With just two days left until Easter, I’m excited to share my authentic experience of visiting the enigmatic Easter Island. This remote gem in the Pacific Ocean is a 30+ hour journey from China, with layovers in the US, Chile, and finally, Easter Island.
While the island boasts picturesque landscapes, lush vegetation, rolling hills, and spectacular mountains, the tourist experience can be quite disappointing. Beneath the beautiful scenery, numerous tourist traps await, leaving many visitors feeling frustrated and helpless.
🚫 **The first major pitfall: Overpriced flights.** LATAM Airlines holds a monopoly on the route from Santiago, Chile, to Easter Island, and all luggage incurs an additional fee. Incredibly, the booking price on the airline’s English website is over 50% higher than on the Spanish version!
💡 **Money-saving tips:**
1. Use Google Flights to find the best deals, then book directly through the airline’s official website.
2. Switch to the Spanish interface for booking and save up to half the cost!
3. The aircraft used is a Boeing 787-9, and the difference between business class and economy class is significant.
If the price difference is minimal, consider upgrading to business class for a more comfortable journey.
4. Keep an eye out for Alaska Airlines’ frequent 45K points promotion for flights from the East Coast to Easter Island. Redeeming these points can be a fantastic deal!
🏝️ **The second major pitfall: “Unfair terms” at attractions.**
1. The all-access pass for the island’s attractions costs $100 (much cheaper for locals), and the sites are spread across this surprisingly large island. Cycling might seem like a good idea, but it’s not feasible. For the far-off sites, you’ll need to rent a car, and even the closer ones often have steep slopes that make walking challenging. Electric scooters require a motorcycle license, which a standard car license won’t cover.
2. To add to the frustration, many attractions mandate a guide for entry. Guides wait at the entrances, charging $30 per person without offering any meaningful explanations. This requirement seems to exist purely for “employment,” and even if you’re willing to pay, you might not always find a guide available.
💡 **Personal advice:**
Book a reputable tour in advance through platforms like Google or WhatsApp. These tours typically cost around $50, can be paid for by card, and include hotel pick-up and drop-off with a professional guide. However, book early as these tours fill up quickly, and last-minute bookings often have no availability. Although the tour lasts about 4 hours, 1.5 hours may be spent picking up passengers from various hotels, which can be quite inconvenient.
Despite these annoyances, Easter Island still has many stunning features: the breathtaking view from the top of the Orongo crater, delicious local seafood, and fine wine can temporarily make you forget the hassles of your trip. As for the Easter festivities? They are too expensive to attend, but the natural beauty and unique culture of the island make the journey worthwhile.
