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Easter Island
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Easter Island Nature Tour
With
Cascada Expediciones
Departing from
Easter Island
,
Chile
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Easter Island, originally named “Te Pito Te Henua “ (navel of the world), is the most isolated place in all the planet, at a distance of 3.000 km from the nearest populated point. The inhabitants, whose origin is still an enigma, carved 100 ton basalt statues (called moai) from a quarry in the side of a volcano. The statues were then transported many kilometers to the coast and erected on giant stone altars. -How and why the inhabitants of the island achieved this may always remain a mystery.
Easter Island, located in exotic Polynesia offers the enchantment of warm beaches and agreeable climate, transparent seas and remarkable volcanic geology.
Day 1: Santiago - Easter Island
Transfer to the airport to take the plane to Easter Island (originally named ''Te Pito Te Henua'' = navel of the world) (3 1/2 hours). Flight is NOT included. On arrival in Easter Island you are greeted by our local guides and walk a few minutes to Hanga Roa, a small township where Easter Island''s 2.500 people all live. Here you find your family-style Hotel where you will stay overnight after discussing the itinerary and some other aspects about the trip.
Day 2: Rano Kau - Orongo - Vinapu
Early in the morning you start your tour throughout the island that during 6 days will lead you over hundreds of years of history. Your first stop is Tahai and the cave of the Petroglyphs. Later you 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 islands Nui, Motu and Kao-Kao where the bizarre ''bird man'' ritual took place. Here you also find the ruined village of Orongo, perched in this sublime location, which shows 48 oval buildings built out of overlapping stone slabs. Over the cliffs you see an amazing string of ''bird man'' petroglyphs. The tour continues to Vinapu, passing through Vai A Tare. At Vinapu we find Ahu Tahira ( Ahu= sacred place. This word describes the rectangular stone platform on which the Moai statues were erected). Ahu Tahira is a key element in Thor Heyerdahl''s theory that the islanders came sailing from South America since it contains a wall of perfectly carved and fitted stone blocks that is strikingly similar to the work of the Tihuanaco culture (Bolivia) and the Inca walls in Cuzco (Peru). (B, L)
Day 3: Rano Raraku
Your first sight today is the volcanic crater of Rano Raraku. This might be the most impressive site on the island: 70 standing sentinels, embedded up to their shoulders in grass on the south slope of the volcanic crater Rano Raraku, leading the way to the quarry or ''nursery'' inside of the impressive crater rim. Here was where the Moai (enormous, 100 tons basalt statues) were cut from volcanic tuff, and some 150 figures, still left there, in all stages of completion, are mute witnesses of the mystery that suddenly stopped all work. You continue your tour and visit the Ahu of the 15 Moai. (B, L-)
Day 4: Ahu Akivi
You visit the ceremonial center of Ahu Akivi where you find seven standing Moais that represent the sons of a Maori sorcerer sent to search for Rapa Nui, the home for King Hotu Matua. All around the place one can explore attractive volcanic caves. The most impressive are the cave of the two windows and the cave of the banana. (B, L-)
Day 5 Poike-Ovahe - Anakena
You begin your tour with Poike where you see an Ahu of Moais, different from all the other ones you have seen before. You continue to the cave of the virgin. Next you reach Ovahe beach, a small bay nestled beneath a cliff of volcanic rock with pure and golden sands and magnificent clear water, a true South Pacific paradise. Spend some time there swimming and relaxing. Later you visit Anakena beach, the legendary landing place of Hota Matua, the founder of the island. (B, L-)
Day 6: Easter Island - Santiago
Morning free to relax. Later take the flight back to Santiago. (B).
GENERAL INFORMATION
Physical Demands:
The programmed walks are easy and over fairly flat terrain.
Departures:
To make this trip possible, your DAY 1 has to be a Wednesday or Saturday to match Lan Chile schedules for Easter Island trips.
What´s included:
The cost covers all transportation throughout the island, as well as meals as mentioned in the itinerary, accommodation on a sharing basis, English speaking guide and park fees. Air ticket Santiago-Easter Island is NOT included.
Meals included are continental breakfast and box lunch on day 2, 3, 4 and 5
Accommodation:
Small and nice Hotels or inns in double room.
Single Supplement:
The price shown is based on double occupancy. A US$85 supplement has to be included if you use a single room while in Easter Island.
The climate:
Temperature varies from 15°C to 28°C in summer(Dec-Feb). Although May is the wettest month, tropical downpours can occur in all seasons.
Luggage:
Try to go as light as possible and take only the essentials. Excess baggage can be a burden to you. We suggest duffel bags instead of hard suitcases.
Keep in mind that there are limits on how much your duffel bag can weigh because of weight restrictions on both international and domestic flights (usually 30 kg/60 lbs.).
Clothing
Bring comfortable and adequate clothing for warm (but sometimes rainy) weather. Good and comfortable footwear is important as you will have to walk most of the days.
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| Tour Category:
Walking Tours
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| Company :
Cascada Expediciones
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| Days: 6 |
| Departs :
Easter Island
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| Budget Tours:
South America
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Chile
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Easter Island
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