Madrid is closer to Moscow than Easter Island is to the rest of Chile.
What does it cost to go to this dreamy island?
When I told people I was going to Easter Island, the reaction was a shock, awe, excitement.
I had more sober thoughts. Intrusive thoughts.
HOW HARD IS THIS GOING TO BE?
HOW EXPENSIVE IS THIS GOING TO BE????
I travel 4-5 months a year and Rapa Nui surprised me in a way that few other places have. The traveller experience was filled with sincere and kind locals, friendly fellow travellers, and an experience that exceeded my expectations.
Part 1: Getting to Rapa Nui & Where to stay đź“Ť you are here
Part 2: Getting Around Easter Island & Touring Rapa Nui National Parks
Part 3: Food, Entertainment, Getting a Tattoo in Rapa Nui
Part 4: My Solo Easter Island itinerary & Budget
Once you suffer through alllllllllll the flying, visiting Rapa Nui is much easier than it sounds.
The TL;DR Easter Island guide is:
- Apply for an entry permit 21 days or less before your travel to Easter Island
- Fly from Santiago de Chile (SCL) to Hanga Roa (IPC)
- Stay in or around Hanga Roa for 2-5 nights
- Buy a national park pass and take guided tours to the national park sites
- Relax and enjoy the laid back atmosphere: visit the beach, cultural shows, shopping, and have a good time.
But here is the full multi-part breakdown of my trip!
How to Get to Rapa Nui
I didn’t even really know where Rapa Nui actually was on a map. I had the general sense it was DOWN THERE (waves hands at the south pacific), but I knew nothing more.
While planning some post-cruise travel in Chile, I started to do the typical searching of what is in Chile. Despite being 3,700+KM from Santiago de Chile (that’s further than Madrid to Moscow), Rapa Nui is owned by Chile. Santiago is the only departure point for flights to Easter Island.
Flights to Rapa Nui
Easter Island has two commercial flights a day on LATAM airlines from Santiago de Chile and only Santiago de Chile. Why? Visitor Control.
The entry and exit to Rapa Nui is carefully controlled. Even Chileans cannot relocate or visit Rapa Nui without permission from the provincial government. Relocation can come through familial ties, employment offers, or other categories like research or government roles. Luckily the process for tourism is much easier but you still must apply for permission for a FREE Single Entry Form (FUI) to fly there through an official government website. Â You can apply for this up to 21 days before your departure and it is FREE.
This application form will ask for your ID, flight numbers, where you are staying, and proof you are leaving Rapa Nui within 30 days of arrival. You receive an email receipt of your application after you submit it.
When you arrive at the Santiago Airport, there are two terminals – the domestic terminal and the international terminal. Even though it is a domestic trip, there is a process like customs where you have to have your application, ID, and proof of flights checked before they allow you to pass to the gates where your Easter Island flight is departing from.
Once you get through this process, there are no checks when you arrive at Easter Island.
The flying time is between 5 and 6 hours in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (a large plane with 2 aisles) which is mostly over water. There isn’t much else out there but ocean.
This flight felt more like an international flight. You receive drinks and a basic hot meal. Overall, I have no complaints about LATAM flights that I have taken over the years. The seatback entertainment has up to date entertainment, staff are courteous, and every plane I have taken has been well maintained and clean.
Once you land in Hanga Roa, only sizeable town on Rapa Nui. You will pass through agricultural scanners , do not bring any fresh and/or unpackaged food onto the island.
Since you must have arranged accommodation before you are cleared through entry control in Santiago, most accommodation appeared to have pickup service for their visitors and the exit scramble was more about finding your driver than people figuring out ways to get around, like taxis. I stayed at a hostel and even they had pickup service for free. There are taxis on the island if you need to arrange your own transportation.
In terms of size of Hanga Roa, 20-30 minutes walking from the airport would get to most of the places in town. For example, Google maps said my accommodation was a 17 minute walk, which I planned to walk until my hostel emailed and asked for my flight info as they pick you up! And greet you with leis!
Where to stay in Hanga Roa
As a solo traveller, accommodation can always seem steep. I tend to lean into the no-frills options. In Hanga Roa, there were options as cheap as pitching a tent on private campground grass property and right up to luxury stays. I found that there are hotel style options for under $200 CAD a night and private rooms in shared bathroom or hostel style accommodations for $100 CAD a night. I did find, however, that many of the places to stay did not have their own website, and only were located on the common booking websites.
I booked a private room at Camping Hostal Tipanie Moana Aeropuerto Centro. I chose this as it was near town, had good reviews and very affordable.
This hostel was a combination of private hostel rooms facing a shared courtyard, shared kitchens and baths , and from my understanding the grassy courtyard is where you would pitch a tent if camping. Each room was simple with one outlet, 2 twin beds, an overhead light, a battery powered lamp for evening, and 2 tables and chairs outside of your room. You were also provided a dish kit for your room specifically and an assigned spot in a refrigerator to keep things controlled. We love an organized system.
I did not love the resident rooster who constantly mistook my white sneakers for a hen he needed to impregnate when it’s a shoes-off place.
Really.
This was a frequent occurrence.
No one else’s shoes. Only mine.
The hostel was a family owned and run. They give you with a quick orientation after check-in, payment, and opportunities to have tours arranged if you hadn’t pre-arranged them.
Rapa Nui is the type of place where they’re used to people just showing up and booking tours and activities once you are there, you don’t necessarily have to pre-book things weeks or months ahead, although I did do that since I was not aware of this AND I wanted to make sure I had a tour in English so I could understand fully instead of my very basic Spanish.
Hanga Roa is the main town and where essentially everything is – restaurants, grocery stores, the beach, tourist shops, tattoo parlours, cultural museum and more. The hostel was walking distance from the touristy town centre or anywhere you wanted to go in town.
Up Next: Part 2: Getting Around Easter Island & Touring Rapa Nui National Parks
Still to come
Part 3: Food, Entertainment, Getting a Tattoo in Rapa Nui
Part 4: My Solo Easter Island itinerary & Budget
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