When I set off to backpack across South America this summer, I knew my Instagram feed was going to be a source of great envy. It’s this thought that kept me warm at night when I landed in Santiago, Chile with suitcases full of shorts and t-shirts, having completely forgotten that the seasons were flipped south of the equator. And ever since Instagram removed chronological ordering in its feed, getting my instas their due has become a war, and there’s no greater casualty in this war than going on vacation and not getting a single decent (read: popular) piece of content out of it. And then you start asking yourself questions like, is it possible to look too tan? How much filter is too much filter? Is my crush even watching my story?
After a week of stress-editing my posts from Santiago, I jumped at the opportunity to explore Easter Island thanks to a flash sale from LATAM airlines. Located 2,300 miles off the shore of Chile, Isla de Pascua, as it’s called locally, is the world’s most isolated place. With minimal cell signal, nonexistent wi-fi, and boundless outdoor activities, the 60-square mile island offers the modern traveler a chance to leave his (read: my) very interconnected life behind for a few days and finally learn about the mysterious monolithic stone carvings that had graced the cover of my elementary school social studies textbooks. Turns out they’re known as the Moai and the giant platforms they sit on are called Ahu, and also letting go of your ‘gram addiction for a few days is just as relaxing as you’d expect it to be.
Easter Island checks off all the potential boxes that might appear on your list of vacation desires: there’s a variety of outdoor activities, a rich local culture, and good food; the language barrier is totally manageable; and it’s also extremely safe. The best time to visit is during their summer (between December and March, so you’ll want to book your tickets now), but if you find yourself there during their offseason, the island is still fun, slightly warm, and free of crowds. Here’s how to do it.
How to Get There
Mataveri International Airport has the size and feel of a small Caribbean home, which makes security and deplaning a breeze. Located a short drive away from the city center, the airport only allows one flight in and out each day; it’s from Santiago and operated by LATAM airlines. Santiago is an 11-hour flight from New York City, and Easter Island is an additional 6 hours from there. Make sure you have enough reading material or sleep aids to get you through a long day of travel, and be sure to keep $80 in cash on you as all visitors are required to purchase a National Park ticket upon landing - most the island is considered a park.
Where to Stay
In line with its charm and seclusion, Easter Island doesn’t have a single big brand hotel on the island, but this doesn’t mean that accommodations don’t run the full gamut from luxury to lowbrow. If you’re down to splurge on your hotel, look no further than Hotel Hangaroa Eco Village and Spa. Located on the edge of the island and only a few minutes away from the airport and city center, it’s the only five-star hotel on Easter Island, and offseason prices start in the low $400’s per night; during peak season they’re closer to $1,000. The hotel staff is very friendly and knowledgeable when it comes to tourist activities, but better food can be found outside of the hotel restaurant. If you already blew most of your vacation funds on that flight, there are a handful of hostels and airbnbs on the island that offer an extremely comfortable budget experience.
How to Get Around
Since the island’s population is small, and even more so during the academic year as all college aged students attend university in mainland Chile, tourists are safe to wander at all hours by foot. However, if walking isn’t you, the island offers several options for tourists to rent bicycles, motorized scooters, ATVs, and even cars. Unless you’ve brought a child with you to the island, always pick the ATV and save the car for your commute to your 9-5 back home.
What the Hell to do When You’re Not Looking at Your Phone
It’s hard not to instantly feel relaxed once you reach Easter Island. The warm weather, calming views of the Pacific, and lack of cell signal make it the ideal place to catch up on your reading list or take a long walk to get lost in your thoughts. (You know, thoughts! Those things that cross your mind when your face isn’t illuminated by the blue glow of your phone.) If you’re up to walking a couple of miles, there’s no better place to start your trip than Ana Kakenga or the Cavern of the Two Windows. Formed by a cooled tube of molten lava, Ana Kakenga is an underground cave that leads to two large openings on the the side of the island that overlook a couple of picturesque islets that are immediately off the coast. Not for the claustrophobic, entrance to the cave is unmarked, in the ground and only a couple of feet wide.
If you’re into the whole historical sightseeing thing, take your ATV up to Orongo where you can take a tour of the ceremonial village and learn about the Birdman festival, where locals would scale down the 1,000 foot drop from Orongo and swim to Moto Nui (an islet) to find a bird egg. The first person to return with the egg would be deemed the birdman; rumor has it that the other contestants would not only lose the competition but also their lives. If you’re interested in learning more about the moai, head to their birthplace: the volcanic crater Rano Raraku. It’s from this volcano that all of the moai were made and transported, but historians have been unable to figure out how they were made to stand up and then transported the large distances across the island. Your tour guide will tell you about all of the theories from aliens to “walking” moai.
Hiking is probably the best way to see—and understand—the scope of the island. There are three inactive volcanoes; the view of the ocean from Rano Kau is the best, and it’s a relaxing hike down to the city. For those looking for more traditional island activities, the Anakena beach is gorgeous and features the picturesque Ahu Nau Nau, and right near the city center, you can go snorkeling with the island’s many sea turtles or to find the famous spiny lobster. If you’d rather eat the lobster, fishing off the coast of the island for your dinner is a favorite local pastime.
To get a taste of traditional Rapa Nui culture and practice your dance moves, there are nightly Kari Kari dance shows where male and female dancers don traditional garb and dance to music of the island. Audience participation is welcome towards the end of the show, and after a long day on your feet, Kari Kari shows are a nice way to end the evening. Be sure to arrive early to grab a good seat and try having your face painted like the dancers.
If you visit during the offseason like I did, the Rapa Nui Marathon is a fun way to explore the island and meet people from across the world who make the trek to participate in the annual June race. If – also like me – you’re not in the best cardiovascular shape, there’s also a 5K you can participate in instead of the full 26.2 miles marathon.
Even though I too am guilty of chasing insta-worthy vacations, do yourself a favor and change things up with an island off the beaten path and take a break from making your screens scream. Spend a night under the stars, snorkel in the pristine blue waters of the Pacific, explore volcanoes and underwater caverns, see if you can figure out the mystery of the Moai; there’s a lot you’ll want to do during your short stay on Easter island, but I guarantee the one thing you won’t want to do is waste your time online…and #latergram screams just as loud these days anyways.