Easter Island is the most isolated place on the planet, with a distance of 3.000 km from the nearest populated point. The inhabitants carved 100 ton basalt statues (called moai) from a quarry in the side of a volcano. The statues were then transported many kilometers to the coast and erected on giant stone altars. -How and why the inhabitants of the island achieved this may always remain a mystery.

Easter Island, located in exotic Polynesia offers the enchantment of warm beaches and agreeable climate, transparent seas and remarkable volcanic geology.

Day 1: Santiago - Easter Island

Reception at Mataveri airport where you are greeted by our local guides. Transfer to Hanga Roa, a small township where Easter Island's 2.500 people all live. Here you check in at your family-style hotel (or up-graded hotel depending on your selected option). Over a 'welcome cocktail' you'll meet your guides to discuss the itinerary and some other aspects regarding the trip.

Day 2: Hanga Roa - Rano Kau - Orongo - Vinapu - Vaihu (4 hrs riding)

Early in the morning you will be picked up to start your horseback riding adventure throughout the island, which for the next 6 days will encompass a journey through hundreds of years of history. You will ride up to Rano Kau, the biggest volcano on the island, whose enormous crater is now a fresh water lake with floating green fields of totora reeds. From here you'll have an exceptional view of three tiny, craggy islands Nui, Motu and Kao-Kao, the site of the bizarre "bird man" ritual. Perched on the side of the mountain you'll also find the ruins of the sacred village of Orongo with its 48 oval buildings built with overlapping stone slabs. Over the cliffs you see an amazing string of "bird man" petroglyphs. The tour continues to Vinapu, where we find 'Ahu Tahira Ahu', one of the first Ahus ever constructed. Tahira is a key element in Thor Heyerdahl's theory that the islanders came sailing from South America since it contains a wall of perfectly carved and fitted stone blocks that is strikingly similar to the work of the Tihuanaco culture (Bolivia) and the Inca walls in Cuzco (Perú)
Camping near Vaihu. (B, BL, D)

Day 3: Vaihu - Akahanga - Tonkariki - Rano Raraku (4hrs riding)

We continue on horseback to 'Aka Anga', the settlement of the last clan, known as 'Miru', which is said to have been direct descendants of king Hotu Matua, whose head is buried there. You can still visit the houseboats where they used to live as well as the remains of their houses and nearby caves. From here we'll continue south to visit 'Ahu Tongariki', recently restored, after a tidal wave in 1960 washed the statues dozens of meters away from their original setting. Here you'll have the optional of trekking to Rano Raraku. This might be the most impressive site on the island: 70 standing sentinels, embedded up to their shoulders in grass on the south slope of the volcanic crater Rano Raraku, pointing the way to the quarry or "nursery" inside of the impressive crater rim. Here the Moai (enormous, 100 tons basalt statues) were cut from volcanic tuff, and some 150 figures, still left there in all stages of production, are mute witnesses of the mystery that suddenly stopped all work.
We set up camp at Rano Raraku. (B, BL, D)

Day 4: Rano Raraku - Poike - Bahia de la Perousse - Te Pito Kura - Ovahe - Anakena (5 hrs riding)

We start riding towards Poike Peninsula where once a mythical war took place among the so called "Long-Ears", who carved the Moai, and newcomers known as "Short Ears", who were kept as an inferior class and helped in manual labor. Although there are many contradictory versions of the legend it is said that the Short Ears rebelled and slaughtered all the Long Ears. We follow the coast road along the Bahía de la Perousse towards the east of the island where we find the largest Moai ever transported. It is named Ahu Te Pito Te Kura (navel of light) and boasts an impressive 9.8 m/ 32 ft in length. Ahu means sacred place and describes the rectangular stone platform on which the Moai statues were erected. We continue, heading north to Ovahe beach, a small bay with pure golden sands and magnificent clear water nestled beneath a cliff of volcanic rock, a true South Pacific paradise. We rest a while, swimming and relaxing at this beautiful bay. Later we continue to Anakena beach, the legendary landing place of Hota Matua, the founder of the island.
Overnight camping. (B, BL, D)

Day 5: Anakena - Hanga O'Teo - Omohi - Terevake - Ahu Akivi - Tahai - Hanga Roa (4 hrs riding)

After breakfast we start riding to 'Hanga O'Teo' a beautiful beach with an incredible view of Maunga Tereva. On our way we pass the Omohi geoglyphs and Terevake, the highest point on the island at 500 meters above sea level. It is the youngest of all the volcanoes on the island, dated to 240,000 years of age, a mere youngster, compared to the volcano at Rano Kau, near Orongo, which is about one million years old. We continue to the ceremonial center of Ahu Akivi where seven standing Moais are erected to represent the sons of the Maori shaman who were sent to search for Rapa Nui, the place the old shaman had conceived in his visions as the home for King Hotu Matua. After lunch we ride back to Hanga Roa.
Overnight at a comfortable Hotel. (B, BL)

Day 6: Easter Island - Santiago

Enjoy the morning. At the appropriate time you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for your return flight to Santiago. (B)

Rates per person valid from Oct 08 - April 09

Minimum number of participants: 2
Departures: Private departures only/All year
Rates are based on double occupancy and may change without prior notice. Lower rates available for larger groups, please inquire.

Included:

2n hotel (bkfst incl), 3n basic camping, 4 days riding welcome cocktail, 4 full day excursions, box lunch incl, English Speaking guide and Orongo entrance fee inclusive of horses and gear, full board at Camps,

Not Included:

Flight Santiago/Easter Island/Santiago, Expenses of a personal nature, tips and gratuities, any kind of travel insurance, personal sleeping bag & pad not incl. (Rental available)

For further information and booking inquiries please send us and e-mail.