This guide will focus on minimizing costs from two key aspects: air tickets and tour bookings, to help you experience as much of Easter Island 🗿 as possible within a 24-hour timeframe.
❓Why opt for this special forces-style travel?
The fear of missing out on an incredible destination, coupled with limited vacation time and the availability of relatively affordable air ticket combinations, makes this approach ideal.
✈️Air Tickets
My flight was scheduled from 2 pm on the first day to 2 pm the next day, giving me exactly 24 hours to explore. The total cost was just over $300.
It’s worth noting that Latam Airlines’ pricing can vary significantly, a common issue across Central and South America. A simple yet effective trick is to switch the airline’s website to the version of your destination country and book in Spanish using a translation tool.
If the booking doesn’t go through, try changing your card, browser, or even your device.
🎫Finding Tours
Standard group tours are not suitable for this tight schedule. These tours are typically divided into half-day and full-day options, and full-day tours are not available every day. Neither option fits a 2 pm-2 pm itinerary unless you only plan to visit a few spots near the town. Therefore, a customized private tour is essential.
Circling Easter Island is about 60 km, so one day is more than enough. Even without diving or fishing, you could circle it twice. Although sunset is around 7-8 pm, most attractions close at 5:30 pm, so it’s best to split the activities into two parts.
Day 1:
Exchange cash, buy tickets, arrange a tour, stroll through the town, watch the sunset at Ahu Tahai, and catch a local performance.
Day 2:
From sunrise until departure, enjoy a personalized tour based on your preferences.
My friend and I eventually negotiated a tour with a lady in front of the Rapa Nui National Park Ticket Office. While I’m not specifically recommending her, it’s worth shopping around and bargaining. We managed to get a price slightly higher per person than a full-day group tour. All transactions were in cash, preferably in pesos.
💰Exchanging cash on the island must be done before 1 pm. If your flight is like ours, 2 pm-2 pm, make sure to exchange cash in advance; otherwise, you may find yourself in a bind.
Some memorable and planned highlights include:
– Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki (the most crowded and opens the earliest)
– Ahu Te Pito Kura (you can enter even before it officially opens)
– Pu O Hiro
– Anakena (a beautiful beach with scenic surrounding hills)
– Ahu Akivi
– Moai Tukuturi (crowded but truly spectacular)
