternoon we will return to the hotel for free time to rest until dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus. Walking 1 mile and standing during field trip. Optional swimming at Anakena Beach
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll head out on a field trip to explore archaeological sites beginning at Ahu Vinapu. Because the stone construction here is unlike anything else in Polynesia and is similar to Inca stonework, it has raised questions about possible origins of the Rapa Nui people. We’ll then continue along the South Coast for a field trip to the archaeological site of Ahu Vaihu. Constructed of finely crafted stones, Ahu Vaihu is located at the small bay of Hanga Te`e. The ahu has 11 toppled moai whose pukao (top knots) are lying where they fell, and a circle of rocks on the ground, used for Paina ceremonies to honor the dead.
Lunch:
At Anakena Beach, we’ll have a barbecue lunch.
Afternoon:
Anakena, the largest beach in Rapa Nui, is a beautiful, sheltered, white sand beach surrounded by swaying palm trees, This is where Hotu Matu`a — the legendary first king-chief and settler — is said to have beached his canoe and lived in a cave while waiting for his boat-shaped house to be completed. You are welcome to take a swim in the ocean or stroll along the beach. We’ll walk up the hill to Ahu Nau Nau, a complex archaeological site where in 1978 Sergio Rapu, in reconstructing the ahu, first recognized that the coral fragments unearthed in the sand were the inlaid coral eyes of the moai. With this discovery and subsequent investigations of other moai came the realization that all Rapa Nui's moai, once they were placed on the ahu, had been given eyes.
Dinner:
On own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus. Hiking 5.25 miles with about 700 feet of elevation increase throughout the day. Trails include dirt paths, stepping over roots, and grassy meadows.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll begin our hike at the base of Rano Kao, the last of Rapa Nui’s three volcanoes, which is located on the southwestern point of the triangle. We will ascend the side of the volcano until we reach the first great sight: the Rano Kao volcanic crater that surrounds a fresh water lake. In another Rapa Nui mystery, cattail plants growing in the lake are the same species as those in the floating islands of Lake Titicaca in Peru. We will continue to hike along the rim of the crater until we reach the Orongo Ceremonial Village where, until 1853, the peculiar Birdman Festival was held in the spring of each year. The Birdman competition involved tribal champions who had to swim to a small island off the coast, find an egg of the sooty tern — waiting as long as necessary until the birds arrived to lay — and bring it back unbroken. The winner’s tribe was awarded special privileges for a year. We will head back down the rim of the crater and descend to the Eastern slope to the archaeological sites of Ahu Vinapu. Because the stone construction here is unlike anything else in Polynesia and is similar to Inca stonework, it has raised questions about possible origins of the Rapa Nui people.
Lunch:
Sack lunch along the way.
Afternoon:
We will return to the hotel in the afternoon for some leisure time.
Dinner:
Dinner In the home of a Rapa Nui family, we’ll share a meal of favorite local dishes and dine as local people do.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Transfer via bus to the airport for the non-stop flight back to Santiago that takes approximately 5 hours; you will regain two hours. Food is typically served during the flight. There is no jet-bridge at the airport in Rapa Nui so you will need to walk up a flight of stairs while carrying your carry-on bags to board the plane. Please note that we are unable to confirm your seat assignment for this flight until arrival at the airport.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. You might like to see a bit more of Hanga Roa or simply relax. We will check out of the hotel and depart early afternoon to the airport and check in for the flight to Santiago, Chile.
Lunch:
We will have a light lunch at the hotel before departure.
Dinner:
Served in-flight.
Evening:
Late evening arrival in Santiago. Transfer to hotel and check in.
Activity Note
Note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to 1 hour during field trip, seating available.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
This morning we will visit Santiago's Pre-Columbian Art Museum, located in the city center. The museum houses over 3,000 pieces representing almost 100 different groups of people.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After checking out of the airport we will visit the Los Domenicos Artisan Market, a charming outdoor handicraft market featuring Chilean artists. Then transfer to Santiago airport (SCL) to catch return flights to the US or on-going flights to other destinations.
Evening:
This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Jan 10, 2026 - Jan 20, 2026
Jan 31, 2026 - Feb 12, 2026
Feb 21, 2026 - Mar 03, 2026
Mar 07, 2026 - Mar 17, 2026
Mar 21, 2026 - Apr 01, 2026
Apr 04, 2026 - Apr 14, 2026
Sep 05, 2026 - Sep 15, 2026
Sep 26, 2026 - Oct 06, 2026
Oct 10, 2026 - Oct 20, 2026
Oct 31, 2026 - Nov 11, 2026
Oct 31 - Nov 11, 2026 Itinerary Differences: This departure has a hiking-focused itinerary (different than the standard program). Walk the same paths as the ancient Rapa Nui people and the mysterious Moai as you hike across the island visiting more remote, lesser known archeological sites along the way. This trip has 1 additional night to allow more time for hiking on island: Arrival Santiago (Chile), 1 night; Rapa Nui (Easter Island), 7 nights; Santiago (Chile), 1 night; departure.