Hanga Roa

On Rapa Nui [1]’s eastern shore, Hanga Roa, the island’s only town, is the base for all visitors. Most spend several days exploring the island on foot, bicycle, horseback, or by car. The more adventurous can take their chances surfing (there are good breaks even in town despite the lack of sandy beaches) or diving.

The island’s biggest major annual event is Tapati Rapa Nui, a cultural celebration that lasts 10 days in early February and resembles the Heiva of French Polynesia. March 19’s Día de San José commemorates the Catholic saint.

It’s briefer than Tapati Rapa Nui, but Semana Santa (Holy Week) is crowned by Easter Sunday, when the Rapanui fill the church to overflowing to commemorate the Christian holiday that gave the island its Europeanized identity.

June 21’s Ceremonia Culto al Sol observes the winter solstice. In late November, Día de la Lengua Rapanui promotes the island’s Polynesian linguistic heritage.

Getting There

Rapa Nui is easily and regularly (but not cheaply) reached by air, and more economically (but less easily and frequently) reached by sea.

Aeropuerto Mataveri (Av. Hotu Matua s/n, tel. 0322/100277) is at the south end of town; getting to and from the airport is not a problem, since virtually every hotel or residencial provides free transfers, but there is also taxi service.

LAN (Atamu Tekena s/n, tel. 0322/100279) is the only commercial carrier with regular flights to and from Santiago. There are at least two international flights per week that continue to Tahiti and return to Santiago [2] the following day; in the peak summer season, there is at least one additional domestic flight and sometimes two or even more.

Note that, for nonislanders, round-trip tickets from Santiago are expensive—up to US$900—but travelers who use LAN for their international flights can often get major discounts to Rapa Nui [1].

Quarterly naval supply ships, which carry passengers for about US$33 per person per day, connect Rapa Nui with the mainland port of Valparaíso [3]; for details, contact the Comando de Transporte at the Primera Zona Naval (Plaza Sotomayor 592, Valparaíso, tel. 0322/506354); travel between the island and the mainland takes about a week-plus.