Multi-sport | Horseback riding | Sea Kayaking | Skiing | Trekking |
Suggested itinerary:
Easter Island-trekk-7 days tour
Day 1 Santiago- Easter Island
Arriving on the island, we are greeted by our local guides and walk a few minutes to Hanga Roa, small township where Easter Island's 2.500 people all live. Here we find our family-style pension where we will stay overnight after discussing the itinerary and some other aspects about the trip.
Day 2 Hanga Roa- Orongo- Vinapu
Early in the morning we start our trekking throughout the island that during 3 days will lead us over hundreds of years of history. Our first stop is at Kaitangata cave to continue to Rano Kau volcano, the biggest on the island, which enormous crater is now a fresh water lake with floating green fields of totora reeds. This site offers an exceptional view of three tiny and craggy islands Nui, Motu and Kao-Kao where the bizarre "bird man" ritual took place. Then, the ruined village of Orongo, perched in this sublime location, shows 48 oval buildings built out of overlapping stone slabs and, over the cliffs, an amazing string of "bird man" petroglyphs. The treks continues over seashore passing through Vai A Tare towards Vinapu where we find Ahu Tahira, which 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(Peru). Continuing north along the south-eastern coast brings you the most striking examples of violent statue overthrowing of the Late Period's cannibal wars, into which the first European voyagers arrived. We reach Ahu Vaihu, probably the most extraordinary sight along this stretch. Eight large Moai have been pulled in a row from their ahu, laying with their noses in the dirt and top-knots scattered along the coast. We establish camp at Vaihu after aprox. 12 km/ 8 miles of walking. (B, L-, D)
Day 3 Vaihu- Rano Raraku
We keep going over the dirt road passing Ahu Akahanga, with four similarly humiliated statues, and stopping at Ahu Hanga Tetenga where we trek inland, over the so-called "Road of the Moai", towards the volcanic crater of Rano Raraku. This is probably 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, leading the way to the quarry or "nursery" inside of the impressive crater rim. Here was where the Moai were cut from volcanic tuff, and some 150 figures still left there, in all stages of completion, are mute witnesses of the mystery that suddenly stopped all work. Today we trek aprox. 11 km/ 7 miles. Camp at Ranu Raraku. (B,L, D)
Day 4 Rano Raraku- Anakena
Today we visit Ahu Tongariki recently restored after a tidal wave washed the statues dozens of meters away from their original setting in 1960. Next, we meet the horses that we will ride towards Poike Peninsula where there was once a mystical war among so called "long-Ears", who carved the Moai, and the newcomers known as "Short Ears", who were kept in a 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 then reach a point called Heva and from here the north coast of the island. Following the coast road onwards to the north we find the largest Moai ever transported. It is named Ahu Te Pito Te Kura( navel of light) and boasts at some 9.8 m/ 32 ft in length. Next we reach Ovahe beach a small bay nestled beneath a cliff of volcanic rock with pure and golden sands and magnificent clear water, a true South Pacific paradise. We spend some time here swimming and relaxing. We keep going to establish camp at Anakena beach, the legendary landing place of Hota Matua, the founder of the island. 15km/9miles walk (B, L-, D)
Day 5 Anakena- Ana Te Pora
On the back of a horse we ride by the coast through the less visited stretch of Hanga Oteo. Acend mount Maunga Terevaka (506m/ 1.600ft) the highest point in the island. Camp at Ana Te Pora. 18km/11 miles. (B, L-, D)
Day 6 Ana Te Pora- Ahu Akivi- Ana Te Pora
We trek during to the ceremonial center of Ahu Akivi where there are seven standing Moais that represent the sons of a Maori sorcerer sent to search for Rapa Nui, a home for king Hotu Matua. All arround the place one can explore attractive volcanic caves. Then walk back to Hanga to spend the rest of the day at leisure visiting places of interest, museum, Ahu Tahai, craft shops and fishing area. At night we enjoy a delicious farewell dinner with fish and seafood from the island. The distance walked today is around 14 kms/9 miles. Rest and overnight at the Pension. (B,L, D)
Day 7 Hanga Roa- Santiago
The morning is free for packing and doing last minute shopping. Leave on time to catch the plane back to Santiago. (B)
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