Making the most of Hangaroa
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Easter Island is an anchorage or drifting port. Transportation from the ship to shore will be via the ship's tender service. The distance to the center of Hanga Roa, the island’s small capital, is approximately 1.5 miles (2.5 km). Taxis are generally available and charge a flat rate to Hanga Roa.
Rough seas often prevent tender boat service and shore visits.
Printable map to take along.
Easter Island is an island in the south Pacific Ocean. It got its name because the first European to record it, Dutch Admiral Jacob Roggeveen, arrived on Easter Sunday, 1722. Its name is Isla de Pascua in Spanish, which translates directly as Easter Island. To the islanders, Easter Island is called Rapa Nui.
Easter Island is most famous for the stone statues, called moai, which dot its coastline. These statues have earned Easter Island recognition as a World Heritage Site. The moais were carved from compressed volcanic ash. All are monolithic, that is to say, carved from a single piece of stone. The largest standing moai is Paro. It is almost 10 meters (33feet) high, and weighs 75 imperial tonnes (83 American tons). Archaeologists have also discovered an even larger, but unfinished moai in the quarry - it is 21 meters (69 ft) and would have weighed 270 tons if completed. 95% of the moai came from the quarry of Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater on…
Getting around
The small town of Hanga Roa can be explored on foot.
Entrance to the Rapa Nui National Park is $85
More than a hundred taxis ply the village, making it easy to get around for those without a vehicle. Islanders have taken to calling a taxi and ordering some bread from a bakery; the taxi driver thus acts as a delivery service.
You don't need a tour company. The island is very small, there are few roads and the simplest way to see the sights is to get a map, hire a car and just tootle around yourself at your own speed. Sharing a taxi is another good option.
Many visitors rent mountain bikes, about 15 usd/day. Take some water with you.
Nearby places
Go diving or snorkeling near the isles of Motu Nui and Moto Iti. These are the islands south of the main Easter Island, and it was from here that the "Bird Man Culture" developed
Food and shopping
Stamp collectors will love the postage stamps featuring the famous moai.
Money
Chilean Peso, USD and Euro's widely accepted.
Staying connected
There are a bunch of Internet cafe's in town.