easter island day tours

Welcome to Easter Island Spirit, the leaders in highly personalized tours of the world’s most isolated inhabited island.

James Grant-Peterkin and his team have over 20 years’ experience in arranging unforgettable trips for our guests, specializing in Private Tours with some of the island’s very best guides.

The National Park authorities now require all visitors to Easter Island to be accompanied by a local guide in order to visit the archaeological sites, meaning that independent touring is no longer possible. It’s not a change in the rules that we particularly agree with, despite the obvious benefits to our business. However, given these new regulations, all we can do is try to offer our guests the most personalised and enjoyable series of tours in order to maximise their visit here. Don’t come all the way to Easter Island and risk that your experience be negatively dictated by the large tour group that you join; we highly recommend paying slightly more for private services and ensuring that your once-in-a-lifetime trip is exactly that.

Few places on the planet evoke a greater sense of mystery than Easter Island, a small volcanic island in the South Pacific Ocean, and one of the most isolated places on earth.  Home to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring and least-understood cultures, Easter Island now offers the curious traveller a destination like no other, and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to marvel at the island’s archaeological and natural wonders.

Easter Island Spirit  is a highly specialized and professional tour company, based locally on the island, and thus able to offer a truly dedicated and authentic experience to each of our guests.

We invite you to explore these pages and find out just how good your Easter Island trip could be.

Easter island spirit.

TU’U KOIHU S/N , HANGA ROA

Zip code / postal code: 2770000, [email protected].

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Easter Island Travel - your ultimate Easter Island tourism resource

Welcome to Easter Island Travel - your ultimate resource for Easter Island tourism and travel ! Planning a trip to the Navel of the World? Find out everything you need to know about travel and tourism for your Easter Island vacation here. We invite you to discover the ancient mysteries of Easter Island with us!

Shore excursions

Pay less for more in our cruise ship shore excursions . When cruising the Pacific Ocean, many see Easter Island as the highlight of their trip. Make sure you get the most out of your visit by. Check out our award-winning, comprehensive shore excursions with competitive prices to find out why our independent tours are such a popular choice for so many cruisers.

Explore shore excursions »

Easter Island regulations

Proof of vaccination

• Before leaving Santiago, you must show proof of vaccination

SERNATUR-registered lodging

• When boarding in Santiago, you must display a confirmation of booking of a lodging that's registered with SERNATUR, the Chilean National Tourism Service

National park ticket required

• To enter any of the archaeological sites, you must carry a national park ticket

Guide required

• You must be accompanied by a guide when entering the archaeological sites

Read about regulations and a lot more in our Easter Island travel guide .

Easter Island tours

Discover Easter Island the way you imagined it with our award-winning guided tours . Tour the most well-known highlights of the island or hike through the desolate remoteness to reach hidden archaeological treasures. Travel on horseback for days and camp under the stars in the wild under rough camping conditions and feel the true spirit of Rapa Nui.

Tour A: Journey of Legends

Tour B: Megaliths

North Coast

Ancestral Adventure

Subterranean Exploration

Explore more tours »

Learn about Easter Island

On a tiny speck of land in the world's greatest ocean, tribal chieftains raised colossal megaliths to praise their dead. One day, the the people almost vanished , and stories were passed down between the few descendants that were left, trying to remember the past. Scattered all over the island are the mysterious statues with lips forever sealed, as an evidence of the greatness that once was.

Easter Island is the place where history meets legend. Fascinating history is present in an almost surreal way.

From once existing in the numbers of only a bit more than a hundred people , there are today approximately 3000 people who share the Rapa Nui lineage, in a small society mainly driven by tourism. Rapa Nui is today part of Chilean territory and the influences from Chile are strong. The Rapa Nui decendants constantly strive to remember their cultural heritage through practicing their culture in dances, art and music .

Read Easter Island facts and info »

Moai statues

Tapati festival

Learn Rapa Nui language

Notable people

Travel guide book online for free

Travel well-prepared, knowing that you'll make the most out of your trip. The distance is far, so it's a good idea to do some planning. Before you make any definite plans, read our free online travel guide book , full of travel tips, suggestions, guidelines - all tourism and travel information you will ever need!

Read the Easter Island travel guide »

Places to visit

Easter Island has an incredible amount of beautiful and interesting places to visit. Learn about them below!

Ahu Tongariki

Rano Raraku

More places to visit »

Things to do

Get inspired and have ideas of vacation activities from our list of things to do at Easter Island.

Dance shows

Scuba diving

Plane spotting

Restaurants

More things to do »

• Testimonials

Read what others say about us at our TripAdvisor page .

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4-Day Easter Island Adventure Tour

• Partially Guided
• Christmas & New Year
• Introduction
• Day 1 Transfer from Easter Island Airport to Hotel Hanga Roa - Rapa Nui Dinner Show
• Day 2 Snorkeling in Los Motus
• Day 3 Horseback riding on Easter Island
• Day 4 Transfer from Hotel in Hanga Roa to Isla Airport Easter

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Reviews About This Operator

• Tour Operator Tangol Tours 4.3
• Kara · 10th October 2022 It was a nice trip. There was a little problem with communication. Things weren’t explained in detail but it didn’t... Show more
• Alisson · 21st March 2024 I love my time in Argentina. The landscapes were terrific!! Pablo was really kind person and professional guide.... Show more
• DIMITRIOS · 5th April 2023 Oh my gosh, the overall trip was fabulous! I would totally recommend the whole Argentina/Brazil tour !And Tangol... Show more

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• January 2025
• February 2025
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• November 2025
• December 2025
• Monday 8 Jul, 2024 Thursday 11 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates
• Tuesday 9 Jul, 2024 Friday 12 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates
• Wednesday 10 Jul, 2024 Saturday 13 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates
• Thursday 11 Jul, 2024 Sunday 14 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Friday 12 Jul, 2024 Monday 15 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Get Instant Confirmation Saturday 13 Jul, 2024 Tuesday 16 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 14 Jul, 2024 Wednesday 17 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Get Instant Confirmation Monday 15 Jul, 2024 Thursday 18 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Get Instant Confirmation Tuesday 16 Jul, 2024 Friday 19 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h
• Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 17 Jul, 2024 Saturday 20 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,106 Confirm Dates Hold space for 48h

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

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Good to Know

• Currency $ Chilean Peso Chile

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, L.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Typhoid - Recommended for Chile. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Chile. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Chile. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Rabies - Recommended for Chile. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 3rd August 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 3rd August 2024, a minimum payment of 50% is required to confirm your booking with Tangol Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 30 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Tangol Tours will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Tangol Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of Tangol Tours. Please familiarise yourself with the Tangol Tours payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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• Rapa Nui Private Adventure
• Get inspired by the possibilities.
• Build your ideal trip.
• Visit Rano Raraku, where seventy standing sentinels are embedded in grass
• Wander Anakena beach, the legendary landing place of Hota Matua
• View the quarry where Moai were cut from volcanic tuff
• Archaeological Site Visits
• Horseback Riding
• Village Visits
• Easter Island
• South America
• Andes Mountains

Full Itinerary

Day 1: fly to easter island.

• Accommodation

Day 2: Rano Kau | Orongo Village | Ahu Vinapu

• 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Day 3: Horseback Ride to North Coast

Day 4: ahu akivi | rano raraku volcano, day 5: fly to santiago.

• 1 Breakfast

Accommodations

Hotel hare uta, dates & prices, my preferred start date.

Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.

Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge

See our general terms and conditions:

• Adventure Life Terms & Conditions

We are an agent for one or more providers on this trip with specific cancellation policies and terms:

• Glove Travel Terms and Conditions - Glove Travel

For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.

• 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches
• 4 Nights Accommodations
• Accommodations as listed
• Ground transportation as listed
• Activities as listed
• Meals as listed
• Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Expenses
• Flight costs (please request a quote)
• Additional excursions during free time
• Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)

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Easter Island Tour Including the Tapati Festival

What makes our far horizons’ easter island trip special.

• Easter Island tour study leader worked on the island and throughout Polynesia for more than thirty years
• Includes the Tapati Festival, a celebration of Rapa Nui culture
• Special viewing of Rapanui artifacts in the Fonck Museum
• Wine tasting in one of Chile’s outstanding wineries
• Optional pre-trip extension to the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile
• Limited to 14 participants

Guided Tour Led by:

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• February 9 - 20, 2025; pre-trip EXT: February 2 - 10, 2025
• 12 Days including 6 on Rapa Nui
• $9495 + Air; EXT: $6595 + Air
• Single supplement: $1295.00; EXT: $695.00

NOTE: We urge you to register as soon as possible as we need to book flights from Santiago to Rapa Nui within the next few months to ensure all participants are on the flight.

Tour easter island, a unique open-air museum with nearly a thousand immense stone statues and hundreds of stunning petroglyphs.

At the southeastern tip of the Polynesian triangle lies windswept Easter Island, one of the most remote spots on the planet. Surrounded by an endless ocean as blue as the sky and located 2,300 miles west of Santiago, Chile, this tiny dot of land is sixty square miles of rocky grasslands, extinct volcanic cones, and steep ocean cliffs.

Far Horizons designed this Easter Island tour so that guests could fully immerse themselves in this enigmatic island’s deep history and culture. If you’re still trying to decide where to go on your next adventure, you might like to browse our entire collection of North and South America Archaeology Tours , including our much-loved Belize Archaeological Tour .

Easter Island, known to its Polynesian inhabitants as Rapa Nui, stands as a unique open-air archaeology museum. Home to nearly a thousand towering moai statues that cast enigmatic gazes across the landscape, numerous intricate petroglyphs, the island offers an unparalleled experience for those seeking to explore its deep mysteries through an Easter Island tour package.

Far Horizons’ Unforgettable Easter Island Tours

Our meticulously planned Easter Island journey coincides with the vibrant Tapati Festival, a cultural celebration that showcases the rich traditions of the Rapa Nui people. Each morning unveils thrilling competitions of strength and skill, while the evenings are filled with the soothing sounds of Polynesian music, as dancers adorned in grass skirts captivate audiences under the night sky. This festive time also pays homage to the island’s history through traditional performances, including the mesmerizing cat’s cradle chant, a method of preserving and passing down the lore of the land through generations.

Embark on a 12-day exploration with Far Horizons, accompanied by a small group of just 13 guests. This tour extends beyond Easter Island to include a three-day visit to Santiago, Chile’s capital. Here, you will explore the Natural History Museum and the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, as well as the picturesque coastal city of Viña del Mar. Our Easter Island tour package is crafted to provide an immersive experience, combining cultural festivities with archaeological discoveries for a truly memorable adventure.

What is the Tapati Festival?

A colorful festival is held every February on Easter Island. The Tapati Festival offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a memorable island ‘party’ — a celebration of the Rapanui culture. Events range from a statue carving contest to an art festival with works of island art on display and for sale.

Every evening there are spirited performances featuring Rapanui songs and sensual Polynesian dancing, including the lively Rapanui tango! Kai-kai (string figure) performances are closely watched by island audiences, and those who perform the chants and figures perfectly are given standing ovations. The entire village participates in the gala which includes horse and boat races, body painting, an amazing parade, a triathlon event, and much singing, dancing, and musical performances.

Many of the celebrations are held outdoors at night and the merrymaking ends with the annual crowning of the winning clan’s queen by moonlight in front of the evocative statues at the ancient shrine of Tahai. Our flexible itinerary will change daily as we take in the many Rapanui festivities. If you have any more questions about the Tapati Festival, please feel free to get in touch .

Pre-Trip Extension: Atacama Desert Itinerary

In northern Chile, soaring volcanoes, stark lava fields, and rolling, trackless sand dunes give startling contrast to a seemingly endless desert. The early artists who lived here perhaps thousands of years ago left behind spectacular pictographs and geoglyphs – huge ground drawings akin to the “Nazca Lines” in southern Peru.

These enormous representations of hunters, camels, eagles, condors, and herds of llamas with their shepherds cover the surface of hills, and, unlike those in Peru, are easily visible from the ground. But there’s more! Experience charming villages on desert oases, colonial adobe churches, unusual vegetation, the largest salt lake in Chile, home to spectacular flamingos, and in Arica, see displays of the world’s oldest mummies.​

Day 1 Depart for Chile

Depart on a flight bound for Santiago, Chile. 

Day 2 Arrive in Santiago

Arrive in Santiago and transfer to the Hotel Magnolia for a day of rest.

Day 3 Tour San Pedro de Atacama

Fly to Calama where we meet our guide, and drive to San Pedro de Atacama, on the UNESCO Tentative list. Along the way, we will stop to visit the Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs. This was a stop for traders and herders for millennia.

Continue on to the Valle de la Luna and the Valle de la Muerte, where red rock formations and sand cliffs pierce the crystalline sky. Here the wind has sculpted the stone peaks into bizarre shapes that truly give the area a lunar landscape. Many centuries ago, the verdant oasis of San Pedro de Atacama was the center of a Paleolithic civilization that built impressive rock fortresses upon the steep mountains that encircle the valley.

Today, the charming village of adobe houses could have sprung from the American southwest. Overnight for the next two nights at the Altiplanico Hotel in the oasis village of San Pedro de Atacama. (B/L/D)

Day 4 Salt Flats, Oases, and the Archaeological Site of Tulor

This morning, we will go through Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile. Under the rugged salt crust is a lake containing the world’s largest reserve of lithium locked in an underground reservoir. Lagoons within the crust are home to many birds including colorful flamingos, red-gartered coots, and guallatas.

Move on through groves of acacia and pepper trees to the oasis of Toconao, located 8,153 ft above sea level. Here, walk through the archaeological site of Tulor where excavations show the 2000-year-old remains of a community of mud houses protected by encircling walls. A short drive north leads to a 700-year-old fortress, Pukará de Quitor, overlooking the fertile Río San Pedro valley from atop a strategic bluff and the residence of the last indigenous ruler of the area.

Time permitting, we will enter the Toconao Church, with its unique 18th-century tower. Our last stop is in the community of Peine to observe pictographs that were created by the Atacameno people and may be 10,000 years old. (B/L/D)

Day 5 Tour Cerros Pintados and Visit Iquique

Today will be a long drive to Iquique. Along the way we will stop at Cerros Pintados. This extraordinary site boasts more than 350 geoglyphs. Created on the region’s barren hills between ca. A.D. 500 and 1450, they served as guideposts for caravans crossing the Atacama Desert from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean.

The entire side of the hill is covered with one of the world’s largest outdoor murals. More than 15 acres of slopes are decorated with shapes depicting humans, animals, birds and abstract designs. Overnight for the next two nights in Hotel Terrado Cavancha. (B/L/D)

Day 6 The Port City of Iquique

The port city of Iquique was the center of the mining industry in the 19th century. The Georgian-style architecture in the historic quarter affirms the wealth accumulated during that era. Our hotel is near the Plaza de Armas Arturo Prat. The neo-classical Municipal Theater, inaugurated as an opera house on January 1, 1890, is on one side and the 19th-century clock tower dominates the center. Also on the plaza is the Spanish Cultural Center, built in 1904 during the period of Spanish colonization. Constructed in the Moorish style with an ornamented façade and balconies, it now houses a club and restaurant.

We will drive down Calle Baquedano, declared a Zona Típica in 1977 and on the UNESCO Tentative List. Stately palm trees overshadow the avenue fringed with magnificent Georgian mansions. These were built between 1880 and 1920 with pine brought in from Oregon. In 1892 a nitrate industrialist constructed a family residence that now houses the Regional Museum. Inside, it displays important collections of items of indigenous peoples, objects from the Andean Plateau and mummies from the Chinchorro culture.

The Astoreca Palace contains an exhibition of furniture used in the 19th century. The Museo Corbeta Esmeralda houses a replica of a courageous little Chilean vessel that, in 1879, challenged ironclad Peruvian warships in the War of the Pacific. It was captained by the national hero, Arturo Prat. We will see the staff quarters, engine and a video explaining the battle. The afternoon and dinner are on your own to do with as you please. (B/L)

Day 7 Explore the Tamarugal National Forest and Tiliviche

Journey through the Tamarugal National Forest to see the wild tamarugos, the tree indigenous to this area, to eerie Humberstone. This ghost town has been deserted since the nitrate industry collapsed in the 1950s. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this company town was home to thousands of people who lived and worked here from the first half of the 19th century, processing the largest deposit of saltpeter in the world.

As we move north, spend the rest of the day exploring intriguing rock art in the colorful, wild landscape. Unlike the Nazca lines that can only be seen clearly from an airplane, these artistic designs were formed on the sides of hills and are easily viewed from the ground. The famed Giant of Atacama is on the western slope of Cerro Unita and is the world’s largest representation of a human figure, measuring one hundred twenty meters tall.

At Tiliviche, we will gaze across a quebrada (an immense gorge) to a huge scene on the opposite hillside. The artist created a panel filled with movement as a herd of llama is driven down the valley by running shepherds. We will also travel to the Chiza petroglyph site. Overnight for the next two nights in the Apacheta Hotel in Arica. (B/L/D)

Day 8 Tour the Lluta Valley, Chinchorro, and the Cathedral of San Marcos

Giant ground drawings appear on a mountain ridge as we arrive in the Lluta Valley. Created by dark stones placed on the pale sand, stunning images of alpaca, giant humans, and enormous condors cover the hillside. From here, travel to the Azapa Valley where prehistoric artists created fascinating panels on the sandy slopes of Cerro Sombrero and Alto Ramirez.

We will stop to enter the Church of San Geronimo of Poconchile, built of adobe in the 17th century, and the Archaeological Museum of Azapa where the entire story of cultural development in this region is displayed, including the mummies from the Chinchorro culture, a UNESCO World Heritage Culture.

Tonight’s special dinner party will be in an elegant restaurant with magnificent views over the Pacific Ocean. (B/L/D)

Day 9 Flights Back to Santiago to Start the Main Easter Island Tour

A morning flight takes us back to Santiago. This afternoon, meet up with those who are not on the pre-trip extension to begin the main tour. (B)

Daily Easter Island Tour Itinerary

Depart on a flight bound for Santiago, Chile.

Arrive in Santiago and transfer to Hotel Magnolia, our home for the next two nights. After check-in and lunch on our own, we will tour the historical city, including a visit to the Pre-Columbian Art Museum which catalogs 4,500 years of South American civilization before the arrival of the Spanish and Museo La Merced which houses an interesting collection of Rapanui artifacts. Gather this evening for our Welcome dinner at an elegant restaurant overlooking the city. (D)

Day 3 Tour of Valparaiso

Our all-day-tour takes us to Valparaiso, located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. We will stop at one of Chile’s premier wineries for a tasting and tour before lunch. Continue to Viña del Mar, one of Chile’s most fashionable beach resorts. Here, we will visit the Fonck Museum and be given a private tour of its original Rapanui wooden sculptures and artifacts from Easter Island. Return to Santiago and our hotel in the late afternoon. (B/L/D)

Day 4 Fly to Easter Island

This morning fly to Easter Island and check into the O’tai Hotel, our home for the next six nights. Surrounded by lovely, fragrant gardens, this small family-run inn is only a block from the coast in the center of the village of Hanga Roa. Enjoy a traditional umu (earth oven) dinner to celebrate our arrival. (B/L/D)

Day 5 Tahai, Anakena, Ahu Nau Nau, Ature Huki

Today’s tour begins at Ahu Ko Te Riku (also known as Tahai), a large solitary statue, or moai , supports a massive maroon topknot.   

Move on to Anakena, the island’s largest white-sand beach and the landing place of the legendary Hotu Matua, the founding hero of the island. Not far we explore Ahu Nau Nau, with its row of statues with topknots, and Ature Huki, where statues stand on the side of the hill overlooking the beach. (B/L/D)

Day 6 The Village of Orongo and Rano Raraku

The ancient village of Orongo sits on the seaward edge of the volcano Rano Kao. Until the 1860s, the Festival of the Bird Man was held here each spring. Members of leading tribal groups gathered at the edge of a thousand-foot cliff to watch competitors, or their trusted representatives, swim through turbulent waters rock paintings Easter Island tour to Motu Nui Islet, nearly a mile away.

Once there, the competitors hid in caves, sometimes for days, waiting for the return of the migrating Sooty Terns that nestled there. The first person to find an egg, swim back through the shark-infested waters to the mainland, carry it up the precipitous cliff and present it unbroken, won the race. He or the man he represented became Bird Man, an important status position, for the next year. The sacred site is famed for its hundreds of intricate petroglyphs carved on massive boulders perching on the edge of the cliff.

Continue to Vinapu, containing the ruins of two famous shrines, one of which has massive stonework reminiscent of the Inka civilization in Peru.

Within the flanks of the volcanic mountain, Rano Raraku, lies the quarry where the massive moai were carved. Many unfinished giants still lie imprisoned in stone, abandoned when the work suddenly and mysteriously stopped. Others stand buried to their shoulders in quarry debris and eroding soil and rock. Hike to the trail alongside the mountain slope to see the statues in various stages of completion, including the one known kneeling moai. (B/L/D)

Day 7 Tours of Ahu Huri A Urenga, Ahu Akivi, and Puna Pau

The remote west coast of the island is today’s destination. Begin with a visit to Ahu Huri A Urenga where a solitary statue still stands; it was once a solstice observatory. After a picnic lunch, we move on to Ahu Akivi where seven standing giants are oriented towards the summer solstice. The moai face a plaza fronted with stones, the site of early religious rites and dances. Finally, visit Puna Pau, where the red scoria topknots for the stone figures were quarried. (B/L/D)

Day 8 Local Musical Performance and a Tour of Vaihu

Mahani Teave is a Rapanui concert pianist and one of the founders of NGO Toki Rapanui, a music school on the island. If available, we will join Mahani and take a tour of the music school and learn about the innovative, green, and sustainable aspects of the building and enjoy a performance by her students.

Next, with its many large moai, Vaihu is one of the most impressive sites on the south coast. Toppled in the wars, the statues now lie with their noses buried in the ground surrounded by scattered topknots. At Akahanga are numerous large figures and the remains of a village with the foundations of several boat-shaped houses lies on a hillside nearby.

After a picnic lunch at Ovahe Beach, continue to the north coast, stopping at the Poike “Ditch” and the Trumpet of Hiro. Visit Ahu Hekii, Ahu Ra’ai and its petroglyphs, and Te Pito Te Kura, the largest statue ever moved. Tongariki was the largest ahu (shrine) built on the island. Destroyed by a tsunami in 1960, the huge moai were recently re-erected. Notable here are the stunning petroglyphs of enormous tuna, turtles, and human and birdman figures. (B/L/D)

Day 9 Enjoy your last full day on Rapa Nui

Today will be free to explore the island at your own pace. Enjoy the activities of Tapati, arrange a boat to take you out on the water, sit by the pool, explore the shops in the village, and enjoy your last full day in this Polynesian paradise. (B/L/D)

Day 10 Flights to Santiago

Fly back to Santiago and transfer to the hotel. Dinner is on your own. (B/L)

Day 11 Cousiño Palace, Pablo Neruda's House Museum

Begin today at Cousiño Palace, an ancient residence of the richest family of the 19th century, decorated with art pieces brought from Europe. Also, tour the historical city, including a visit to the Pre-Columbian Art Museum which catalogs 4,500 years of South American civilization before the arrival of the Spanish and Museo La Merced which houses an interesting collection of Rapanui artifacts.

After an elegant lunch at El Meson Nerudiano, it’s on to the Pablo Neruda’s House-Museum. Built in 1953, it was called “La Chascona” in honor of Neruda’s secret love, Mrs. Matilde Urrutia, who later became his third wife. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the airport for overnight flights back home. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

Day 12 Arrive Home

Arrive home.

Tour Information

Tour cost & inclusions.

Price is based on double occupancy and includes:

• Internal flights during the trip (if applicable)
• The accompaniment of your scholar throughout the entire trip
• Local English-speaking guide
• Hotel accommodations (3 or 4 stars; or best available based in the area)
• Ground transportation
• Airport transfers for arrivals and departures
• Most meals as noted in the itinerary
• Entry fees to all included sites and museums
• Gratuities to guides, drivers, and restaurant and hotel staff
• Coordination for any private presentations or tours

Trip prices are based on a minimum number of participants. If this minimum number is not met, trip prices are subject to change. Should the prices need to change, Far Horizons will reach out to registered guests to discuss directly.

Single Supplement

Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

• International round trip airfare
• A separate donation check of $150.00 per person to a designated donation project
• Passport or visa fees
• Required vaccines or tests
• Airport or departure taxes
• Alcoholic drinks, beverages or food not included on set menus
• Excess baggage charges
• Personal tips and hotel incidental expenses
• Laundry or other items of a personal nature

Donation Checks

As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural sites and projects which we visit. This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers and contacts in each of our destinations. We ask that each participant donate to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $150.00 per person. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.

Exchange Rate Fluctuations

Prices are based on currency exchange rates keeping below a projected level. While it is unlikely, if the exchange rates should change substantially, Far Horizons reserves the right to charge an additional amount to the trip cost.

Registration

A deposit of $1000 per person is required along with your registration & health forms, which will be linked in the email confirmation you receive once you pay your deposit on our booking platform. Final payment is due 120 days before departure. Prior to departure, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information.

Cancellation

Cancellations received in writing at least 120 days before departure will receive a refund less a $500 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 120 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Upon registering for the tour, the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly advised. Links to recommended insurance policies will be included in the email you receive confirming receipt of your deposit.

Air Ticketing

International round trip flights are not included in the cost of the trip. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased. Please send your complete air schedule as soon as you have it. NOTE: Please contact Far Horizons if you would like for us to handle your air ticketing.

Private Tours and Talks

The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be on site when our groups arrive due to other commitments.

Walking and Standing

Far Horizons expects all participants to be physically active and able to walk and climb independently throughout the full touring days. This includes walking over uneven terrain (uphill and downhill) for 2 miles or more at each site. You should expect to be on your feet for much of each day, averaging as much as 5 miles of walking per day. As such, each participant should be able to walk unaided at a pace of 3 miles per hour for at least an hour at a time, and to stand unsupported for at least 60 minutes. Bearing this in mind, we suggest that, if you have not already done so, you begin walking several miles every day, ideally including stairs and hills. If you have questions about your ability to keep up with the group or the strenuous nature of this trip, please contact the Far Horizons staff.

Expectations During Travel

This tour is designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active, have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. We have designed this trip to be as comfortable as possible, while also aiming to visit some remote or unique sites that other companies do not attempt to include in their itineraries. There may be days where we have very long drives and the conditions of the roads may vary. Hotels and transportation in some remote areas may not be up to western standards. There may be times when no bellhops are available; please pack with the understanding that you need to be able to handle your own luggage at times. Sometimes we may be walking over uneven trails for a mile or more; hiking boots are strongly recommended. Not every meal will be haute cuisine and several lunches may be picnics or box lunches. By maintaining a flexible attitude we will soon be captivated by the beauty of the natural scenery, the hospitality of the local people, and the fascinating sites we will see. Your flexibility and patience will be appreciated.

Itinerary Changes

Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. While we are committed to keeping as close to the published details as possible, sometimes it is simply not possible. Weather events, government affairs, or other factors out of our control sometimes come into play. A good book to read as well as patience, flexible attitude, and a sense of humor are essential.

Travel Insurance

Disclaimer regarding dates and booking.

Exact dates for the 2025 Tapati Festival on Easter Island have  not yet been set. We have set our trip dates based upon past precedent that the festival will take place within the first 2-3 weeks of February, however it is possible that festivities may not occur for the entire duration of our six day/night stay on the island.  In addition, seats on the flights to/from Easter Island are limited and once the required flights for our itinerary sell out, we must close the trip. As such, we require payment for the flights to/from Easter Island at the time of registration so that we can immediately purchase these tickets on your behalf through our partner in Chile.  These tickets are non-refundable, and fares are subject to change until booked. If you cancel from the trip you will not be refunded by Far Horizons or the airline.

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Join Astronomy for a far-out eclipse adventure on Easter Island

I’m delighted to say that in October 2024 Astronomy magazine will partner with our tour guide friends at Eclipse Traveler, carrying us to Chile and the magical site of Easter Island .

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, will witness an annular solar eclipse over the Pacific Ocean. Missing landfall almost entirely, the eclipse will be visible from one of the great, celebrated, exotic locations on Earth — Easter Island! The famous locale is renowned for its nearly 1,000 moai statues created by the Rapa Nui people between 1250 and 1500 A.D. It will be a mind-blowing place from which to see an eclipse.

The trip schedule stretches from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, encompassing seven days and six nights. Travelers will fly into Santiago, Chile, commencing the journey with a Santiago city tour. The following day will see an exploration of San Cristobal Hill outside Santiago, including a visit to the National Astronomical Observatory among other historical and cultural sites.

The following day will feature a flight to Easter Island. For several days we will explore this magical place, which is home to 7,750 people on a landmass of about 63 square miles. On Oct. 2, our group will observe the annular eclipse from this amazing place, and the possibilities for eclipse photos are mind-numbing. (We’ll certainly incorporate those incredible statues!)

From Easter Island, the duration of annularity is significant — 5 minutes and 48 seconds. Following the eclipse, we’ll have a wonderful and relaxing day on Easter Island before heading back to Santiago.

The adventure then continues. We will head to Valparaiso, Chile’s great historic city and oldest port. Museums, amazing architecture, and historical treasures await us here. An extension, however, can carry travelers to San Pedro de Atacama, center of astronomy enthusiasts who gather in the Atacama Desert, the greatest skygazing location on Earth. Adventures in the Atacama will include touring the incredible ALMA radio telescope array as well as dark-sky observing. We will also spend an incredible day touring the El Tatio Geysers, a geological treasure of the planet.

I’m very excited about this adventure. For complete details on the trip, see https://www.eclipsetraveler.com/tour/2024-chile-easter-island-annular-solar-eclipse/

I hope to see you there!

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If you go: Island Creek Oyster farm tours

Here’s what you need to know..

Island Creek holds two-hour tours four times a day (11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m.; $110 per person) on Wednesdays through Sundays, until the end of September. The first hour of the tour encompasses the hatchery; the second hour has you out on the bay in their skiff. Bring your own drinks and your appetite (the oysters are all-you-can-eat).

The company has to negotiate a complicated calendar: The best months to be on the water are July, August, and September, but starting the breeding process that late in the season would not allow the juvenile oysters to develop enough to survive a harsh winter. So tour guides use posters and placards to explain the hatchery process in those months. Little is lost — the oyster larvae and spat are so tiny as to be rendered as clouds in the water during the May and June tours. For the busy breeding season in late winter, Island Creek has experimented with combining the hatchery tour with a caviar testing experience.

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If you choose the summer tour, time the second hour for low tide. The receding bay reveals the farm in all its muddy splendor.

Michael Bailey can be reached at [email protected] .

Ukraine war latest: Putin says he will take Trump 'seriously' on ending war

Vladimir Putin has said Russia takes Donald Trump's declaration that he could end the war "completely seriously", although he doesn't know the details of the proposals. The US presidential candidate previously claimed he could create peace in 24 hours if he makes it to the White House.

Thursday 4 July 2024 21:03, UK

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Russian strikes killed two people and wounded 26 in Ukrainian regions stretching from the south to the east and northeast today, local authorities have said.

A missile strike in southern Odesa region killed a woman, injured seven people and damaged port infrastructure, regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.

Meanwhile, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, a second woman was killed and a man wounded in a strike by a Russian guided bomb on the village of Ruska Lozova, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Nine others, including four children, were wounded in a drone attack and shelling in the town of Novohrodivka, in the frontline Donetsk region, governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Elsewhere, Dnipro regional governor Serhiy Lysak reported seven wounded in the southern town of Nikopol. 

All the affected regions have been subjected to repeated attacks since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia denies targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure, but thousands of people have been killed and wounded.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that he wants Turkey-China ties to continue improving.

He has also said steps taken to improve such ties would benefit both countries.

Both the Turkish and Chinese leaders met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in the Kazakh capital Astana today and discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and the fighting in Gaza.

During the meeting, Mr Erdogan called for "effective measures" by the international community to prevent either conflict from spreading.

One civilian has been killed after a ballistic missile struck the southern port city of Odesa.

Governor Oleh Kiper said at least seven others had been injured after the attack on the region and houses and port facilities had been damaged.

"The civilian port infrastructure is under attack," Mr Kiper said on Telegram .

Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian forces in the war, with many attacks aimed at the city's port facilities. 

Russia denies targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure.

The Hungarian prime minister will meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow tomorrow, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) . 

Viktor Orban will be accompanied by Hungary's foreign minister Peter Szijjarto, the outlet reports, citing an unnamed Hungarian government source.

The reported visit comes days after Mr Orban urged Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider a ceasefire to accelerate an end to the war with Russia.

Mr Orban, who is an outspoken critic of Western military aid to Ukraine and has the warmest relations of any EU leader with Mr Putin, held talks with Mr Zelenskyy during his first trip to Kyiv in more than a decade yesterday.

Mr Orban said he asked the Ukrainian leader to think about a ceasefire before the follow-up international summit Kyiv hopes to hold later this year.

Apple has removed 25 VPN mobile apps from its AppStore in Russia, following a request by Russia's state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, Interfax reports.

Demand for VPN services soared in Russia after Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in 2022 and the authorities restricted access to some Western social media.

Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has already blocked access to some large VPNs, but others remained available.

Images are emerging of the damage inflicted on Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine after months of Russian assault.

The Ukrainian army said today they had retreated from an area on the outskirts of the strategically important city in the Donetsk region after a 10-month battle there.

Months of relentless Russian artillery strikes have devastated Chasiv Yar, leaving homes charred.

Ukrainian commanders in the area say their resources remain stretched, largely due to a months-long gap in military assistance from the US which threw Ukraine's military onto the defensive.

Around 190,000 recruits have signed contracts to join the Russian military so far in 2024, the state-run RIA news agency reports, quoting former president Dmitry Medvedev.

Mr Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said the current average recruitment rate was about 1,000 people a day.

For context : Russia is encouraging people to sign up for the war in Ukraine by paying them above average wages. 

Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has no need to enforce a new round of compulsory mobilisation because so many men are signing up on voluntary contracts.

A duo of Russian pranksters who often target and compromise people the Russian state is interested in have been given a top state award in the Kremlin, the RIA state news agency reports.

Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, who use the aliases "Vovan and Lexus", were presented with the award by the Kremlin at a ceremony yesterday.

The award is given to Russian and foreign nationals for strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding between Moscow and other nations, among other criteria.

There was no immediate word from the Russian pranksters, who last month released footage of a video call they had with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron after tricking him into thinking he was speaking to a former Ukrainian president.

During the hoax call, Lord Cameron thought he was speaking with former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko.

The duo are well-known inside Russia, having duped a string of politicians over the years, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and, in 2022, Britain's then-defence minister, Ben Wallace.

Vladimir Putin has said his preference for Joe Biden remains unchanged after watching fragments of the debate between the US president and Donald Trump.

Asked by a state television reporter if Mr Biden or Trump was better, if his publicly stated preference for Biden had changed after the debate, and if he had seen it, Mr Putin said: "Nothing has changed."

"Did we not know what could come? We knew," the Russian president added.

Mr Putin has several times said he feels Joe Biden is preferable as the future US president to Trump, even after Mr Biden cast the Kremlin chief as a "crazy SOB".

Mr Putin said he had seen parts of the debate between both Mr Biden and Trump but he had other things to attend to.

"I saw some fragments," Mr Putin said. "But I have enough to do."

Asked about Trump's statements that he could end the Ukraine war swiftly if he won the presidential election, Mr Putin said Russia took him seriously but had no sense of the details of any of Trump's peace proposals.

"The fact that Mr Trump, as a presidential candidate, declares that he is ready and wants to stop the war in Ukraine, we take this completely seriously," he said.

What else did Putin say today?

The Russian leader also reiterated that Moscow would not declare a ceasefire in Ukraine until Kyiv takes steps that are "irreversible" and acceptable to the Kremlin.

He said it was pointless for Russia to attempt to appeal to the Ukrainian parliament when it came to Moscow's ideas to end the conflict between the two countries.

Mr Putin said last month that Russia would end the war in Ukraine only if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over the entirety of four provinces claimed by Moscow, demands Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to surrender.

Drones allegedly struck the vicinity of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant yesterday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said, citing the administration of the occupied facility.

Russian officials yesterday claimed three drones struck an area near the plant. 

The UN nuclear watchdog has now said it received reports of several drone strikes in vicinity of the site, injuring workers at Enerhodar electrical sub-station and starting fires in forest area near the plant.

IAEA experts stationed at the plant reported seeing thick smoke rising near the facility and heard explosions after they were told about an alleged drone attack by the representatives of the plant. 

Director-general Rafael Grossi said: "It is extremely concerning that these drone attacks are continuing, despite the very clear dangers they present to people in Enerhodar as well as to safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. 

"They must stop, immediately."

The IAEA also said that before yesterday's strikes, their team had heard of military activities near the plant on most days over the past week.

What has been happening at the plant?

The nuclear facility has been under Russian control since 4 March 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Since then there have been major concerns about the safety of the plant - not least of all because heavy weapons, including shells and rockets, have hit the buildings.

Both sides blame each other. 

Since Russian forces occupied the site there have been multiple power outages, which has increased fears of a nuclear disaster.

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