Once the Under the Atacama Sky tour is accomplished at noon at Santiago airport, we can have lunch and rest until 4 or 5 pm (depending on the flight schedule) to check in for our early evening flight for Easter Island. 
Arrival at Hanga Roa Mataveri airport at around 10 pm local (5h15 flight, 2 hours time difference) where we will be greeted by a driver who will take us to our hotel. 
Dinner at our own.

Our guide will pick us up at 9am on both days and will accompany us on excursions through the main archaeological sites where, among other things, we will discover: 

The Ahu Akahanga (Ahu is the ceremonial stone platform on which the Moai stand), formed of four platforms, twelve Moai and pukao (large cylinders made from red volcanic slag that adorned the heads of the statues). From this place located in Hanga Te’e Bay, where, according to oral tradition, Hotu Matu’a, the founding king of the Rapanui people, was buried, one can also see one of the best preserved villages of the island. 

The volcanic crater of Rano Raraku, literally extraordinary place where the Moai were born. Almost 400 of these colossus dotted around the slopes of the volcano for ever. 

It’s equally spectacular neighbor, the Ahu Tongariki, with it’s 15 giant statues standing with its back to the Pacific. 

Anakena beach, the statues of Ahu Nau Nau and Ature Huke, it’s turquoise sea, white coral sand, and coconut palms (brought back from Tahiti) invite you to swim at any time of the year (20ºC). Rapa Nui has a marine ecosystem rich in corals of all colors and tropical fish. 

The Rano Kau volcano, it’s astonishing & overwhelming natural landscapes make it the must-see of the island. By approaching it’s immense crater, we visit the remains of the ceremonial city of Orongo, linked to the legendary cult of the bird’s competition. 

The Ahu Akivi, the site of the seven Moai, unique because of it’s location, it’s studied astronomical orientation, the restoration works as well as the originality of seeing the Moai standing towards the sea. 

Ahu Vinapu preserves the most spectacular Inca wall of the island and which represents a major enigma to archeology as it raises so many questions. The specialists distinguish here a way of working the stone which does not exist in Polynesia which has given rise to theories on the origins of the population of the island and which link it to the Inca culture of South America. There is also a standing monolith which has no air of resemblance to the other Moai. 

The Puna Pau quarry, located in a crater that reveals it’s layers of red slag, allows us to understand how the pukao were carved, these large red cylinders weighing more than 10 tons which adorned the statues. Did they represent the feather crowns that the Rapanui wore, or a tassel of red earth, a turban made from vegetable bark (as was the case in the rest of Polynesia)?, how did they manage to install them on the heads of the Moai? Like almost everywhere on the island, one enigma eclipses another, while the landscape, peaceful and imperturbable, transports us out of time. 

 NB: The order of visits may change. 

If we are tempted to familiarize ourselves with traditional dances and melodies, the Ballet Cultural Kari Kari show takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 pm in Atamu Tekena Street. 

Another possibility that might interest us is to take a tour called “Stargazing at Rapa Nui” where we will participate in a presentation of Polynesian history and how they interpret the celestial vault. Then we will go to a site to observe the night sky using telescopes and the naked eye, and end with a brief visit to Anakena Beach for night time photos.

We recommend to take advantage of the last half day either to visit the small but very interesting and superbly located ”Museo antropológico Sebastian Englert” (catalog in English at the entrance) and then, at only 900 ft, visit the Ahu Tahai which combines archaeological remains of historical importance with a splendid landscape facing the Pacific, for a swim at Anakena beach.

Lunch at your choice and at around 1:15 pm, transfer to the airport for our return flight. Arrival in Santiago at 9:30 p.m. where we will take a shuttle that will take us to our hotel near the airport, so that the next day we can take the hotel-airport shuttle at a time that suits you to catch our return flight.