Easter Island
I decided to take this trip with my mother as she really wanted to see the Moai and so did I!! We traveled from Miami to Sanitiago, had a quick overnight (so as not to be run to ragged) and then on to Easter Islans the next day. Arrival in Easter Island was great! The driver from the hotel was there to meet us with leis in hand, such a nice gesture no matter how many times you experience it. We continued on to the hotel, settled in and then rented a jeep and set off to see the Moai. The only cars we could find were stick shift...this was funny as my Mom hadn't driven one in forever and me, not for 20 years!! Regardless, we managed to dog that little red jeep all over the island for days...and had you seen the terrain....yikes!!
Anyway, when we first set off we did so without a map and just happened to come across Ahu Tongariki, the 15 giant Moai along the seaside.
On day two we had booked a tour to see the ruins of the village of Orongo...we quickly realized that although the guide was informative, it was nothing we had not already researched online. I would say you can easily travel around the entire island by car on your own without missing much. All the major sites are marked and can easily be found with the assistance of a map. The exception being if you want to go horseback riding or boating.
We opted for a half-day hoseback tour...this was incredible. Our guide took us to the highest point on the island and the view was spectacular!
The hotels are bare bones on the island. I think the isloation of the island may contribute in some way to that. There is no cell phone service, poor Internet, and most air conditioning units are problematic. As well, our hotel had huge spaces under the doors and, coupled with the lush vegetation, many bugs came into the hotel room at night. It helped to keep the light on as the bugs would then go to the other "darker rooms." Lol.
The island does have its drawbacks, but I would say that overall it is a must-see!! It is well worth any sacrifice to get out there and see these most beautiful statues. It is a once in a lfetime opportunity!
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After much research I decided on this hotel because it received some of the best reviews online. I am guessing it was probably one of the better hotels on the island after seeing the other choices.
On a more positive note, the grounds were very pretty and well kept, the pool was super clean, and there is so much to do that you won't need to spend too much time in your room anyway. As well, the hotel's location was convenient to restaurants and shopping.
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