Legacy of the Incas
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(11 days/10 nights)
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Empire of the Sun
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Ancient Civilizations of Peru
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru & Ecuador:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17 nights)
Grand Tour of the Inca Empire
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu- Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Ancient & Colonial Capitals
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(10 days/9 nights)
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu & Galapagos
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Peru & Ecuador:
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos & Machu Picchus
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador & Peru:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
(18 days/17 nights)
Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos
(11 days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos & the Amazon
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Machu Picchu Luxury Tours
Ecuador:
Cotopaxi - Antisana - Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel
Moai at Rano Raraku, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
Cultural 4 nights
Regions of Chile
Land Price (6 days/5 nights) De Luxe US$ 4,695 Imperial US$ 6,395 per person
The land price includes escorted transfers, private excursions with professional guides and chauffeurs, entrance fees, selected category of accommodations, all meals except one dinner noted as "on your own", all land and water transportation, and travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years (over that age, there is a supplementary fee). All prices are per person based on two people sharing a guest room. For a detailed description of our services, see Opulent Itineraries. Season: September through March.
Intra-Tour Flights & Fares
Air fares are in addition to the land price.
Santiago - Easter Island - Santiago
Note: Flights are not daily at some times of the year.
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is an open-air, archaeological museum of a fascinating but vanished culture, a stark lesson in what can happen when humans fail to live in harmony with nature. We still do not know for sure how or why the first inhabitants carved, transported and raised their monolithic stone statues, or why the "moai" gaze inland instead of out to sea. But, as you walk with your private guide, you can contemplate the enigma of almost 900 mysterious idols created over a period of five centuries by a civilization that later tried to destroy them. Inka's Empire Tours, long recognized for its handcrafted itineraries to uncommon destinations, invites you to The Idols of Easter Island. Beginning and ending in Santiago, Chile, a flight takes you to the Pacific Ocean island known to its natives as "the navel of the world".
Hike to the quarries at the Rano Raraku Volcano, where the stone statues were carved, to view about 300 of the moai in different states of completion. See standing moai at Ahu Tongariki, Ahu Akivi and Anakena Beach. Next, drive to the village of Orongo, once home of the birdman cult, immortalized in more than one-thousand artistically carved petroglyphs. Among the adventures is a walk to Ahu Vinapu, where the unique quality of the stonework may evidence a legendary Inca voyage from South America, twenty-four hundred miles away. Another adventure is a horseback ride to the highest point on the island for a panorama of an endless sea.
Ponder ancient idols and a lost civilization on this 5-night luxury expedition.
Trail past statues at Rano Raraku, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
The Dream at the End of the World...
-- Edward Albee, The New York Times, April 30, 2006
"What really makes Easter Island unique among the ancient places of the world is its preservation of the lifecycle of Neolithic ritual. Most realms of antiquity, like Pompeii or Machu Picchu, are frozen in time or represent the final manifestation of a culture, its zenith. But on Easter Island you can see the birth, life, and death of the ancient culture - the womb of the moai in the statue quarry, the stately triumph of the moai on their platforms, and the solemn (some might say pitiful) decadence of their fall from grace ... the moai lying deaf, dumb, and blind in the volcanic dust whence they came."
-- Shawn McLaughlin, The Complete Guide to Easter Island, 2004
Erected moai with red lava rock headdress, called pukao, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
What our guests have to say...
Easter Island... was a goal in my lifetime. I wasn't disappointed.
-- David Waller
Every step was as planned. Sabrina was an outstanding representative of the Rapa Nui community. We truly had a wonderful trip and learned a lot.... be sure that we will recommend your organization to anyone interested in Easter Island.
-- Thomas, Beverly & Elizabeth Marlow
Just to let you know that the Marlows and I had a marvelous visit to Santiago and Easter Island. All of the connections were very prompt and the guides were knowledgeable, affable, accommodating, and reliable.
-- Prudence Noon
The Festival... was great. A real highlight of our trip. The evening we got there was the evening of the parade. It was a great pre-Mardi Gras event... It's so festive. Naked painted people, queens, floats, street food, music, dancing, fireworks, and just general merriment.
-- Laurie Williams
We had a wonderful time... Our guide on Easter Island, Josie, was spectacular! I can't say enough wonderful things about her.
-- Allison Branson & Jean Rikhoff
Had a great time. Everything went smoothly. Have nothing but nice things to say about the tour guides you set up for me (Josefina Mulloy out on Easter Island was fantastic).
-- Mark Benning
Ahu Vinapu, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
To the many mysteries of Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, add one more: Inca oral history tells of a voyage to the west by Inca king Tupac Yupanqui. The precisely carved and fitted stone walls at Ahu Vinapu may evidence that visit. Other mysteries are revealed in Nova's Secrets of Easter Island.
About the itinerary
Kindly note that the itinerary shown below is only one possibility. You will be able to choose from a variety of explorations with other hotel guests each day, including treks, cycling trips, boating, snorkeling and fishing.
Easter Island
Intra-tour flight Santiago to Easter Island, Day 1, 8:00 am - 11:55 am, LAN 841, TBA
Day 1: Santiago - Easter Island (Vinapu). Transfer to the airport for the flight to Easter Island. Brunch on board. Afternoon: After you land on the island, the world’s most remote inhabited island, our team will meet you at the airport and take you to explora’s lodge, Posada de Mike Rapu. We will begin by exploring the Vinapu ceremonial center with its monolithic stone remains, reminiscent of the Inca civilization of Peru. Thor Heyerdahl, the famous Norwegian explorer, argued that the existence of this type of architecture supported the hypothesis that the first inhabitants of the island came from South America. Lunch, dinner and overnight in the 5-star Explora Rapa Nui -- Varúa Room (De Luxe) or Raa Suite (Imperial).
Statue on slope of Rano Raraku, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
Day 2: Easter Island (Anakena Beach - Ahu Aturi Huki - Ahu Nau Nau - Ahu Te Pito Kura - Hanga Roa - Tahai). Morning: We will head out for Anakena beach, which in ancient times was home to the most important Rapa Nui chiefs. The first conquerors came here around 900 to 1000 A.D, We will visit the ceremonial sites of Ahu Ature Huki and Ahu Nau Nau, getting our first taste of the world famous moai of Easter Island. Then we will trek along the northern coast in the direction of the ceremonial site Ahu Te Pito Kura, home to the biggest Moai found on the island. Afternoon: After lunch at the lodge, we will make our way to Hanga Roa, the only town on the island, where we will visit the market and Catholic church, which has unusual wooden carvings. We will then head towards the archaeological area of Tahai, an impressive ceremonial complex comprising three Ahu (ceremonial sites). Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in the 5-star Explora Rapa Nui -- Varúa Room (De Luxe) or Raa Suite (Imperial).
Rano Raraku caldera, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
Day 3: Easter Island (Rano Raraku - Ahu Tongariki - Ahu Akahanga - Ura Uranga). Morning: We will follow the coast south-east towards the crater of the Rano Raraku volcano, where there are around 400 monolithic statues made from volcanic tuff. In the mid 17th century, these statues were abandoned in different stages of progress. One of the most complex enigmas of the island’s history is how these unique long statues were transported. Afternoon: After lunch, we will head for the Ahu Tongariki, the biggest ceremonial site in the whole of Polynesia. This site was restored by members of the Archaeological Travel Services (ATS) team as part of a five-year project which ended in 1996. Next, we will continue our journey south-east along the coast to explore the archaeological remains of the ceremonial site Ahu Akahanga and Ura Uranga, the place where the first great chief of the island was buried. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in the 5-star Explora Rapa Nui -- Varúa Room (De Luxe) or Raa Suite (Imperial).
Thin moai at Rano Raraku in sunset light, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
Day 4: Easter Island (Puna Pau - Ahu Akivi - Ana Te Pahu - Ahu Tepeu - Rano Kao Volcano - Orongo). Morning: The next stop on our expedition will take us to Puna Pau, the only crater where the red volcanic rock known as scoria was found. This was used to carve the hats or pukao worn by some moai. We will continue towards Ahu Akivi, the first altar to be restored on the island, with its characteristic seven moai, the only ones facing the sea. Later we will go to Ana Te Pahu, where we will find lava tubes which were used as rooms and the ceremonial villa of Ahu Tepeu. Afternoon: After lunch we will make the 40-minute journey by minibus to the summit of the Rano Kao volcano. This is the location of the ceremonial village of Orongo, where the Bird Man ceremony took place in ancient times. From this high point we will have an unparalleled view of the small islands or Motu opposite the island and of the crater of the volcano. In the evening, we will dine with a Rapa Nui family. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in the 5-star Explora Rapa Nui -- Varúa Room (De Luxe) or Raa Suite (Imperial).
Birdman petrogylphs at Orango, Easter Island.
Photo: Cliff Wassmann. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
Day 5: Easter Island (You choice of excursions). Today, complete your visit to Rapa Nui with your choice of excursions with your guide and no more than eight hotel guests. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in the 5-star Explora Rapa Nui -- Varúa Room (De Luxe) or Raa Suite (Imperial).
Guest room, Explora Rapa Nui, Easter Island.
Photo: explora. Luxury Easter Island Tours & Travel.
Santiago
Intra-tour flight Easter Island to Santiago, Day 6, 1:05 pm - 7:55 pm, LAN 842, TBA
Day 6: Easter Island - Santiago. Breakfast. Goodbyes and transfer to the airport for your return Flight to Santiago. Lunch on board. Reception and transfer to your hotel.
Explorations
Explora Rapa Nui offers more than 15 different explorations. By foot, bicycle or boat, for a couple of hours or a full day, gentle or more physically demanding. The range of explorations enables you to get to know in depth the culture and geography of Rapa Nui, with its ancestral, megalithic constructions and the idiosyncracies of its people. More extensive explorations include open-air picnics. The explorations are safe and made up of groups with a maximum of 8 people, accompanied by an expert bilingual guide. In addition to Spanish, all of the guides speak excellent English and some also speak French and German. Each afternoon, one of the guides will meet with you in the lodge's bar to tell you about the explorations planned for the following day and help you with the challenging task of choosing among different options, all of them exciting. Our guides have substantial knowledge about the area and all have Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, which ensures that they have the expertise and skills necessary to provide assistance to people in remote places.
Treks
Trekking on Rapa Nui not only gives you a greater understanding of your surroundings but also enables you to talk to the people of the area more easily and openly than you could on any other type of exploration. The treks enable you to get to know the geography of the island -- its volcanos, cliffs, beaches and important archaeological heritage sites, such as the moai and the ahus, the ceremonial platforms on which the moai are situated. We always seek to adjust to the rhythm of each person, enjoying each step of the journey.
Walk to Te Miro Oone
Te Pito o Te Henua, The Navel of the World
The Tangata Manu Route
Climb to Terevaka
Poike Heights
Ara o Te Moai, the Moai Route
From Te Peu Ahu to Hanga Roa
Walk to Hanga Oteo
Cycling trips
Explora Rapa Nui offers a range of explorations by bicycle on gently sloping terrain. These explorations enable you to get to know the flora and local subsistence agriculture and view the moai and other archaeological remains from the island's days of splendor centuries ago. You can also enjoy the island's beaches, amongst other things. The routes have different levels of difficulty, which makes them ideal for the whole family to enjoy. We provide all the equipment needed: Cannondale and Trek bicycles with front shock absorbers, helmets and gloves for a great Rapa Nui bicycle tour. If you would like to go by yourself to the town of Hanga Roa, 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the lodge or to the Oahe and Anakena beaches, a similar distance away -- highly recommended outings -- we will have one of our bicycles ready for you. Please make arrangements with the reception desk.
At sea
Explora offers a range of explorations using traditional, local boats in the sea surrounding Rapa Nui, as well as snorkeling and fishing. The journey by boat along the coastline and to nearby islands takes you into one of Rapa Nui's most important dimensions. You will be seeing the island in the same way as the first mariners who arrived from far away Oceania and Europe. Snorkeling enables you to explore the Earth's most transparent waters, with excellent visibility up to a depth of 50 meters (164 feet). The temperature of the sea is about 20ºC (68ºF). The water is rich in life, with corals and a wide variety of native fish of different shapes and colors. We provide all the equipment needed: snorkel, mask, flippers, wetsuit and booties. If you would like to go scuba diving in these highly transparent waters, we will put you in touch with one of the area's diving centers. On our sea explorations, we also offer the opportunity to go tuna fishing, practicing the traditional methods used by the island's inhabitants for centuries.
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation, Machu Picchu Luxury Tours. All rights reserved.
