3 Weeks in February - Easter Island CHILE
By Vanessa.blasco under CC BY-ND 3.0.
INFORMATION
The biggest Polynesian festival in the world
HIGHLIGHTS - getting your queen over the line
Book your accommodation & FLIGHTS FOR Easter Island ASAP
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Santiago 3N to Santiago via Valparaiso 4N and Hanga Roa 15N
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Plaza de Armas
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Wine Train
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Ceviche
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Moai
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Moto Nui
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Pisco Sours
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Anakena Beach
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Rano Kau crater
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Ahu Tahai
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Birdman Cult
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Honeyed Peanuts
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San Cristobal Hill
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Rano Raraku quarry
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Hanga Roa Dancers
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Ahu Te Pito Kura
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Hot Dogs with the lot
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Sun Rise at Ahu Tongariki
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Top 10 market in the World
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UNESCO listed Easter Island
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La Moneda - Presidential Palace
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Graffiti capital of South America
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The most Isolated place on the Planet
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Highest Observatory in Latin America
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UNESCO listed historic quarter of Valparaiso
All travel information including hotels etc is at the bottom of this page
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Before coming on this trip I strongly recommend reading Aku-Aku: The Secret of Easter Island by Thor Heyerdahl. It's history is truly incredible and you will realise it is a real privilege to come here. There is also a movie called Rapa Nui which was made by Kevin Costner. If nothing else it is action packed and if you are coming here it will hold some interest for you. There is a small theatre where you can see it on the island.
Santiago de Chile - 4N
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Fly in and out of the capital Santiago (St James) de Chile with it's impressive backdrop of the Andes Mountains which makes it a stunning city to look at. When you can see them through the smog. It has many pedestrian zones which make it pleasant to walk around. The honeyed peanut stalls make it even more pleasant. As in many South American cities and towns the Plaza de Armas is the focal point. It's a good place for some people watching. There are historical and cultural landmarks all around the square. Santiago is a city of lovers and you will see couples getting cozy in all of the parks and other public places.
Eat
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When you get hungry head off to the Central Market. It was named in National Geographic's top 10 in the World. A lively fish market since 1872 it has many restaurants. Sit down at one and try the iconic dishes Clams au Gratin and King Crab. Torres Confectionery is the oldest restaurant in Chile and well worth a visit. It opened its doors in 1879 and the beloved Barros Luco sandwich (beef & cheese) was created here.
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Santiago de Chile Tours
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See
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A good day trip is to take the Wine (Steam) Train down to the country's top wineries in the Colchagua Valley. There is live music and tastings aboard the train. Santiago is a bike friendly city with plenty of bike lanes. Joining a tour can be a lot of fun and a good way to meet people. Ride the funicular up San Cristobal Hill and enjoy the views. If you're feeling energetic or need some exercise after that long flight you can walk up. Grab an empanada and always remember to be careful of the olive pits that are left in for some reason.
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Head to La Moneda to see the changing of the guards. This building has been a part of history on more than one occasion including being bombed by the Air Force. To learn more about this troubling period a visit to Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos will inform you of the abuses of Chile's Military Government between 1973 and 1990. Have a listen to They Dance Alone by Sting and maybe read Salvador Allende: Revolutionary Democrat by Victor Figueroa Clark.
SUn / Drink
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For sunset Sky Costanera is the place to go for the amazing views. After dark Bellavista is the place to be. Enjoy a few beers al fresco. Sink a few Pisco Sours, the national drink, in a little bar and you'll be ready to take on the clubs and meet the friendly locals. Plenty of restaurants for when you want to eat. Barrio Brasil along Av. Brasil is another good area for a night out and the prices are friendly. Try a Yerba Mate a very popular drink around South America and other parts of the world. It's a herbal tea. Chilean wines are well regarded around the world.
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Valparaiso - 3N
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Time to head to the coast for a few days. Valparaiso aka Valpo aka "Little San Francisco", "the jewel of South America and "The Jewel of the Pacific". It is an important port town with the usual suspects, sailors, prostitutes and seedy bars. But it also draws artists, poets, bohemians and philosophers. The historic old quarter was declared an UNESCO heritage site in 2003. It is a colourful city with great seafood and amazing street art. Get lost in the labyrinth of Conception Hill.
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You might want to read Tips #7 about safety in Valparaiso before you head off.
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The easiest way to get here is by bus. It takes about an hour and 40 minutes. Direct buses leave from the Alemeda Terminal.
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Valparaiso is very hilly but is much easier to get around if you use the numerous funiculars and elevators. Find them in the Marker Map.
Eat
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The restaurant at the Fauna Hotel has fantastic food and even better views. More great food and views at Cafe Turri and La Concepcion. All in the Old Quarter.
Sun / Drink
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Many famous cities are built on 7 hills. This one is built on 45. There are a series of funiculars and elevators to assist your getting around. It also affords great views so make sure your hotel room has one. This means there are a lot of restaurants and bars with really good views too. For sunset head off to Yellow House / Hotel Brighton for cocktails on their excellent verandah. You will find a brilliant roof terrace for sundowners and dinner at the Fauna Restaurant. Their Pisco Sours are really good.
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Calle Cumming is the place to go for a pub crawl. This is a University town so there is plenty of youth and energy around. Dancing is popular and you will find jazz, samba, salsa and more. Valparaiso has a bit of a reputation as a rough place but if you take the usual precautions you shouldn't have any problems. For live music and tango head to the Bar Cinzano which is over 100 years old. It is the oldest museum bar in the world.
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Valparaiso Tours
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Image by Jorge Gaona from Pixabay
See
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Take the metro to Vina del Mar for a trip to the beach. The Parque Cultural de Valparaíso was a prison where Pinochet put his political prisoners. You can see their art here as well as other peoples. Do a wine tour of nearby Casablanca Valley. There is so much to see and do in this unique city that in 4 days you will barely scratch the surface. If you've got the time and money come here a bit earlier or you can come back after the festival. Because that's where you're headed now.
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Catch the bus back to Santiago and fly out to one of the most remote locations on planet earth. You're in for a truly unique experience and will meet some amazing people. Have fun and good luck with your candidate. See the details below.
Hanga Roa - 15N
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Organise your accommodation to pick you up at the airport. The locals are very friendly and will look after you well. Settle into your new digs and get ready for two weeks of memorable activity. Your hosts will help to get you organised. By now you should have a good idea of the program and what you want to see and do. Have a blast.
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Some of the following businesses may be affected by the festival being on, but you will also have many more choices because of the festival.
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Mahalo Terraza & Bistro - ocean view dining terrace, for a traditional Curanto Feast (similar to a Maori Hangi) make your booking at Te Ra’ai - they also have cultural shows, dancing and music and are very popular, there will be lots of food stalls put up for the festival. You will find that for such a remote place the food is pretty good.
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Every year all of the visitors are invited to a huge Curanto on Anakena Beach.
See
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There will be plenty of activities organised around the festival but if your are looking for a few more have a look at these. Also you should take a tour with a knowledgeable guide to have a look at the quarry, some of the major Moai sites, see and learn all about the Birdman Culture, the caves when the population moved underground and the ships that brought disease and took slaves.
SUn
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Te Moai Sunset - has a great view over the ocean as do most good restaurants on Easter Island, head up to Anakena Beach where there are now several restaurants and you can get cocktails, Ahu Tahai is a popular sunset spot, or you could just ride around and find a nice place with a western view. Chances are you will probably be watching it from the main stage area as the sun doesn't set here until after 9 pm in February.
Drink
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Hani Hani Tunu Ahi & Bar - for a good night out, Varua Ora is a good venue to watch cultural dancing and they have a bar as well,
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Easter Island Tours
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Sadly fly back to Santiago and the real world. If you want to keep going you could catch a bus over the Andes to Mendoza in Argentina. It's everyone's favourite wine town and it has a wonderful hot spring. Brad and Gwyneth spent time here when he was filming 7 years in Tibet. Rumour is they loved it. You could head north through the coloured mountains and into Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Some of the many highlights would include the Uyuni Salt Flats, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. These trips are all in the pipeline.
TAPATI
DATE -
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Roughly the first 2 weeks in February.
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The dates are set in the preceding August
LENGTH -
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12 - 15 days.
FLIGHTS
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International - There are direct flights to Santiago de Chile from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the USA, Canada, South America, Spain, Paris and London. If you live elsewhere you'll need to connect in one of these places.
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We came here on an around the world ticket where you get 3 legs per continent. We had 2 spare legs so the flight to Easter Island and back was basically free.
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Domestic - the only flights to Easter Island are from Santiago de Chile and they are with LATAM Airlines. It takes 5 ½ hours and there should be 2 a day in February.
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Once you have paid for your ticket get some travel insurance to cover your investment.
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AIRPORTS
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Santiago de Chile - Santiago International Airport aka Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
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Hanga Roa - Mataveri International Airport, the most remote airport in the world
VISA
HOTELS
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Santiago de Chile
Excellent location minutes from the Bellavista night life and walking distance to most other attractions, large rooftop terrace with panoramic views which is great for socialising, 24 hour desk, dorm beds and private rooms, BBQ facilities
In a great location well within walking distance to Bellavista, Central Market and the Plaza de Armas, kitchenette, 24 hour desk, breakfast included, terrace, garden, coffee machine
Great location close to the Apart Hotel B ⬆️, outdoor swimming pool and terrace, good breakfast included, 24 hour desk
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Valparaiso - in the UNESCO Historic Quarter - all 3 are close to the funicular
Excellent location with a rooftop terrace which has amazing views over the town and the Bay of Valparaiso, very close to many restaurants and bars in a safe area, “Excellent location, especially after you discover the ascensor Reina Victoria shortcut up the back of the hill!", 24 hour desk, 1 km from the bus terminal - they have a shuttle service which you have to pay for
Excellent location with stunning views and close to charming bars and restaurants, in a refurbished historical old Victorian style building, bath tubs, all rooms have balconies with sea and hill views, good buffet breakfast included, 24 hour desk, terrace, bar
Excellent location near the funicular with some of the best views over the harbour, rooftop terrace bar and restaurant, close to many bars and restaurants, good breakfast included, coffee house, snack bar
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Hanga Roa
Superb location across the road from the main stage Hanga Vare Vare, next to many restaurants, very friendly owners, good price, sunset sea views from the terrace, airport pick up - charged, BBQ facilities, beachfront, shuttle service available, restaurant, tea / coffee maker in room, coffee house, bike rental, open air bath, free parking
Great location 10 min walk from the main stage, 24 hour desk, free parking, patio, car rental, shuttle service - charged, good price
Good location a 20 minute walk to the main stage, bungalows feature a kitchen and a TV, a garden and a terrace, can organise rental cars, free airport pick up and departure, good for families, free parking and they have a food stand on Anakena Beach
Good location 20 min walk from the main stage, cheap bed in a 4 person dormitory, friendly hostel with good reviews, garden, free parking - reservation needed, terrace, good breakfast included, adult only, bike rental
TIPS -
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Everything is completely free and no tickets are required (apart from the permit to enter the National Park - see #3
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Bring plenty of cash, $US and local pesos - there are only a few ATM's
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Bring local currency to save money when paying for your permit or you can get it online
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You can use your credit card around the place to alleviate the need for too much cash
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You can drink the tap water
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Rent a car, motorbike, ATV or bicycle to get around
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Read this safety advice for Valparaiso
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Take sun and rain protection
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Kiosks set up around the main stage (Hanga Vare Vare) which sell food and drinks and beer
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For some excellent South Seas harmonies head to the local church on any given Sunday
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Download the Easter Island app on your phone
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It is partly about teaching the children about their culture, so there are a lot of children's activities and events
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Iorana means hello or goodbye, (ee-or-ana)
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Tapati Rapa Nui means Rapa Nui week although it has stretched out a bit longer these days
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You can join in the parade at the end of the festival - whichever family you choose the represent will give you body paint and a costume
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All events (apart from the tango) are done in traditional costumes and body paint which gives the festival an amazing atmosphere that words cannot do justice to
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DON'T TOUCH THE MOAI - there are expensive fines and even jail sentences after one idiot thought he would souvenir an ear lobe
HISTORY -
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It is a celebration of the Rapa Nui culture which started in 1975 and was quite small. As tourism has grown so has the festival.
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Easter Island has an incredible history and I recommend you read Aku Aku by Thor Heyerdahl to get some idea of what an amazing place this is.
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At one stage in their history there was the Birdman Cult. Competitors had to descend an almost vertical 300 meter cliff, swim across to an islet over a kilometer away through strong currents and shark infested waters.
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They would then have to climb up onto the islet and wait for days or weeks for the arrival of the Manutara birds and steal the first egg laid.
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They would then have to get this back over the water and up the cliff without breaking it. They then became ruler for a year.
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It was so dangerous that some years almost all of the competitors died while trying to be the first one back with an egg.
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Several of the Cultural and sporting events during Tapati are inspired by the strength and bravery of this contest.
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Perhaps they should bring it back to find a fitting King for the Queen.
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Funnily enough the Manutara birds don't come here any more.
WHERE -
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Easter Island (Rapa Nui / Isla de Pascua) 5 hour flight west of Santiago, Chile
ABOUT -
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This festival is unique in the world and provides an unforgettable experience.
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It promotes the ancestral traditions of the Rapa Nui.
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The entire population comes out to celebrate and participate enthusiastically in a friendly rivalry.
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The ultimate aim of the festival is to find a new Queen. The island divides itself into two camps representing the two castes of ancient times, the long ears and the short ears. Two candidates are put forward to vie for the honor of Queen of the Island.
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They are supported by families, friends and any visitors who put their hands up. They accrue points in all of the events but it is a mystery system of how and how many are awarded.
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Visitors are encouraged to support one side or the other.
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The winner will reign for the next year. A little like the Birdman competition.
INCLUDES -
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Sensual Polynesian dancing competitions on a huge stage in the main town Hanga Roa by the seafront
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Sliding down the steepest volcanic slope on a banana trunk
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Statue carving, Art contest, Massive fish bake, Massive beef bake, Accordion bands, Empanadas, Spear throwing, Queen of Tapati
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Bare back Horse races, Boat races in the volcano lake, Body painting, Parade, Atmospheric night time events
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Triathlon consisting of paddling a reed canoe across a volcanic crater lake, running with 2 bunches of bananas around the neck and then swimming across the lake with a reed raft
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Deep sea fishing contest and BBQ which everybody is invited to
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Agricultural show for flowers and produce
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A big and diverse range of performances on the big stage each night, Story telling, Ukuleles
HIGHLIGHT -
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Haka Pei - Sliding down a 200 meter volcano at 70 km/h on 2 Banana tree trunks lashed together in a loin cloth.
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The only event with prize-money.
BRING -
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There are plenty of people renting costumes and body paint to allow tourists to join in the fun,
SAFETY -
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It is a safe family friendly environment
PARTY FACTOR - It's a Tapati Party - Polynesian style for the whole island to enjoy.
PROGRAM - (Example)
DAY 1 -- Opening, speeches, Old Queen speech, Artistic Performance
DAY 2 -- Mass, Triathlon, Body painting, AP,
DAY 3 -- Flowers race, Painting and Carving contests, Songs, AP
DAY 4 -- Body boarding with and without reed boards, Songs costumes and AP
DAY 5 -- Necklace, hats, Rongo Rongo, Moai & flower crowns making comps Canoe, Tango comps
DAY 6 -- Underwater hunting, Regatta, Costumes and Hoko contests
DAY 7 -- Costume and carving comps, Swimming comp & AP
DAY 8 -- Race with bananas, Comps for canoeing, body paint, adults group, Theatrical plays
DAY 9 -- Coastal cleaning, Traditional food and Choir
DAY 10 - Underwater hunting, AP & Accordion comp
DAY 11 - Culinary contest, costumes and AP
DAY 12 - Horse race, Harmonica contest, AP
DAY 13 - Dualathon, Target shooting
DAY 14 - Float parade, Night off
DAY 15 - Closing, Old Queen speech, New Queen coronation, speech and Artistic performance
INFORMATION - for this page was sourced from the following websites - Chile.travel - Days of the Year - Imagina Rapa Nui - Easter Island Spirit - Mango Languages
