South America Day 39: Rapa Nui to Papeete

January 2012

One more day in my childhood dream location.

Out on a snorkeling excursion at Orongo. We got in the water and snorkeled for about an hour seeing blue and white coral and tropical fish.


We headed back to town for lunch before going on a walk along the coast to the Tahai Complex. Here they have a few different Moai's, one with eyes.

We continued further along to the museum. The exhibit is small but they have booklets explaining each item in whatever language you need.

We headed back into town and ending up dipping our feet in the water and then heading to dinner and ordering the same dishes we had our first day here - ceviche and the baked crab dish.

We then headed back to the hotel for our transfer to the airport and 6 hours later arrived in Papeete, where we were picked up and headed to our hotel.

Stay
Fare Suisee, Papeete

Eat
Haka Honu, Rapa Nui

Do
Snorkeling at Orongo
Tahai Complex
   Ahu Vai Uri
   Ahu Tahai
   Ahu Ko Te Riko
Museum

South America Day 38: Rapa Nui/Easter Island

January 2012

Another morning of breakfast, a walk to the water and then on the tour bus for another day with the Moai's.

Our first stop was Akahanga, where there are a number of Moai's lying down.

We then visited Ahu Tangariki, where there are 15 large Moai's with their backs facing the sea, all restored in 1955, before being pushed over by a tsunami and having to be re-restored.

Next was Rano Raraku, which is a large quary that contains over 500 unfinished Moai's, with a great view of Ahu Tangariki.

We had a BBQ lunch before beading off to Te Pito Kura where there is one large Moai. The story here is that it was built to honor a woman's late husband and was one of the last Moai to be destroyed or pushed over in the 1850s.

We spent the afternoon at Anakena beach, where they have the Ahu Nau Nau and you can swim in the ocean overlooking the Moai's.

That evening we had dinner at Kanahau on the main street. We shared the raw fish for entree, for main DH had the tuna curry and I had the tuna with scallops, prawns, local mash and cream sauce - it was fantastic and I still think about that meal.

Stay
Hotel O'Tai

Eat
Kanahau

Do
Day tour with Kia Koe Tours
Akahanga
Ahu Tongariki
Rano Raroku
Te Pito Kura
Anakena Beach with the Ahu Nau Nau

South America Day 37: Rapa Nui/Easter Island

January 2012

Up late for breakfast and a quick walk down to the water before being picked up for our day tour.

We drove to Ana Kai Tangata, a cave where they have paintings of the bird men cult.

We drove further up the hill to Orango, where you pay our park fee. There is a large volcanic crater here (Rano Kau), and you can see the Motu in the distance as well as the traditional houses made of stone.

We then drove to Ahu Vinapu to see our first Moai's. The main one being a head, and some large ones lying down.

We went back to the main street and had some empanadas for lunch, before getting picked up again for our afternoon tour.

This time we visited Puna Pau, which is the quary of the headpieces or hair on the Moai's.

We made at stop at Ahu Akivi, which was my favourite location and is the 7 explorers, the only Moai's to be facing the sea.

We drive onto Te Pahu, where there are lava flow tunnels, and finished our afternoon tour.

That night we went to Te Ra'ai, for the traditional Polynesia dinner (umu) and dancing.

Stay
Hotel O'Tai

Eat
Donade La Tia Sonia
Milkafe for icecream
Te Ra'ai

Do
Orango
Valcano Rano Kau
Ahu Vinapu
Ana Kai Tangata
Ahu Akivi or the 7 Explorers
Te Pahu
Puna Pau

Do

South America Day 36: Santiago to Rapa Nui

January 2012

When I was younger a primary school teacher showed us pictures of the statues of Easter Island, I had grown up around people that had travelled to all types of places (East Germany, Israel, Afghanistan) but from this point on Easter Island and it's Moai's was the pinnacle of travelling. Little did I know that 20 something years later I would be married to someone of Polynesian heritage who's interest in this Island on the tip of the South Pacific region would be nearly as strong as mine.

So after a 5 hour flight from Santiago we arrived in Rapa Nui (or Easter Island or Isla de Pascua).

After checking into our hotel, we took the short stroll down to the water and along to Haka Honu for lunch. We enjoyed the local raw fish and a baked crab and cheese dish.

We had an afternoon dip in the rock pool at Playa Pea, we even saw a sea turtle swimming.

We had dinner at a Pizzeria - the large pizza would have fed 4, before calling it a night.

Stay
O'Tai Hotel

Eat
Haka Honu, so much better than what Trip advisor says (and where there were plenty of locals on a Sunday afternoon)
Pizzeria La Esquina

Do
Swim in the rock pool
Walk along the main street

Wish: Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

It's a location we're toying with visiting in the not too distant future and has always been a dream destination of mine since studying the location in primary school. I think a large part of it is the statues that can be found around the island, but as I get older it's also the possibility of another luxury accommodation site, although this is the part that is currently open for debate.

Explora Rapa Nui opened in 2007 and is an all inclusive accommodation option. With only 30 rooms overlooking the ocean, it's easy to see why they charge a premium and why it's a popular choice.

The second option, which I still would class as luxury, comes with a smaller price tag, but with obvious reasons (less inclusions). However, the Altiplanico is still nothing to turn your nose up at!

We'll have to see what we decide to go with, like always I'll keep you posted!