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Written by: -
Fern Thomas
Miami Beach, FL
Dates: - December 1998 - January 1999
Email: - fmthomas@yahoo.com
Comments: - Trip Highlights:
Kia Koe is a reputable and professional tour agency. 1/2 day tours $25, full day tours $35
(discount if you you do more than 2 tours)
Kia Koe
Easter Island
Policarpo Torpo S/N
Hotel Hanga-Roa
T:100852
Fax: 100282
E-Mail kiakoe@entelchile.net
Santiago:
Napoleaan 3565, Of 201
T: 2037209
Fax: 2037211
E-Mail: kktour@entelchile.net
The full day tour is definitely worthwhile. Itt goes along the coast to Rano Raraku, the
volcano where the moais were made and up to the beach at Anakena where you may spend an
hour taking in the sun. Bring your own lunch (Bring food from Santiago if possible. Prices
are very high in Hango Roa and little variety.)
The half day tours can easily been on your own, and if you have the time can be done on
foot. The first half day tour is to Ahu Akivi, Puna Pau and Tahai. The second is to Oronog
and Rano Kau. We did the latter on our own.
Easter Island is the closest thing to a living museum I have ever seen. If you are going
to do tours on your own, make sure you have a good book and read up on what you are
visiting before hand. Otherwise, it can be a bit boring.
Other:
Cars can be rented from $50 for 8 hours to $80 for 24 hours. Prices for horses vary
significantly. Look around, we found the Kia Koe tours to be better value than cars or
horses.
Internet in Santiago:
Cafe Virtu@l
Av Lib Bernardo O'Higgins 145
T:638-6846
P2,800/hr - after 7pm price drops to P2,000/hr
Many computers, fast.
Exchange Rate: - P470 = US$1
Rating: - 7 - 9
Weather: - Warm, Hot and Arid
Terrain: - City/Tropical Island in the middle of nowhere
Hotels: - In Santiago:
Hotel Olicar I
San Pablo 1265
Santiago Centro
T: 6983683
Double Rooms from $5. Hot water, kitchen, cable tv. Prices of rooms vary, depending on
size, location in hotel. Make sure that you ask the price of each room. Many rooms have no
windows and are very dark. Rooms near the kitchen tend to be very noisy. Good value and
friendly.
(We checked out nearby Hotel Nuevo - a real dump!)
In Easter Island:
Res Ana Rapu, camping available US$8 per person; room without bath US$14 pp; with bath
US$18 pp. (prices include breakfast; discount available if you don't want breakfast) Nice
location, seaview; but some of the rooms are grotty.
There are many other option on or near Policarpo Toro and most of the hostels will
negotiation on price.
Restaurants:
In Santiago:
Restaurant Venezia on Pio Nono. Good local food, huge portions. Not cheap but one meal
easily feeds two.
On Easter Island:
Ana Rei Pua, across the street from DePecheur, near football field has excellent ceviche
and sushi at reasonable prices.
Azul Tahia on Policarpo Toro has wok prepared fish, good prices, reasonable
Kona Koa on Tuesday or Friday for local meal of Umu and cultural show.
Route: - Lan Chile flies to Easter Island 4 times a week for
approximately US$900 (plus tax).
Lan Chile offers a special to Papeete, Tahiti for US1,100 (plus $50 for stopover in Easter
Island) if purchased seven days in advance. We did it this way and enjoyed a wonderful
week in French Polynesia. Contact us directly for information on French Polynesia.
*Confirm your return flight to Santiago at the Lan Chile office in town.
Santiago Airport Transfers:
Centropuerto from Metrostop Los Heroes from 6:00 - 22:30; P840; T:6019883
Tourexpress from Moneda 1529 from 5:30-22:00; P1,200; T:6019573
Minibus Delfos provides door to door service P2,400 T:2266020
Essentials: - Sunscreen and a little bit of background reading about the island before you go.
Interests: - Touring
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