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Easter island

9 replies

imnotz · 24/11/2019 23:03

Just want to get some Mumsnet wisdom.
I'm
Going to chile in February-! Itinerary is sorted out but all accommodations are cancel able
When we booked air fares to Easter Island were astronomical but now have reduced significantly- so I'm wondering if it would be good to go?
I read on a Fodor’s forum that there's absolute nothing to see or do once you've seen the moias
Is that true??
Also where to stay seems either exorbitant or next to nothing.
Hope to
Get some words of wisdom here

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 24/11/2019 23:54

DH and I went last August. To spend the money you have to want to go! Really want to go. The flight from Santiago is 5.5 hours. It’s not close to Chile. We saw it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to see an Island that has fascinated anthropologists for generations. It’s unique. There is nowhere else like it.

There is only one place to stay. Hanga Roa. It’s where the airport is. There are only 2 flights a day. We stayed at the Puku Vai. It’s near the airport but is perfectly ok and clean. There are better located hotels nearer the town centre but they will be noisier. Everything has to be flown in for tourists. Therefore nothing is cheap. Do not pay silly amounts of money and check out ratings by western travellers on Booking.com or similar before you book.

We took two organised tours but the days we hired a car were best. No insurance there so be warned. The volcano site where the Moai were carved is unforgettable. On your own, you can spend as long as you like at the sites.

The most informative book is written by the British Consul! Available from Amazon. You can avoid the tour groups by hiring a car. He tells you how to do this.

There is a beach area at Arkena is lovely. The Moai are the main attractions and there are also villages where the people lived. The bird man competition site is very impressive. The restaurants in Hanga Ryan are ok but nothing special. Just simple local restaurants but some have sea views. There is a welcome given to tourists and obviously many islanders depend on them.

You have to want to see this extraordinary island to make the effort though. Once you have been, you won’t forget it.

Easter island
Easter island
Easter island
BubblesBuddy · 24/11/2019 23:56

Sorry: Anakena is where the beach is.

thenightsky · 24/11/2019 23:59

Marking my place as I've been fascinated with Easter Island since I was a small child and used to look at the pictures in national geographic magazine Smile. It's my dream to be able to go there.

westcoast · 25/11/2019 03:49

I live in in Santiago and Easter Island is a once in a lifetime trip, or in our case as I said too many good things to my family about it and we went with them a 2nd time.

If it interests you 100% go, accommodation can be expensive, the food and drinks we didn't find too, too expensive compared to the business district of Santiago/London/our home city of Vancouver.

Car rental is not as expensive as some travel articles may suggest. We rented a "Jimmy" four seater jeep for $40,000clp or about 38GBP a day, be aware car insurance is not really a product they offer so make sure your travel insurance covers you, not that any one is driving fast there. That was last Feb so perhaps prices have changed.

To get from the center of town to the beach it is $5,000CLP (about 5pounds each way, per person) and it is important to note that is per person each way.

The beach is lovely and the empanadas from the beach hut are great. Take some small notes/coins as you can buy fresh sliced fruit.

You can go to the island's only post office and get your passport stamped if that's your thing, my niece and nephew think I'm the coolest Aunt as they have it now in their passports.

There are other spots to visit, extinct volcano, birdman competition area, a museum, granted it's not big, I haven't used this company but this page gives a decent idea of what else Rapa Nui has to offer. imaginaisladepascua.com/en/

The seafood crustacean "rape-rape" pronounced "RAA-PAY, RAA-PAY" is delicious. Check out Tatku Vave for this. If you don't have children with you are in for an...experience...check out Kotaro Bistro. I promise he is not as scary/odd as his blog/website makes him out to be. izakayakotaro.blogspot.com/ but he is still an experience! Reservations are a must as he get the fish in every morning, no fresh fish that he is happy with? No dinner!

When you get off the plane you will pass by a small hut/kiosk this is where you need to buy your CONAF (national parks) tickets, even if you are going on a tour you need to buy these tickets at the airport, it will be BEFORE you enter the terminal to collect your luggage, there is no gangway you just walk down the stairs from the airport onto the tarmac.

Please also note that things have been a little...difficult in Chile in the recent weeks, this is not to suggest your should not come, please do, spend money the tourism sector needs it and the GBP is strong here! Things are reasonably calm here now but could (COULD, I hope not) flare up again so maybe a quick google in the week or so before you come would be a good idea.

If you tell me what area you are staying in I can tell you if that's where the protests usually erupt, as if you are out of the way of protests it's ok. I can also give you recommendations for mainland Chile.

As things may have changed please take this as a guide not the gospel.

imnotz · 26/11/2019 22:14

Thankyiu all so much fir your input.
We are keeping an eye on the flights and think that it's really a great opportunity
Will let you all know what we decide if you are interested

OP posts:
imnotz · 26/11/2019 22:20

Also west coast we have booked a hotel on bubbles buddy earlier recommendation in Santiago the Luciano K
We are going to go to Pucon for three nights and we had planned to drive back up through the Central Valley staying in wine lodges and in Santa Cruz but now that Easter island is not so ££££££ we may change that . Cannot wait

OP posts:
westcoast · 01/12/2019 23:26

@imnotz I want to preface this comment with I do not have a crystal ball and can only comment on what is currently happening in Chile.

We have had sever civil unrest, it is MUCH calmer now and in April we will have a vote to see if the constitution will change.

Where the Luciano K hotel is located used to be a lovely, charming part of the city however currently it is the center meeting point for protests which inevitably means a huge police presence and at times teargassing when things get out of control. The area is several damaged and the metro Baquedano station across the street has been burnt down. Currently it is not safe after dark.

Will the area be rebuilt by Feb? I don't think so. Will there still be protests in Feb? Yes? No? Maybe? No one knows. Most of Santiago is safe and secure at the moment, I would not cancel your trip but I would suggest to be on the safe side booking a hotel east of Metro Tobalaba.

In regards to your road trip to Pucon, there have been incidents of people blocking highways/roads, again will this still be happening in Feb? I have no idea. For further up to date information closer to the time I recommend the FB group "Discover Chile", it's an English speaking forum with lots of great advice. If you don't feel like posting a question your self I believe the moderators take question via DM and will post them on your behalf.

Also the Chilean peso is incredibly low against the pound right now and it would be a good idea to buy now as the government is going to try and strengthen it this week.

I hope I haven't scared you, it is not my intention, rather just to give you a view from here. Keep safe, have a great trip!

translationsfan · 03/12/2019 07:05

Thankyou so much for your honesty Westcoast
We will take a look again at our choices should be easy to change things about
I really hope things improve for Chilean people soon x

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