Coming to Easter Island (Rapa Nui) and visiting Tongariki was the main purpose for this year’s summer vacation trip. It has been a dream of mine for so long, since I was a kid. With expectations sky high, I guess there must be a fall…
The first stop on our moai tour was Akahanga. Initially all I saw was a pile of rocks – not having my mind set to moai mode yet. Fair to say though, there isn’t much to see. A platform, and a moai face down, I was told – looking at it now, I can see that that’s what it is 😉
Next up was Rano Raraku, the quarry where the moais were made. That was mind-blowing. A hillside scattered with moais, completed ones and not so completed ones. What a sight approaching it! You walk up along winding trails, kinda steep in places, making your way past and up close. From the top you get great views, and suddenly I spotted the famous Tongariki in the distance – wow! On the way back to the parking lot we did a detour over to a crater with moais.
Now for the hightlight of the tour, Tongariki. When I was finally in front of what I have admired in photos for so long, my reaction was a bit surreal. When I looked up on the well-known row of 15 moais, I just went: ok… Why? I don’t know. I think I had already had my wow moment, up in the quarry when I spotted them the first time. Maybe I just need to let it sink in? At the site are also petroglyphs. Very hard to make out for an untrained eye 🙂
After this we were off back to Hanga Roa for lunch. Found it ok in taste. Portions big, as usual.
The first stop of two after the break was Te Pito Kura. Said to say it was back to the «pile of rocks». Honestly those do nothing for me. I know they are different in details, but that is too much detail for this one…
Second stop was cool. Akahana beach. Nice looking beach with moais and access to cafes, bars, restaurants. Regrettably didn’t bring my bikini, because with the cold weather I was thinking there was no chance I would strip down, and definitely not go in. Was much warmer than I imagined, I would have gone wading at least. Instead I spent the time at the bar with tour mates, and had my first mango colada.
Vinapu didn’t impress much either. By this time I had seen all the «rocks» I needed to see 🙂
I did all of the above, except Vinapu, on a day tour with Mahinatur. It all went nice and smooth. What didn’t go the same way was another tour I had booked with them, the Sunrise at Tongariki tour, the next morning. They never came to pick me up, even though they tried, not too hard, to say they had been at my hotel, but I wasn’t there… I waited outside in the cold and rain for about an hour… Then I called the 24 hour support service. Apparently waked up a guy, who said he would look into it, and get back to me, but never did. Later in the day I told my host what had happened. He contacted the tour company, and told me I would get my money back. When I got to their office, getting my money back wasn’t a breeze. The guy working told me he couldn’t refund in cash. Then they offered to take me on a private tour the next morning, the morning of my departure. Not wanted more stress than needed, I declined. The answer was, think about it and come back in an hour. When I came back and repeated that I didn’t want to do the tour, I got the refund, in cash… Vinapu I did with two Chileans I met on the plane, and a taxi, no guide.
Sorry for the bad experience. I’m still green with envy.
Take care…
I forgot about the mishap quite quickly, so apparently it didn’t ruin much 🙂
I have wanted to go to Easter Island for a long time but, when in Chile, I opted to do other things as the island is quite far from the mainland. I do plan on getting there someday.
Yes, it is quite a long flight. Initially I was planning on crossing the Pacific with a stop on Tahiti, but things changed 🙂
I’ve never given much thought to Easter Island, I have no idea why not, but I can see how all those rocks could get old after a while! Sorry to hear about the tour, but at least you got your money back in the end! Thanks for linking up with #farawayfiles
The intact statues are incredible, and the less than easy to make out ones are not so impressive, but it was still worth it!
This is so high on my bucketlist!! I am afraid my expectations are too high too.
I had the same with Japan last Easter. Looking forward to it for years and it was a huge disappointment.
#FarawayFiles
Oh no, don’t say that, I have high expectations of Japan too, not as high as this tough 😀
Sorry to hear you got mucked about with the tour.
Easter Island has forever been on my bucket list!
#farawayfiles
Yes, but at least it wasn’t the most important tour that got screwed up, then I would have been not happy…
Wow, great to see the sweeping scenery on your video, it gives the place a perspective that you certainly can’t get with photos. I’d love to visit Easter Island one day, those statues are incredible. #farawayfiles
Easter Island is expensive, airplane ticket, hotel, food, but it is worth it – a once in a lifetime thing!