Easter Island or Rapa Nui is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.
This island is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world. The nearest inhabited land (50 residents) is Pitcairn Island at 2,075 km (1,289 mi), and the nearest continental point lies in Central Chile, at 3,512 km (2,182 mi).
The Tangata Manu (bird-man), was the winner of a traditional competition on Rapa Nui. This ritual was an annual competition to collect the first Sooty Tern (Manu Tara) egg of the season from the islet of Motu Nui, swim back to Rapa Nui and climb the sea cliff of Rano Kau to the clifftop village of Orongo.
Easter Island had vast seabird colonies containing probably over 30 resident species, perhaps the world's richest! Such colonies are no longer found on the main island, but they are coming back! On the motus we´ll be able to find up to 5 species (possibly 6) of Pterodroma Gadfly Petrels and other seabirds (around 7 species), plus the chance to see some landbirds (all introduced), including Chilean Tinamou (endemic to Chile), Chimango Caracara and Common Diuca-Finch, among others. All this in an island that is "supposed to have no birds."
4 Days / 3 Nights
Throughout the year.
Price
Meet and depart
Mataveri Airport, Easter Island
Dates:
From Thu Sep 07,2023 To Sun Sep 10,2023
Meet in Santiago or Rapa Nui. Once in Easter Island we´ll drive to our hotel and then we shall visit our first Moai. In the evening we´ll do a Boat trip to the Motus to see our first Pterodroma Gadfly Petrels, among other birds. Night in Hanga Roa.
Birding in the morning and then we´ll visit amazing archaeological sites including spectacular Moai. Birding in the evening. Night in Hanga Roa.
More culture and archaeology, then visit Rano Raraku, Anakena and Ahu Akiviri. Boat trip in afternoon to see more seabirds not yet located. Night in Hanga Roa.
This morning we will visit the great archaeological museum, as well as have some time for shopping for souvenirs. Our departure for Santiago will be in the afternoon arriving in the evening.
*According to weather/sailing conditions, the boat trip will take place on day 1, 2 or 3.