Rapa Nui (Easter Island or Isla de Pascua in Spanish) is one of those places you come to be entrenched in mystery, simplicity and kindness.

When you first arrive, chances are you’ll be serenaded by local music and leis.

Accommodation: Hostal Marari

We were greeted at the airport by our friendly host Maria and drove 20 meters before reaching the hostal. We consumed a delicious complimentary serving of ceviche and a guava smoothie.

I highly recommend getting a rental car to explore this small island, just to have some more freedom and the ability to go a little further off-the-beaten-path.

Then check out these 6 Highlights of Easter Island:

1. Coastal Moai

Explore the coastal Moai (famous statues of heads) by foot. You’ll see one after another, all of various shapes, sizes and styles, and each more ambiguous than the next.

2. Rano Raraku

Rano Kau Crater Lake

Rano Raraku on the East corner of the Island, which flaunts a volcanic crater lake and houses countless Moai. There you can see the quarry and the tools that were used to carve the giant figures.

You get to Rano Kau (a stunningly unique crater lake) via a scenic coastal with several stops for photo opportunities with more Moai.

3. Anakena Beach

Anakena Beach. Photograph by Rivi. Distributed by Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.


Anakena is a quaint white coral sand beach, housing a few Maoi and petroglyphs. It’s unique since most of the coastlines are rocky.

4. Orongo

Wander through the ruins of the ritualistic city Orongo. The ruins overlooked Rano Kau a lake surrounded by solidified lava and an opening that looks like a giant took a bite out of it, exposing an epic view of the turquoise ocean.

5. Ma′unga Terevaka

Ma′unga Terevaka is the largest, tallest and youngest of the three volcanoes that form Easter Island. It’s about a 3-hour hike to the top, which takes you to the highest point on the island. The size of the island will all be put into perspective at the top with unforgettable panoramic views. Beware of strong winds.

6. Secret Caves

Ask the locals about what the island hides under the surface. During my visit we managed to find a local to guide us through several “secret” caves. The best cave ended with two different openings on a cliff with a steep drop off into the ocean.

Don’t forget to check out the movie Rapa Nui, directed by Kevin Costner about the ancient civilization’s demise.

Logistical Tips for Booking Your Trip
Booking Flights
I typically use Skyscanner to book my flights because it allows you to search through websites and airlines worldwide all in one convenient search engine. You can also get price alerts for flights you’re interested in.
Booking Accommodation
I always book my hostels through Hostelworld. If I’m not staying in a hostel, then I often book an AirBnB.
Using a VPN for Online Bookings
I also use a VPN (a powerful virtual tool that provides you with a private, anonymous, and secure internet connection) when searching for flights, accommodation, and rental cars. Since websites track your online activity and location, then use these factors to make the rates you are given dramatically higher than their true value, a VPN ensures that you get the best rates, by eliminating artificially high prices based on your country and internet search history. I recommend an affordable VPN like Surfshark to make sure you are getting the best travel deals online!
Travel Insurance
I always travel with insurance, because I know all too well how many things can go wrong while traveling (and sometimes even beforehand). Travel insurance can protect you against certain cancellations, theft, lost luggage, trip interruptions, medical emergencies, and more. I use and highly recommend InsureMyTrip to find, compare and buy the plan that makes the most sense for each trip.
Other Travel Resources
Check out my Travel Resources Page to see the best companies, apps, jobs and other resources I use when traveling on a tight budget.

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About Author

Anna is an optimist with pessimistic tendencies who enjoys making a short story long, listening to soundtracks from musicals, and watching anything in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi genre. These days you can catch her learning about off-grid living and gardening the hard way, wandering with her partner and dogs through forest roads in a camper, or hiking to waterfalls or glacial lakes. You can also find her on YouTube at Anna and Ryan.

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