Easter Island is somewhere that has always intrigued me, ever since first reading about this mysterious isle and its towering, enigmatic moai in books as a child. However, it’s a place that I thought I would never see with my own eyes. It is one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, its nearest neighbour being Pitcairn Island, over 2,000km away, and the nearest continent over 3 and a half thousand miles away.
When I was backpacking around Chile I saw my chance to head out into the pacific and explore Rapa Nui. Yes, it would probably eat into a huge chunk of my budget, but when would I get another opportunity. For 3 days I lived out my life-long dream, droving, cycling and hiking around the island’s weather-beaten coastline, clambering up volcanic craters and mingling with moai.
How much does a trip to Easter Island cost? Being so isolated, the cost of food and hotels can be eye-wateringly expensive but it isn’t impossible to visit Easter Island on a budget. Here’s how to see Isla Pascua without breaking the bank.
Cost of Flights to Easter Island
The plane ticket to and from Easter island will likely be the biggest drain on your budget. Due to its remote location, flights to Easter Island can be prohibitively expensive, in some instances being as much as £800 return. LATAM is the sole operator and flies up to 3 times a day from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez during the high season (October to April).
Your best bet for scoring a cheaper price to to book well in advance – seats book up very quickly, particularly with locals making their way to and from mainland Chile – and aim to fly during the low season (May to September). I flew in April and paid just £260 for a return flight. It has been noted that it may be cheaper to book from the local LATAM site from within Chile, but I found prices this low just using Skyscanner.
It is also worth subscribing to the LATAM email newsletter as they often offer reductions and sales on domestic flights within Chile.
Aeropuerto Mataveri is located close on the southeastern side of the island’s only town, Hanga Roa, and is walking distance from the town, although most hotels and hostels will meet you in arrivals and provide a free transfer meaning you will not have to pay for a taxi.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU STAY ON EASTER ISLAND?
Although most of the moai and Rapa Nui’s main sights can be explored in 2 days, there is plenty on the island to keep you occupied for longer. As you will be forking out money for flights, it is worth staying for as long as your budget allows. I stayed for 3 days but could have happily spent 5 or 6 nights on the island.
Accommodation on Easter Island
Hotels and hostels on Easter Island can be expensive compared to the rest of Chile and tend to be of a slightly lower standard due to the relative lack of options or competition. Having said that, a dorm bed in a budget hostel will only set you back £15-20 per night while camping will cost even less – relatively cheap when compared to prices in Europe.
The majority of guesthouses are situated in Hanga Roa, the Island’s only town, with the exception of Camping Ana Tekena. Just be sure to book well in advance as rooms do book up quickly.
Camping is easily the cheapest way to stay on Rapa Nui and, although wild camping is prohibited, many hostels have camping space that is available for as little as £10 with access to facilities such as showers, bathrooms and on-site kitchens. If you don’t have your own camping equipment, it is available to rent but this may bring the cost up to one that is beyond the price of a dorm bed. For couples of people travelling in a pair, a cheap private room with shared bathroom facilities can be found for just £35-40 so will work out cheaper than staying in a dorm.
Camping Mihinoa
One of the few budget options on the island that offers sea views, Camping Mihinoa gives you the option of camping, sleeping in a 5-bed dorm, or one of their basic rooms. There are 3 good-sized kitchens on-site allowing you to save money and cook your own meals, wi-fi, and the possibility of renting camping equipment if you don’t have your own.
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Sustainable Camping Ana Tekena
In an ecosystem as fragile as Easter Island’s, sustainability is important. In direct response to growing environmental concerns, Camping Ana Tekena focusses on respecting the local environment: Rainwater is reused in the bathrooms, the energy comes from solar panels and they run a robust recycling program. Equipment rental is available on site and the owners also organize activities such as horseback riding, snorkelling, night fishing, and excursions to several archaeological sites. However, the best thing about Camping Ana Tekena is its proximity to Anakena, the island’s best beach.
TREAT YOURSELF
MIDRANGE / Rangi Moana
Located 20-minutes’ walk outside of Hanga Roa beside Botanical Garden Tau Kiani, Rangi Moana offers compact and cute individual cabanas, family sized cottages and an on-site swimming pool. An added bonus is that they offer a reduced price for solo travellers.
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LUXURY / Explora Rapa Nui
Located 8 km from Hanga Roa, on a 9.6 square km plot of land that is unsuitable for agriculture and contains no archaeological remains, Explora Rapa Nui is the Islands most luxurious hotel. The beautifully designed all-inclusive resort features a pool, spa, well-stocked bar and wonderful onsite restaurant. Like their Torres Del Paine outpost, they carry LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
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Transportation Costs for Getting Around Easter Island
Although Easter Island is relatively small and compact – just 164 sq km – there is no public transportation and so you will have to rent some kind of vehicle to see all of the moai, ahu and attractions that it has to offer.
There are a range of tours available to tourists but I preferred renting my own vehicle in order to explore at my own pace and it was essential for getting to spots like Ahu Tongariki at sunrise before most tours had even begun that day. Plus, if you are in a group of 2 or more, renting a car will work out cheaper than paying individual for guided tours.
There are a number of rental agencies in Hanga Roa. I decided to book a car through Insular Rent-a-car. A Suzuki Jimny 4X4 – the cheapest and most popular car on the island – cost 55,000 CLP / £54 per day (£13.50 each for our group of four) and a mountain bike another day (17,000 CLP / £16.50). Just be warned if you are renting a mountain bike: The Island is fairly hilly and will take a couple of hours to pedal across. A 125CC scooter will set you back 35,000 CLP per day.
Within Hanga Roa, taxis are very reasonably priced. However, you probably will not need to take one as the town is compact and walkable.
How Much Does Food Cost on Easter Island?
Being so isolated, the majority of the food on Easter Island is shipped or flown from mainland Chile and as such, can be extortionately priced. This means that fresh fruit and vegetables can cost 3 to 5 times the price of the same product on the mainland while canned goods and non-perishables will be twice as expensive.
Luckily LATAM allow you two checked bags for your flight to Easter Island so I highly recommend picking up all of the food you will need in Santiago and packing it in an extra box or bag and cooking your own meals in the kitchen of your hostel or campsite. Ideally, pick things that are easy to transport and will not perish such as pasta, sauces, rice, herbs, spices and packets of cured meats with some fruit and vegetables for your fix of vitamins. You should also be able to purchase fish cheaply from fisherman at the pier beside Playa Pea.
Should you need a quick lunch or snack on the go, many of the panaderias around Hanga Roa sell cheap and tasty empanadas for about £2 – £3 each. Club Sandwich on Atamu Tekena is a popular spot while Carrito Popatiri close to the waterfront is also a great place for cheap snacks.
Fees for Sights and Attractions
About 42% of Easter Island has been designated Rapa Nui National Park, a World Heritage property teeming with ahu, moai, caves and petroglyphs. The entrance fee to the Rapa Nui National Park is $80 or 54,000 pesos for all non-Chilean visitors. There is a National Park booth after baggage claim and before the arrival hall of Mataveri Airport where you can buy the ticket. You do not need a ticket to visit all of the island’s archaeological sites (particularly in and around Hanga Roa) but it is essential if you are planning to see splaces like Ahu Tongariki and Rano Kau Quarry. Authorities are strict and will check at each site. If you forget to purchase a ticket at the airport, you can pick one up at the Ma’u Henua Indigenous Community Central Office in Hanga Roa.
My only other expense was purchasing a ticket to attend a traditional Rapa Nui dance show. Yes, it is a little commercialised and touristy, but the young dancers and musicians at Kari Kari are extremely talented and the colourful costumes are fantastic. The show takes place here every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (9pm, 12,000 Pesos) while on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at a venue beside Au Bout du Monde – a restaurant that you should definitely eat at while on the island – Matato’a put on a stunning musical and dance performance accompanied by umu, a typical Rapa Nui cuisine.
My Easter Island Budget
Here is a breakdown of my overall expenditure for 3 days and nights on Easter Island
Flights
Return flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to Aeropuerto Mataveri during low season - £260
Accommodation
Price for 3 nights staying in a hostel dorm in a reasonably priced hostel - £60
Transport
Cost of one day's jeep rental (split between 4 people) and one day's bicycle rental - £34
Attractions
Entry fee for Rapa Nui National Park (54,000 pesos) and traditional Rapa Nui dance show (12,000 pesos) - £63.50
Food Costs
Cost for eating out over 3 nights, not scrimping on food and wine/beer + empanadas or sandwiches for lunch - £54
Overall Cost
Overall Cost for 3 nights on Easter Island - £471.50
The basic cost for my Easter Island trip withour including food was £417.50. If you bring enough food from the mainland and cook for yourself, this is all the trip will cost you. However, you may be able to do it for less than £400 if you decide to camp rather than stay in dorm beds.
3 Responses
Thanks for the article. I see that you do not mention the cost of local guides? Did you travel this year? Isn’t that a mandatory cost now?
Hi Rosana, This post was published in 2020 and is correct as of that time. I’m not sure what the current costs of local guides are
I enjoyed the information. I hope to see Easter island, this is definitely added to my bucket list.