Easter Island:
The Ultimate Experience
The Archaeology and Oral Traditions of Rapa Nui
A Private Tour with the Host of Earth Ancients, Cliff Dunning
Led by Archaeologist Dr. Edwin Barnhart
March 15 – 23, 2025
Led by Earth Anicents’ Host Cliff Dunning and Archaeologist Ed Barnhart, this 9-day tour will bring you to our planet’s most remote ancient ruins: Easter Island.
Participants will fly to Santiago Chile, and then five more hours out to Easter Island. For the next week, from a comfortable home base hotel in Hanga Roa, the tour group will intensively explore the island’s sacred sites. Over the week, the tour will see hundreds of moai, the quarry where they were carved, cave sites, museums, and much more. Perhaps most importantly, participants will get to meet the Rapa Nui people themselves and hear about their extensive oral traditions.
ITINERARY
March 15, Saturday
Arrival to Santiago
- All Day: Arrivals to Santiago, Chile
- Evening: Welcome meeting and orientation at hotel
- Overnight in Santiago
March 16, Sunday
Flight to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
- 6-7am: Breakfast at hotel and to the airport
- 9-1pm: Flight to Easter Island
- 1-2pm: Customs, transport, and hotel check in
- 2-5pm: Free time in Hanga Roa
- 6-7pm: Lecture: Rapa Nui’s History (Ed Barnhart)
- Overnight in Hanga Roa
Hanga Roa
March 17, Monday
Akahanga, Tongariki, and The Quarry
- 7-9am: Breakfast at hotel
- 9-12pm: Moai and ahu from Akahanga to Tongariki
- 12-2pm: Lunch at Rana Raraku crater restuarant (covered by tour)
- 2-5pm: Exploring the crater – island’s main quarry
- 6-7pm: Lecture: TBA (Cliff Dunning)
- Overnight in Hanga Roa
The quarry at Rano Raraku
March 18, Tuesday
Vinapu, Akahanga, and Orongo
- 7-9am: Breakfast at hotel
- 9-12pm: Moai and ahu from Vinapu to Akahanga
- 12-2pm: Lunch break in town
- 2-5pm: Orongo and the Rana Kau Crater
- Overnight in Hanga Roa
Orongo crater
March 19, Wednesday
Mahatua, Anakena Beach, and Planetarium
- 7-9am: Breakfast at hotel
- 9-12pm: Moai and ahu from Mahatua to Anakena
- 12-2pm: Lunch at Anakena Beach (covered by tour)
- 2-3pm: Moai and swimming at Anakena Beach
- 6-7pm: Rapa Nui Planetarium – Archaeoastronomy lecture by Edmundo Edwards
- Overnight in Hanga Roa
Anakena Beach
March 20, Thursday
Tahai, Ahu Tepeu and Ahu Akivi
- 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
- 8-12pm: Hiking from Tahai to Ahu Tepeu (6 mile round trip)
- 12-2pm: Lunch break in town
- 3-5pm: Ahu Akivi and the western slope
- Overnight in Hanga Roa
Ahu Akivi
March 21, Friday
Papa Tekena, Vaimata, Roiho Cave, and Puna Pau Quarry
- 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
- 8-12pm: Hiking the northwest trail to Vaimata (6 mile round trip)
- 12-2pm: Lunch break
- 2-5pm: Roiho Cave and Puna Pau Quarry
- Overnight in Hanga Roa
Moai and ahu
March 22, Saturday
Museum, and Toki Rapa Nui
- 7-9am: Breakfast at hotel
- 9-11pm: Visit Rapa Nui Museum
- 11-2pm: Lunch break in town
- 2-4pm: Toki Rapa Nui music school and farm
- 7=9pm: Final dinner party in Hanga Roa (covered by tour)
- Overnight in Hanga Roa
Rapa Nui Cultural Museum
March 23, Sunday
Departures
- Morning: Breakfast and free time
- 1pm: Transfer to airport
- 3-9pm: Flight back to Santiago
- End of Tour
Moai and ahu
Hotels:
Holiday Inn Santiago – Airport Terminal
At the terminal – no ground transport needed. AC, restaurant, bar, telephone, cable TV and wifi.
Boutique hotel in the center of Hanga Roa. AC, restaurant, pool, and wifi.
PRICES
Price per person in a SHARED ROOM: $4,225
One person in a Double room, with a roommate. If we can’t find a roommate for you will pay the price of Single room.
Price per person in a SINGLE ROOM: $4,825
Room for one person.
$500 deposit due upon registration.
50% at 90 days before.
Final balance due 30 days before.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- All lodging
- private ground transportation
- all breakfasts
- two lunches
- archaeologist guide
- local guides
- evening lectures
- all entry fees
- the final dinner
EXCLUDES
- Airfare – Round trip to Santiago and round trip on LATAM Airlines out to Easter Island
- six lunches
- dinners
- gratuities (maids, drivers, guides, etc.)
- travel insurance
This 9-day tour will extensively explore Easter Island and learn from its modern inhabitants, the Rapa Nui people.
Participants stay in the same hotel all week – unpack and settle in. Hundreds of moai, quarries, craters, and caves, and meeting the Rapa Nui people themselves.
SECURE YOUR PLACE
To reserve your place visit the Registration page to arrange your Deposit:
About Your Hosts
Cliff Dunning
Cliff Dunning is the host and producer of the popular podcast, Earth Ancients: Startling New Discoveries from Our Planets Distant Past. A writer, his articles appear in publications around the world.
Dr. Ed Barnhart
Dr. Ed Barnhart is an American archaeologist and explorer specializing in ancient civilizations of the Americas. He is the founder and Director of the Maya Exploration Center, President of Ancient Explorations and fellow of The Explorers Club. He has appeared on the History Channel, Discovery Channel and Japanese public television. He also produced four lecture series for the Teaching Company’s Great Courses and has a podcast called ArchaeoEd.
SECURE YOUR PLACE
To reserve your place visit the Registration page to arrange your Deposit:
