Josefina ‘Josie’ Nahoe MulloyTravel to Santiago, Chile.
Nov 20
Fly into Santiago from our Pumas trip and stay at the Holiday Inn Santiago Airport, conveniently located for the next day’s early flight to Easter Island.
Rapa Nui Culture!
Easter IslandExtension
November 20 to Nov 25, 2025
Cost: $2500
Leader: Josefina ‘Josie’ Nahoe Mulloy
Group Size: 8
Days: 6
Safari Overview
Discover the ancient mysteries of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) on this immersive extension, guided by a local expert with deep Rapa Nui Heritage. Uncover the secrets behind the iconic moai statues, explore sacred archaeological sites, and witness stunning Pacific sunsets over the island’s volcanic landscapes. Walk among Ahu Tongariki’s 15 restored moai, visit the volcanic quarry at Rano Raraku, and experience the legendary Tangata manu (Birdman) petroglyphs at Orongo to learn about the once-powerful ritual. Visit Ahu Akivi, where seven moai gaze toward the sea, and walk among the ruins of Ahu Akahanga, believed to be the burial site of the island’s first king. Enhance your journey with sunrise and sunset photography sessions, a boat excursion to remote islets, and firsthand insights into the island’s unique Polynesian culture.
WHY CHOOSE THIS TRIP?
- Explore Easter Island’s Mysterious Moai: Stand before the iconic Ahu Tongariki, where 15 towering moai face the Pacific Ocean, and visit Rano Raraku, the volcanic quarry where these statues were carved.
- Discover the Birdman Petroglyphs at Orongo: Visit the ceremonial village of Orongo, perched on dramatic sea cliffs, and uncover the Tangata Manu (Birdman) petroglyphs, central to Rapa Nui’s ancient rituals.
- Capture Unforgettable Moai Photography: Witness the moai at sunrise and sunset, capturing the golden light illuminating these enigmatic statues in stunning detail.
- Venture on a Scenic Boat Excursion: Cruise along Easter Island’s coastline (weather permitting) for a unique perspective of the island’s remote motus (islets) and their cultural significance.
- Unravel the Mysteries of Rapa Nui Culture: Learn from expert guides about Polynesian navigation, ancient traditions, and the history of the first Rapa Nui king at sites like Ahu Akahanga and Ahu Vinapu.
- Stay in a Peaceful Island Lodge: Unwind in a calm retreat offering convenient access to major archaeological sites and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
ENHANCE YOUR TRIP
- This is a post-trip extension to our Pumas trip from November 12 to 21, 2025.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Easter Island was remarkable and Josie was a fabulous guide.” – Nancy Frank |
TRIP MAP
NOTABLE EXPERIENCES
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Itinerary Updated: June 2025
Print Trip
| Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20 | Travel to Santiago, Chile. Travel to Santiago from the Pumas trip | Santiago Airport Holiday Inn | |
| Nov 21 | Fly to Easter Island. Explore Ahu Tahai and Ahu Akivi. Sunset photography at Tahai. | Hotel Altiplanico, Easter Island | D |
| Nov 22 | Cultural sites and boat trip. Explore Rano Raraku, Ahu Tongariki, and Ahu Akahanga. Afternoon boat trip for half the group with the other half going the following day. | Hotel Altiplanico, Easter Island | B, L, D |
| Nov 23 | Cultural sites and moai sunset photography. Visit Orongo village and Ahu Vinapu. Afternoon boat trip for the remaining half of the group. Photograph Moai in the evening. | Hotel Altiplanico, Easter Island | B, L, D |
| Nov 24 | Fly back to Santiago and depart for home. Photograph moai at sunrise and enjoy free time before flying back to Santiago for flights home. | B | |
| Nov 25 | Arrive home. |
Our Trip Leaders
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Josefina ‘Josie’ Nahoe Mulloy
Josie is the daughter of a Rapa Nui father and an American mother, and granddaughter of American archeologist William Mulloy who is responsible for most of the island’s archeological restoration. She offers unique perspective, insight, and personal history to Easter Island. After growing up and receiving an education in the US, she relocated to Easter Island and shortly thereafter received Top Guide of the Year in all of Chile. She is regarded not only as the one of most insightful guides on the island, but also the most fun, and she looks forward to sharing the mystery of Rapa Nui with you.
Detailed Itinerary
A glimpse into our journey
Fly to Easter Island and explore Ahu Tahai and Ahu Akivi
Nov 21
Fly 2,360mi across the Pacific Ocean to Easter Island where Josie, your Easter Island leader, will meet you to begin exploring this famous island. Although small, taking less than an hour to drive from one end to the other, this island is packed with rich cultural history.
Historic sites are abundant around the island, each featuring unique stories and photo opportunities. Visit the sites listed below and end the day with a sunset photography session of the moai at Ahu Tahai.
Ahu Tahai
Located within walking distance of your lodge, this site contains three ahu (from north to south): Ko Te Riku (moai with restored eyes), Tahai, and Vai Ure.
Ahu Akivi
One of the few ahu built in the interior of the island rather than on the coast, Ahu Akivi’s seven moai look out towards the ocean, directly facing the sun during the spring and autumn equinox. Oral tradition says the moai at Ahu Akivi represent the young explorers sent to investigate the island before it was colonized.
Cultural sites and boat trip
Nov 22
You’ll tour the following cultural sites, and weather permitting, enjoy an afternoon boat trip to the motus (islets). Due to current requirements, one-half of the group will embark on the afternoon boat trip today, and the second half of the group will go the following day.
Rano Raraku and Puna Pau
Rano Raraku is an extinct volcano that contains Puna Pau, the quarry from which all moai were carved. Half-finished or half-buried statues lie all around the site, each with its own unique design or face.
Ahu Tongariki
The largest restored ahu on Easter Island with fifteen moai includes the heaviest ever erected on the island.
Ahu Akahanga
This ahu (platform) is the burial site of the first king of Easter Island. In most ahu, the moai lie face down, but here you can find them both face-up and face-down.
Photograph the moai at sunrise; fly back to Santiago and depart for home
Nov 23
After visiting the following cultural sites, the second half of the group will embark on their afternoon boat trip.
Orongo village and petroglyphs
Situated high on a cliff overlooking the motus on the southwest end of Easter Island, Orongo is a stone village, ceremonial center, and traditional site of the Tangata Manu, a dangerous annual competition between the clans of Easter Island. Last held in 1867, the Tangata Manu competition began when the islanders expected sooty terns to return to nest. Each clan leader chose a member to race and be the first to get and return a sooty tern egg. Contestants scrambled down the steep rock face, braved sharks while swimming across to Motu Nui, then waited on the islet, often for days or weeks, until a sooty tern laid an egg. Once the first egg was found, the contestant would take the egg and race back, all while keeping the egg intact in a reed basket attached to his forehead. The winning clan leader gained prestige and power as the birdman, shaved his head, and lived in ceremonial seclusion for a year while his clan gained sole rights to collect the eggs and birds of Motu Nui for the season. Look along the cliff for petroglyphs revealing the famous birdman motif.
Ahu Vinapu
The ceremonial center of Vinapu includes one of the larger ahu on the island, which has extraordinary stonemasonry consisting of large and carefully fitted slabs of basalt, reminiscent of those of the Incas in Peru.
Photograph the moai at sunrise; fly back to Santiago and depart for home.
Nov 24
Get an early start to witness the moai at sunrise, bathed in the soft hues of dawn. Enjoy free time to explore before your flight back to Santiago in the afternoon.
Arrive home
Nov 25
- Cost & Payments
- Included
- Not Included
- Climate
- Fitness Level
- Flights
Conservation- Conditions
Cost & Payments
Costs (in US$)
| Type | Cost Per Person |
|---|---|
| Trip Cost, double occupancy | $2,500 |
| Single Supplement | $396 |
Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
If you are a single traveler, we will try to find a roommate for you, but if we cannot pair you with a roommate, we may charge you a single supplement. Single rooms cost extra and are subject to availability.
Payment Schedule
| Payment | Due Date | Amount Per Person |
|---|---|---|
Payment is due with your main trip's final payment; see the Pumas itinerary for details.
Cancellations
Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person, which can be applied toward another trip if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.
Included
- Carbon offsets for the duration of this trip.
- All leaders, transport, park entry fees, landing fees, and permits for all activities unless described as optional.
- Accommodations for the nights of November 20 through November 23.
- Meals from breakfast on November 21 through breakfast on November 24, except meals listed in the Not Included section.
- On November 20, your hotel is across the street from the Santiago Airport, so you can walk to and from the hotel and the airport.
- On November 24, your transfer is provided from Hotel Altiplanico, Easter Island to the Easter Island airport.
- Trip Planning Materials – information about entry requirements, flights, packing, gratuities, etc.
Not Included
- Carbon offsets for your flights to/from this trip.
- All airfare, airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees. Airfare for round-trip flights between Santiago and Easter Island, approximately $1,028, will be added to your final trip balance.
- Passport and visa fees.
- Lunch on November 21.
- Divergent airport transfers (arranged by us) and extra hotel nights.
- Gratuities – tipping is always discretionary. However, we suggest budgeting about $20 to $30 per participant per day for 4 days with our leaders (about $80 to $120 total per participant).
- Emergency evacuation insurance and trip cancellation insurance.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic and other beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Traveler Form.
Climate
On Easter Island, average temperatures can range from 62°F (17°C) at night up to 73°F (23°C) during the day with an average of eight days of rain in the month.
Fitness Level
This trip involves long days in the field, so come with good energy levels! Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging. Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging.
Flights
Detailed logistical information is included in the Trip Planning Materials we will send you.
Flights you book
- Arrive in Santiago (SCL) by 11:59pm on November 20.
- Depart from Santiago, Chile (SCL) on after 11:00pm on November 24.
Flights we book
- The round-trip flights from Santiago and Easter Island; we’ll add the flight cost to your final balance.
FAQ
Accommodations
Seasickness
Transportation
Conservation
Our company ethos has always regarded conservation as inseparable from responsible tourism. We struggle with the dilemma that traveling worldwide expends climate-changing carbon. However, we wholeheartedly believe that traveling with us will cultivate your passion for conserving our beautiful world while stimulating each destination’s local economy. We encourage you to explore the various ways in which Cheesemans’ operates within this context:
- Cheesemans’ Trips are Carbon Neutral.
- Offsetting your Travel to/from our Trip: We ask you to pledge to offset the carbon emissions for your travel to and from our trips. You can purchase offsets with most airlines (Delta includes them automatically), use our handy carbon calculator and donate to Sustainable Travel International, or contribute to your favorite offsetting organization.
Conditions
Read our current Terms and Conditions.