Tourism in Easter Island

On the April 5th, 1722, an easter Sunday of Resurrection, the island was discovered and baptized by the dutch lientenmant Jacobs Rogeveen. In 1774 the English captain James Cook visited it. And in 1786 it was visited by the french captain Laperouse.

From them on it became a landing point for the trips to Oceania.

Between 1862 and 1863, ships with slaves transported more than one thousand natives to work in the peruvian guano fields. The pests carried by with from the west killed the inhabitants leaving only 111 islanders.

The origin of the Easter Island dates back to the 7th century.

The stratified society Rapa Nui made up a series of groups from the same family ruled by a king. Each social unit- mata- occupied a piece of island territory and a section of the coast where the religious, political and social center of the family was. On the altar- alm- their ancestors were worshipped, which were represented by statues of stone called- moai-. By the alm there was a square for the activities of the community. Groups of houses across from the alm were inhabited by people of high social standing. In the vicinity the were fireplaces and other cult-related structures.

Currently almost all inhabitants-pascuenses-live in the town of Hanga Rea.

This Magical Island that in the native language is called Rapa Nui can only be reached by plane. The island is formed by three extinct volcanos triangular is shape, of 160 Km. of extension.

General Information:

Climate: Maritime subtropical with rain almost all year round July and August are the coldest mounths. Averege between 17 and 23 Cº.

Tourism Information of SERNATUR: Tu´u Maheke Avenue.
Telefone: 100255.
Schedule Attention: From Monday to Friday 8:30 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 19:00 Saturday only in December to April. (from 8:30 to 13:00).

Activities and Events: The main tradicional festivity of the isalnd is Tapati Rapa Nui; two weeks of party. It is carried out the last week of January and the first of February.

Access:

By plane:

LanChile: Airline that flies from Santiago to the Easter Island.
The approximate cost of the airplane ticket is 340 $ (return). Duration: 3 and a half hour trip.

By sea:

Few chances to get to the island due to the irregularity of the trips.


Town of Hanga Roa. Town of Hanga Roa. Inhabited by around 3000 people. In the down town area are the post office, telephone, court and bank.

The Hanga Roa cove. It is a center of permament activity: next to the boats there are remains of an -alm- or altar with a -may-.

Farther to the south, near the Hotel Hanga Roa is the cove Hanga Piko. An ideal place for hiking and water diving.

It is interesting to visit:

- The Church
- Handicraft Market
- Museum Anthropology R. P. Sebastián Englert

Trips to archeological places: National Park Rapa Nui:

· Visit to Thahai - ceremonial center: trip by foot (noon).
· Circuit to Puna Pau. Ahu Akivi: A 22 kilometers away. (half a day by car)
· Circuit to Vianpo, Rano Riku and Anakena: A 46 kilometers trip. (whole day)
· Circuit to Rano Kau and Orongo: A 9 kilometers tour. (half a day by car)