Index
Day 1: Flying
Day 2: Arrival
Day 3: Easter Island
Day 4: Easter Island
Day 5: Easter Island
Day 6: Santiago
Day 7: Return
Easter Island
Early morning arrival in Santiago was no fun, and the transition from the international terminal to the domestic terminal was a slightly chilly walk, but at least the fresh air was welcome. Seeing a dedicated part of the terminal for Rapa Nui (Easter Island) was a fun reminder you're going somewhere special, and managed to snag a surprisingly good deal for LATAM business class. The 2-2-2 seating layout may be dated, the in-flight electronics old, and service incredibly slow, but the food itself was a step above United.
Beautiful weather greeted us on Rapa Nui, and the walk down the air stairs to the tarmac was glorious. People even got to linger on the tarmac in stark contrast to most other airports. Explora Rapa Nui's staff was quick and efficient, and the hotel itself is very modern and comfortable. Even the pats of butter were done in moai-shaped molds, and as promised, the entire menu was very fresh. Kana kana (local fish) tiradito was excellent, as was the beef. About the only thing that failed to impress through the stay was the desserts-- they prefer a more creamy as to a more fruity flavor in a lot of them, which left me always wanting. Even caught a rainbow outside the window at the end of lunch.
The afternoon began with a quick drive to Ahu a Kivi, the only location on Rapa Nui where moai are not only aligned to the spring/fall equinox, but where they also face the ocean rather than inland. That and a lot of history on how most of the moai we would see had been restored (returned upright) kept everyone engaged as we moved on to the next site, a hike through the lava tubes at Ana Te Pahu. Having been unimpressed by small tunnels before, these admittedly were more interesting than expected.
Wrapped up the day's exploration with sunset over Ahu Tahai, getting the first taste of some full-restored moai (complete with red top knot and coral eyes) as well as just how many dogs and horses there are on the island. Of all the locations, Ahu Tahai definitely seemed like the spot where locals and tourists alike would enjoy a relaxing late afternoon picnic.
Dinner at the hotel was to be typical, slightly on the fancier presentation side, but with a pretty varied menu. Was hard to choose but decided on another raw fish appetizer (tuna tiradito), a cooked one (octopus-- pretty good), and then a goat curry. My dessert was forgettable but Alicia enjoyed her crepe.