Were you thinking of a remote and deserted island for your next holiday, but not one of the usual overly touristy ones? Then we can give you an alternative: Easter Island! You will have heard of it several times, and certainly because of its distinguishing features, the countless mysterious monoliths known as Moai.
Easter Island is a Chilean islet in the Pacific Ocean quite far from the mainland where you will meet few people, both locals and tourists, as there is only one and only one inhabited centre where all the few services are concentrated.
You will have understood, therefore, that we are not talking about a luxurious and comfortable destination but one for the few, adventurers, with few demands and who can adapt to everything. If we have convinced you, read below all the information you need to organise your trip!
Travel information: useful info
Inhabitants: 7750
Capital: Hanga Roa
Languages: Spanish and Rapa Nui
Local currency: Chilean peso (€1.00=$775.98)
Climate: subtropical, average temperatures 16 C° / 27 C°
Vaccinations: no compulsory vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis recommended
Entry requirements: passport with at least 6 months residual validity required
Distance from Italy: approx. 14500 km (20 - 24 hour flight)
Where it is located
Easter Island is a small island located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, almost isolated from the rest of the world. Its territory belongs to Chile, from which it is 3700 km away.
How to get there
FromMilan or Rome: Easter Island can only be reached by direct flight from Santiago de Chile and Tahiti, so from Italy there are direct flights lasting about 10 hours, but only to these two destinations, travelling with the national airline, Lan Chile, or with Alitalia, Iberia and Air France. From Rome direct flights are operated by Alitalia, while flights from Milan have at least one stopover in Europe, usually in Paris or Madrid, so in this case the journey takes up to 18 hours. Once you reach Tahiti or Santiago de Chile, you will have to take another flight, direct and about 5 hours long, to reach the Easter Island airport. Flights from Rome from €721.00 - Flights from Milan from €708.00
Frommajor European capitals: even from Europe, you will not be able to find a direct flight to Easter Island and will have to make a stopover in Santiago de Chile or Tahiti. For these two destinations there are direct flights from Paris and Madrid using the airlines Air France and Iberia.
When to go? Info on climate and best time
Month | Average temperatures (min/max) | Precipitation (days/mm) |
|---|---|---|
January | 20 / 27° C | 10 days / 90 mm |
February | 20 / 27° C | 9 days / 80 mm |
March | 20 / 27° C | 10 days / 80 mm |
April | 19 / 25° C | 13 days / 110 mm |
May | 18 / 23° C | 14 days / 120 mm |
June | 16 / 22° C | 13 days / 100 mm |
July | 16 / 21° C | 15 days / 90 mm |
August | 15 / 21° C | 13 days / 80 mm |
September | 16 / 22° C | 12 days / 80 mm |
October | 16 / 22° C | 10 days / 70 mm |
November | 17 / 24° C | 10 days / 80 mm |
December | 16 / 25° C | 10 days / 90 mm |
Climate: subtropical with temperatures ranging from 16 to 27 C° and frequent and abundant rainfall distributed throughout the year, while the sea temperature is in the normal range of 20 to 25 °C
Best period: December to March during the austral summer, the hottest and sunniest period
Period to avoid: April to September because it rains more than usual and temperatures drop slightly
Tips: it is best to pack clothes for the mid-season, but above all an umbrella and repellent
What to see and do: beaches and places of interest
Hanga Roa is the capital of Easter Island, a moderately sized town with a wild and elemental appearance that overlooks the west coast and is home to several Moai structures
Rapa Nui Parque Nacional is the large national park that stretches from the north of the island towards the coast within which many Moai are protected, which is why the park was established
Anakena Beach is the most famous beach on Easter Island with white sand and crystal clear waters, surrounded by greenery and a great place to relax or go surfing
Playa Pea is one of the best beaches in the capital, located a few kilometres from the city centre and characterised by cliffs and long, high waves, good for surfing rather than relaxing
Ovahe is a beach in the north of the island within the Rapa Nui National Park, a secluded, almost desert-like piece of paradise bathed by crystal-clear waters
Rano Raraku is a stone quarry located in the east of the island, near the volcano of the same name, and inside it one can see a series of unfinished Moai sculptures and others that were never lifted due to their large size
Rano Kau is an extinct volcano located in the far south of the island and 324 metres high, which now houses a lake inside the crater, which can be observed by standing on the rim
Ahu Te Pito Kura is a large round stone known as the'Navel of the World', probably due to its being incredibly magnetic, in fact if you try to approach it a compass will suddenly go mad and all compasses that are approached go mad
Cueva De Las Dos Ventanas is a small natural rocky cave on the west coast where you can enter and relax facing the sea
Poike is another impressive volcano on the island, also extinct, about 370 metres high and located in the westernmost area, a great spot for trekkers
How much does a holiday on Easter Island cost? Prices, offers and tips
If you thought of Easter Island as a low-cost paradise, unfortunately we have to tell you otherwise. Since it is an almost deserted and remote island, many things that you will find available to you as a tourist have been important and will therefore cost more than usual. Restaurants, for example, offer dishes starting at $20, but it must also be said that you will find a wide choice of fresh fish as well as raw materials imported from Chile.
Referring to the most touristic period, i.e. from December to March during the austral summer, a one-week flight+hotel package costs on average €1000.00 with accommodation in cabañas, the typical island flat, while half-day tours can cost as much as $100. If your intention is to discover the island on your own, you should know that there is no public transport but you can rent a car even if the service only exists in the only city present, with high prices and no insurance guarantee.
Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €39.00 per room - see offers
Low cost flights: from €708.00 - look at the offers