HAPPY IN CHILE & EASTER
ISLAND
DURATION
7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS
DEPOSIT $1000
Per Person
Shared room : From $3400
Private room : From $4000
Chile & Easter Island
THE EXPERIENCE
Chile is blessed with a myriad of idyllic natural recluses. From Patagonia and its glaciers, through to the cosmopolitan city of Santiago, the mystical island of Pascua, and the Atacama Desert; every corner offers a unique landscape.
Its climates vary considerably from north to south and there are flora and fauna to be discovered at every turn. The culinary variety, the cultural richness, and its contrasts make Chile a destination that will without a doubt exceed your expectations.
Passport details will be needed for this trip at least 150 days prior to departure. Your passport needs at least 6 months of validity past the final date of this trip (cannot expire before 9/3/2024). Please check your passport and make sure you renew it advance so you do not experience any issues.
Chile & Easter Island
What’s Included:
- Transfers from and to the airport
- 4-night accommodations in Santiago de Chile and 3 in Easter Island
- Internal Flights
- Bilingual guides (Spanish-English)
- National Park Entrance Fees
Hotels:
- Santiago: Ladera Boutique Hotel – click here for pictures and reviews
- Rapa Nui (Easter Island): Hotel Puku Vai – click here for pictures and reviews
Not included:
- Travel Insurance
- International Flights
- Gratuities
- Anything not listed in the itinerary.
Travel Insurance:
Trips booked after January 1, 2023 will be required to have medical travel insurance for all You Can’t Steal My Happy trips.
You Can’t Steal My Happy recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer travel protection through Travelex Insurance Services. For more information on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 43-0656 “Travel Insurance is underwritten by, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC #22276. 55Y”
Click on the link below to get a free quote.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 :
Santiago de Chile – Welcome to Chile!
Upon arrival at the international airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Ladera Boutique Hotel (Standard )
Day 2 :
Santiago de Chile – City Tour
We will pick you up from your hotel. The main attractions of the city will be visited, where you will be able to appreciate the contrast between its rich history and its modern and imposing constructions. The Palacio de la Moneda, the Plaza de Armas, the Santa Lucia hill, and the exclusive residential neighborhoods of Vitacura and Las Condes, are part of this unforgettable tour. Santiago is routinely positioned as a leading city in Latin America in a number of social, economic and environmental factors.
Accommodation: Ladera Boutique Hotel (Standard )
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3 :
Santiago de Chile: Concha y Toro Wineyard and Rafting Cajón del Maipo
First, we will visit Chile’s biggest vineyard and discover the ancient history of wine production in the area. Travel to the outskirts of Santiago for a tour of the Concha y Toro estate with guided wine tastings.
Chile’s white water rafting is sure to give you the thrills and chills you’re looking for!
Get out of the city and embark on an epic rafting adventure, hurtling down the churning rapids of the Maipo River while surrounded by the towering peaks of the Andes.
Accommodation: Ladera Boutique Hotel (Standard)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 4 :
Santiago de Chile – Isla de Pascua: Arrival to Easter Island – Dinner & Cultural Show
At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Cultural Show with Dinner – Ethnic Restaurant TE RA’AI
This show is a trip from the beginnings of the Rapa Nui culture, from ancient times when there were no musical instruments, depicting with Hoko (aka Haka in NZ) different moments in history. To continue this journey through history, it is time to talk about experiences that remind us of the first contemporary instruments. Their first experience were the accordion and harmonic, then guitars, drums and many more.
The final stage of the show presents sensuality of polynesian rithms, what is also part of the Rapa Nui culture without taking their essence aside, meaning their dances are as wonderful as their music.
Includes:
- Transport from and to accommodation
- Drink and a bite of ceviche
- Facial painting (Takona)
- Ancient Rapa Nui curanto ceremony and ritual
- Dance class
- Buffet dinner (meat and different kind of fish, salads, hot dishes and dessert)
- Haha Varua dance show (ancient songs and dances)
- Traditional garment available for pictures
Accommodation: Hotel Puku Vai (Superior)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 :
Isla de Pascua – The arrival of Hotu Matua
We invite you to follow into the steps of the first King of the island, Ariki Hotu Matua. It is said the destiny was determined by a dream which took him to Easter Island to begin the colonization period.
In our tour we will visit five archeological sites, during the morning we will have the honor of visiting Akahanga, Rano Raraku and Ahu Tongariki, important places for the Rapa Nui culture, located in the south coast, that since the beginning of time and until today invite us to be a part of history of a culture filled with archeological riches.
At the end of our first tour, we invite you for lunch at the home of a Rapa Nui Family, the company here will be the garden, with its typical trees that invite us to live the experience of sharing and knowing the kindness of our gastronomy.
Once we are ready to start the second tour, our guide will take usto Te Pito Kura, through the internal highway of the island, this archeological site known as the navel of the world, has a platform that until today has maintained intact with its moai. This Moai is the biggest sculpture ever to have been transported from the Rano Raraku quarry and lifted overits ahu.
Our last steps are reserved for Anakena, one of the most important beaches in the history of Easter Island, since according to tradition, it was here where the first kig of the island, the Ariki Hotu Matu ́a disembarked with his men and stablished the first settlement that gave origin to the Rapa Nui culture. In this same place we will find two ahus and their respective moais. A unique scenery that you cannot miss. For whom wish to destine some time for contemplation, rest and to enjoy the white sands, its crystal clear waters, this is the ideal place to do it.
Accommodation: Hotel Puku Vai (Superior)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 :
Isla de Pascua – The legend of the bird man – Looking at the stars
The legend of the bird man
The invitation on this day is to discover the place where the Bird Man competition (Tangata –manu) used to be celebrated, which took place every year in the spring time on the cliffs of the Rano Kau volcano and the ceremonial village of Orongo.
We cannot forget that history will be present the entire time during our tour, one of the witnesses of that history is Rano Kau. This fresh water crater is one of the main volcanoes on our island and has a privileged view of the Pacific Ocean and of the interior of the volcano.
We will also visit the Orongo ceremonial village which is of great importance on a cultural and spiritual level given its relation with the Tangata Manu competition. The village has a total of 54 houses out of which most of them were restored in 1974. Nowadays, this village has a path that will allow us a direct view to the restored houses along with its cave art and petroglyphs.
Next, we will head out towards Vinapu, this ceremonial center is one of the most important on the island and one of the most mysterious, since its big slabs built out of basalt (volcanic rock) fit perfectly on the back of its ahu or platform, which impacts with its similarity to the ancient constructions of the Incan Empire in Cuzco. After we have visited and learnt with amazement the history of our people we will finish the tour, leaving you an open invitation to learn more about our roots.
Looking at the stars
Easter Island is a destination that invites us to get to know its history through traditions and science. On this tour we will focus on seeing and understanding how the ancient islander connected with celestial and astronomical events.
This tour visits three archeological sites: the beginning of the tour starts with a 20-minute trek to Ana te Pahu. This large underground cave is one of the most visited, and it is located in the interior of the island, on the Roiho area. This cavern once served as a tribal residence, since it contained a source for fresh water and diversity of cultivated plants. Its name “Te Pahu” means drum in Rapanui, it was given due to its layer of petrified lava that resounds when jumped on, just like a drum would.
We will continue with Ahu Akivi, this location is one of the most majestic on the island, since it has a great platform decorated with 7 restored statues which represent the seven explorers that arrived on the island to open the way to Ariki Hotu Matu ́a. This place was built around the XV century, with a special atronomical orientation, which was important not just for the daily functioning of the tribe, but also for the spiritual ceremonies of the ancient Rapa Nui. You may also find the crematorium remains, where there were human bones found as well as small statues.
Later, we will continue to the Puna Pau quarry, that is the crater of an old volcano located 15 kilometers northeast of Hanga Roa, next to Ahu Akivi. This place characterizes for harboring the raw material to build the pukaos (hat like head dress) that will later be used to crown the moais.
At the end of our tour, we will realize that we were part of the origin, the tradition and the science of a culture that recreates with surprising vitality. A part of Chile that invites to be discovered.
Accommodation: Hotel Puku Vai (Superior)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7 :
Isla de Pascua to Santiago de Chile – Back to Santiago
At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport.
Upon arrival at the international airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Ladera Boutique Hotel (Standard)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 8 :
Santiago de Chile – Goodbye!
At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport to depart home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Terms and Conditions
Group Trip Cancellations.
If YCSMH has to cancel a group trip because a country has closed its borders, everyone will have a choice of receiving a refund or being rolled over to another group trip. The decision to cancel a group trip will be determined by myself and our local guides.
DEPOSITS PAID- CANCEL WITH NO REPLACEMENT
If you cancel a booking and cannot find a replacement the FULL deposit amount will be lost from the original person making the reservation.
DEPOSITS PAID- CANCEL WITH A REPLACEMENT – $100 Penalty
If YOU cancel and find your own replacement that “helps” but it doesn’t alleviate the time and effort I must spend to get your replacement up to speed (answer questions and send previous emails). A $100 fee will be charged if you cancel and find your own replacement.
FULL PAYMENTS PAID- CANCEL WITH NO REPLACEMENT- 90 DAYS BEFORE TRIP DEPARTURE
Full payments for all Happy trips are due 90 days before departure. If you cancel the trip you will not be eligible to receive a refund. You will need to file a claim with your insurance provider. As a rule most tour vendors, charter companies and hotels require full payment 90 days before arrival. Once we have made reservations MOST resorts, Charter companies, rental shops, etc hold YCSMH financially responsible (i.e. we have to pay them, hence we expect YOU to pay us).
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FULL PAYMENTS PAID- CANCEL WITH A REPLACEMENT- 90 DAYS BEFORE TRIP DEPARTURE
In the event of a cancellation, YCSMH will gladly help find a replacement but the responsibility to find the replacement is that of the person canceling. If you find a replacement to fill your spot you will be eligible for a full refund minus a $100 fee.
If YCSMH finds you a replacement you will receive a refund minus the trip deposit. As I mentioned there is a considerable amount of time and effort spent to send out emails to your replacement to get them up to speed.
I hope this helps clarify our terms as we all navigate through this post pandemic world. For those of us who are passionate travelers the small inconveniences of testing, insurance and entry requirements are well worth it.
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