Chile with Easter Island September 6th - 17th

Details

Chile with Easter Island
September 6th - 17th
9 NIGHTS INCLUDING ALL AIR FROM LAX,
TOURS ON EASTER ISLAND & DAILY BREAKFAST - $3,750

We've run a Chile trip in the past and it was amazing. This trip will include both Santiago Chile with tours to the Patagonia mountains and wine country and then a 3-night trip to Easter Island. We start off with 4-nights in Santiago where we will enjoy a diverse choice of tours ranging from taking walks along the Paseo Ahumada, wine tasting, hiking the mountains of Patagonia to a natural mineral hot spring, bicycling and more. Click here to see the tours

EASTER ISLAND
DAY ONE:
We'll start our tour of the island by driving along the southern coast. Our first stop are at Ahus Vaihu and Akahanga. Ahu, which means "sacred place," refers to the rectangular stone platform on which the famous Moai (enormous, 100-ton basalt statues) were often erected. Next we'll head to the volcanic crater of Rano Raraku. This might be the most impressive site on the island. Seventy standing sentinels, embedded up to their shoulders in grass on the south slope of the volcanic crater Rano Raraku, lead the way to the quarry or "nursery" inside of the impressive crater rim. This is where the Moai were cut from volcanic tuff, and some 150 figures remain here in all stages of completion. They are mute witnesses to the mystery that suddenly stopped all work. You visit the Ahu of some of the nearby Moai, and check out the holes in the crater rim that were used to maneuver the statues. We'll drive to Ahu Te Pito Kura on the northern coast and visit the Anakena beach, the legendary landing place of the island's founder Hota Matua. After swimming and relaxing in this piece of South Pacific paradise, return to the hotel for the evening.

DAY TWO:
Drive to Rano Kau Volcano, the biggest on the island, whose enormous crater is now a fresh water lake with floating green fields of totora reeds. This site offers an exceptional view of three tiny and craggy off-shore islands: Nui, Motu and Kao-Kao. Perched 400 meters above the lake on the crater wall is the ceremonial village of Orongo, where the bizarre "bird man" ritual took place. The partially restored village has 48 oval buildings built out of overlapping stone slabs. Over the cliffs you can see an amazing string of "bird man" petroglyphs.
The Ana Kai Tangata cave sits at the end of a beautiful little bay. A rocky trail leads you to the cave entrance, and venturing inside you see a few paintings relating to the birdman culture. Once you've explored the cave, return to your hotel and have the afternoon free.

DAY THREE:
At the ceremonial center of Ahu Akivi there are seven standing Moais who, unlike most others, look out at the sea. It is said they represent the sons of a Maori sorcerer sent to search for Rapa Nui, the home for King Hotu Matua. However, Georgia Lee states "their function was to look out over the ceremonial area... the ocean just happens to be out there in the distance." Approximately a week after the spring equinox, the seven statues all look directly at the setting sun. This inland ahu was restored in 1960, and all around the site are volcanic caves which you are free to explore. The most impressive caves are called "Two Windows" and the "Cave of the Banana." Before returning to your base, visit Ahu Tepeu and the quarry Puna Pau, where topknots - hats or hairpieces for the Moai, in essence - were carved from the soft volcanic scoria.

After our 4-nights on Easter Island we fly back to Santiago and spend one more night. We felt it was best to break up our flights and not try to return home in one day. We will have another full day on the 16th before heading to the airport for our 11pm flight that gets us back to LA on the 17th.
This will certainly be another epic trip that you will love. We're also very happy with the price we've been able to bring this in at which includes not just the air but the tours on Easter Island!

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