Trip Extension to Easter Island

CHILE
CHILE
Trip Extension to Easter Island
Extend your program / 5 days
Extend your program
in Chile’s remote and
volcanic Easter Island. This
geologically and culturally
rich area is home to volcanoes,
caves, and the remains of a
unique ancient culture.
No visit to Easter Island
would be complete without
seeing the island’s iconic
long-faced moai statues, and
this trip is no exception with
stops at the volcanic tuffs
and craters used to create and
transport the mysterious and
monolithic statues.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Learn about the history of
Easter Island on this remote
and exotic adventure.
• Visit the iconic long-faced
moai statues.
• Climb extinct volcanos and
caves carved by lava.
• Venture to the volcanic crater
of Rano Raraku.
• Follow a trail into the cave of
Ana Kai Tangata.
• See petroglyphs and learn
about the ancient bird-man
culture in the ceremonial
village of Orongo.
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ITINERARY
BLD = BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
DAY 1 - SANTIAGO
Upon arrival in Santiago you will walk over to the Holiday
Inn Santiago for overnight.
DAY 2 - EASTER ISLAND
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Easter
Island. Upon arrival at the airport, transfer to Hotel Taha
Tai for the next four nights. In the Rapa Nui language, Taha
Tai means “next to the sea” and is the ideal option for a
good location in front of the sea and a short distance from
the center of the village of Hanga Roa. The afternoon is at
leisure. Overnight at Hotel Taha Tai. (B)
DAY 3 - EASTER ISLAND
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for an excursion visiting
the Ahu Tahai, Sebastian Englert’s Museum, Ahu Akivi,
and Puna Pau Hill. Drive to Rano Kau Volcano, the biggest
on the island with an enormous crater which is now a
freshwater 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. A rocky trail
leads to the cave entrance of Ana Kai Tangata, located at
the end of a small and beautiful bay. Inside of the cave are
several paintings relating to the bird-man culture. In the
afternoon, continue exploring Ahu Vinapu, the village of
Orongo’s ceremonial center, and Rano Kao Volcano. Ahu
Vinapu is an archaological site made up of two ruined Ahus
(temple platforms), one of which has stonework which is
remarkably similar to that found at Inca sites. Studies have
backed up the theory that the first inhabitants of the island
came from the American continent. Continue along the
coastal road towards the Rano Kao Volcano. Next to the
crater is the ancient ceremonial site of Orongo where there
are many petroglyphs, primarily of the bird-man Tangata
Manu, the creator of humanity god MakeMake, and
Komari, symbols of fertility. From the edge of the crater,
you can see the three small islands of Motu Iti, Motu Nui,
and Moto Kao Kao, all of which play an important part in
the ‘bird man’ legends. Overnight at Hotel Taha Tai. (B)
DAY 4 - EASTER ISLAND
After breakfast take a full day of excursions to Ahu Vaihu,
Ahu Akahnga, Rano Raraku Volcano, Ahu Tongariki,
Ahu Te Pito Kura, Anakena Beach, Ahu Nau Nau, and
Ahu Ature Huki. Begin with a drive along the southern
coast, stopping first 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 head to the volcanic
crater of Rano Raraku, possibly 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. 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. Drive
to Ahu Te Pito Kura on the northern coast until you reach
Anakena Beach, the legendary landing place of the island’s
founder Hota Matua. After swimming and relaxing in this
piece of South Pacific paradise, you’ll return to the hotel for
the evening. Overnight at Hotel Taha Tai. (BL)
DAY 5 - DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago. Upon
arrival in Santiago, connect with your international flight
home or we can arrange a transfer to a hotel. (B)
PROGRAM PRICING
$875 (based on double occupancy)
$450 (single supplement)
Price includes: accommodations, meals, transfers, and tours
as stated in the itinerary.
Price does not include: airfare, gratuities, meals not
indicated, and optional activities, items of a personal
nature, or departure tax. A $60 Easter Island National
Park entrance fee must be paid upon arrival.
THE FINE PRINT
Rates are based on availability of the hotel; if room type is not
available, your agent can make necessary itinerary and price
changes. Rates for other hotels in the area are available. Holiday
surcharges may apply. A $200 per person deposit and enrollment
form is due upon booking. This deposit is refundable until 95 days
prior to departure excluding a $100 cancellation fee. Final payments
are due no later than 95 days prior to departure. Cancellations
received less than 95 days prior to departure are not refundable.
Travel/trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. For
more information call Travel Insured at 800-243-3174 or visit
www.travelinsured.com. Holbrook Travel’s agency number is 15849.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit holbrooktravel.com, call 800-451-7111, or email travel@holbrooktravel.com