Travel to Easter Island

Easter Island: entry and exit regulations

Formalities, visas

Citizens of the EU, Australia, the USA and New Zealand do not need a visa. However, you need a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of entry.

Entry

fee An entry fee is levied, which is based on nationality. The fee is between US $ 15 and US $ 100.

It is responsible for issuing visas in Germany

Visa department of the Embassy of Chile

Mohrenstrasse 42

10117 Berlin

Tel.: 0049 – (0) 30 – 726 20 35

Fax: (030) 726 20 36 03

Email: embachilealemania@echileberlin.de

www.embajadaconsuladoschile.de

Import and export of foreign currency

  • Local currencyThere are no restrictions in this regard.
  • Foreign currenciesThere are no restrictions in this regard.

Easter Island: arrival and transport

How do you get to Easter Island?

Airplane

Most visitors come to the island by air.

The airport was completed in 1967. It was enlarged as an emergency landing strip for NASA’s American space shuttle.

This makes the airport the second longest runway in Polynesia after the runway of the French military base on Tuamotu Island.

Easter Island is only served by the airline Lan-Chile. Mostly from Chile or from Papeete, Tahiti.

Recently, however, there have also been flights from Los Angeles and other direct flights. For more information, visit Lan-Chile’s website: www.lanchile.com.

Most hotels and accommodations can be reached on foot in half an hour. The hotels and guesthouses also offer a free shuttle.

Ship

The island is visited by cruise ships from time to time.

Only about 30 private yachts reach the island annually. They come from Pitcairn, Tahiti or South America or the Galapagos Islands.

Travel in the country

There is no public transport system on the island. However, the islanders like to take hitchhikers with them.

As an individual means of transport you can rent cars, motorbikes, bicycles or taxis or explore the island on horseback.

Roads

There are hardly any tarred roads.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Easter Island is that of Chile and reads:

RCH

Easter Island: Embassies, Consulates and Tourist Office

Visit Countryaah for a full list of Easter Island embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

Representations of Chile in Germany

Easter Island belongs to Chile and is therefore represented by the Embassy of Chile.

The embassy of the Republic of Chile is located – together with the embassies of Peru and the Principality of Liechtenstein – in a modern purpose-built building in Mohrenstrasse in the immediate vicinity of the “French Cathedral” – on the Gendarmenmarkt in the Berlin-Mitte district.

The Embassy of Chile extends over the ground floor and the first floor.

Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Berlin

Mohrenstrasse 42

10117 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 72 62 035

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 72 62 036 03

Email: comunicaciones@echilealemania.de

Web: www.embajadaconsuladoschile.de

German representations for Easter Island

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Santiago de Chile

Las Hualtatas 5677 – Vitacura

Casilla 220, Correo 3

Santiago de Chile

Chile

Tel: 0056 – 2 – 463 2500

Fax: 0056 – 2 – 463 2525

Email: info@santiago-de-chile.diplo. de

www.santiago.diplo.de

Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Viña del Mar

1 Norte 525 Of. 208

Viña del Mar

:

Cónsul Honorario de la República Federal de Alemania

1 Norte 525 Of. 208

Viña del Mar, Chile

Tel: 0056 -32 – 269 5095

Fax: 0056 -32 – 269 5095

Email: helga.behrend@terra.cl

Austrian representations in Chile

Austrian Embassy in Santiago de Chile

Barros Errazuriz 1968, 3 piso

Santiago de Chile

Tel: 0056 – 2 – 223 4774

Fax: 0056 – 2 – 204 9382

Email: santiago-de-chile-ob@bmaa.gv.at

www.aussenministerium. at/santiagodechile

Honorary Consulate Valparaiso (without passport authorization)

Santo Domingo 26

Valparaiso

Tel: 0056 – 32 – 225 1883

Fax: 0056 – 32 – 221 6420

Email: consuladoaustriavalpo@gmail.com

Representations of Chile in Austria

Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Vienna

Lugeck 1/III/10

1010 Vienna

Tel: 0043 – 1 – 512 9208

Fax: 0043 – 1 – 512 9208 33

Email: echileat1@chello.at

Swiss representations in Chile

Swiss Embassy in Santiago de Chile

Américo Vespucio Sur 100, piso 14

Santiago (Las Condes)

:

Embajada de Suiza

Casilla 3875

Santiago de Chile, Chile

Tel: 0056 – 2 – 928 0100

Fax: 0056 – 2 – 928 0135

Email: san.vertretung @ eda.admin.ch

http://www.eda.admin.ch/santiago

Representations of Chile in Switzerland

Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Bern

Eigerplatz 5

3007 Bern

Tel: 0041 – 031 – 370 0058

Fax: 0041 – 031 – 372 0025

Email: embajada@embachile.ch

Tourist office

Turismo Chile

Eliodoro Yañez 2473, Providencia

Santiago

Tel: 0056 – 2 – 785 6609

Fax 0056 – 2 – 785 6874

www.visit-chile.org

Easter Island: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings

Infectious Diseases

The following infectious diseases, which are rarely or rarely widespread in Germany or Central and Northern Europe, are to be expected on Easter Island:

  • Malaria, there is no risk of contracting the malaria pathogen
  • Cholera, only for travelers who come in contact with polluted water.
  • Dengue fever, in 2002 there was an increase in infections with the dengue virus.
  • Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria.
  • Hepatitis A
  • Polio, polio
  • Tetanus, contact with animals, especially dogs, should be avoided.
  • Rabies, but a low risk of infection only exists in high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
  • Typhoid, only for travelers who come in contact with polluted water.

Recommended vaccinations

when traveling to Easter Island are recommended vaccinations against the following diseases:

  • Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Hepatitis A
  • Polio, polio, vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Typhoid, only in travelers who may come in contact with infected and polluted water or contaminated food.

Compulsory vaccination

For all persons older than one year and who come from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever.

Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?

Most people in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.

Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007.

There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory co-payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge:

  • cholera
  • diphtheria
  • Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
  • Yellow fever
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Pneumococci
  • Polyo (polio)
  • Tetanus (tetanus)
  • rabies
  • typhus

Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.

As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.

UV radiation

Due to its location and the extremely clean and thus dust-free air, strong UV radiation is to be expected on the island. Direct sunlight should therefore be avoided, headgear should be worn and sunscreen creams with a high protection factor should be used.

Current warnings

Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany

Citizens’ Service

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000

Easter Island: currency, exchange rate and shopping

The national currency of Easter Island is the Chilean Peso (CLP).

The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:

  • 500 CLP
  • 1,000 CLP
  • 2,000 CLP
  • 5,000 CLP
  • 10,000 CLP
  • 20,000 CLP

Exchange rate

You can find a currency converter here:

www3.forium.de

Banks and opening times

The Banco del Estado is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The bank’s ATMs can only be operated with the MasterCard credit card. The VISA card is only accepted at the counter.

Credit cards are generally not accepted and a high fee is charged.

Shop

Shop opening hours

Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Easter Island: Sights

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Rapa Nui National Park

The Easter Islands belong to Chile. The area of the islands is 163 km² and the island is of volcanic origin. The indigenous people of the island lived completely independently for centuries. The island is in the middle of the sea south of the Tropic of Capricorn, and the nearest land is about 3,000 km away. The island was discovered in 1722 and numerous monoliths called moais with a height of up to 20 m were found on its coast. There are smaller uninhabited islands off Easter Island.

Rapa Nui National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. more information in the next section.

Archeology, statues

On Easter Island there are over 1,000 – some huge – stone statues, which are still puzzling science today. The first statues were probably made around 400 AD. made that were aligned in a certain way to the sun. About 700 years later – around 1100 AD, the existing terraces were converted into platforms for ceremonial purposes and the first giant stone statues were created, which they were formed directly from the crater walls of the volcano – Rano Raraku. Once completed, the statues were lowered down the slopes of the volcano, where they were still worked and polished. Then set them up on the terraces so that they looked into the interior of the island. Locals believe they are monuments to dead rulers and possess supernatural powers. In this context, it is noticeable that there are a number of deviations in geomagnetism on the island. The later statues have a broad forehead, high cheeks, a protruding chin, an aquiline nose and remarkably long ear lobes. Many of the statues weigh between 25.00 to 40,000 kg and are between 3.50 to 7.50 meters tall. A figure made later but not completed is in the crater of the Rano Raraku. This figure has a weight of around 270,000 kg – with a length of around 21 m. In total there are around 400 unfinished figures here. The completion was most likely prevented by a civil war between the “long ears” – the rulers – and their subjects, the “short ears”. Here are some important archaeological sites:

  • Rapanui National, the park includes all the archaeological sites on the island.
  • Rano Raraku, a quarry crater in which there are many statues in different stages of manufacture. You can find around 394 statues inside and outside the crater.
  • Tongariki, 15 erect statues and petroglyphs, i.e. stone paintings or symbols carved in stone, are located near the Ranu Raraku quarry.
  • Orongo, the place of the Vogelmann cult, where you can admire petroglyphs, old stone houses and an intoxicating landscape.
  • Vinapu, Ahu Base structure for the statues, see lower statues above
  • Tahai, three ahus, base structure for the statues, boat ramps, foundations of a boat house, statues
  • Ahu Tebeu: two ahus, one of which is the largest on the island. There are also fallen statues and huge foundations of a boat house.
  • Ahu Anakena, Ahu, petroglyphs and statues as well as a beautiful bathing beach. This bay is also said to be the landing point of the settlers from the Marquesa Islands.
  • Te Pito Kura, the largest ever moving statue on the island. It was moved to its current location from the Rano Raraku quarry.
  • Ahu Raai, petroglyphs, the base structure Ahu Raij
  • Hekii, Ahu, the base structure Hekii Ahu.

Padre Sebastian Englert Museum

With numerous works of art and the only surviving intact coral eye.

Manavai caves

There are sunken gardens here

activities

Horseback riding

You can either go on day trips or explore the island on a five-day horseback excursion.

Surfing

There are three surfing spots in the south of the island. There are waves all year round, but they are not always suitable for surfing.

Diving

Clear water and an interesting marine fauna make diving an experience.

Travel to Easter Island