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Easter Island on a budget

Easter Island on a Budget

First of all, allow me to say:
 

there is no such thing as

“Easter Island on a budget”!

 

So, before you accuse me of writing a misleading title, let me explain that what I meant to say was “how to make the most of Easter Island while spending less“.

We all work hard and save money to travel. And that’s why I think we should make the most of our bucks while exploring foreign lands – because saving on money doesn’t mean cutting your experiences short!

A&Z enjoying the movie like landscapes of Easter Island

A&Z enjoying the movie like landscapes of Easter Island

 

Here are some recommendations that will help you

keep those expenses under a tight leash!

 

- Fly to Easter Island on low-season

Flying to the Island itself would be one of the main costs to take into consideration. By planning your trip avoiding the high season (December to March) you have a greater chance of scoring better flight deals. LAN is the only airline that flies between the mainland (Santiago de Chile or Lima, Peru) to Hanga Roa and, having the monopoly, their tickets are expensive.

The more your dates are flexible, the better chances you have to get a cheaper flight. And last minute doesn’t tend to be a good idea either. In July 2012 we paid around USD600 per person – same ticket would have costed us about USD900 only a few days earlier but the flexibility of dates allowed for a saving of USD300 per person!

Holy Moai! This is proof that last minute flights to Easter Island are NOT a good deal!

Holy Moai! This is proof that last minute flights to Easter Island are NOT a good deal!

Don’t worry if you think low-season is not the best time to visit. I can guarantee you it’s lovely and the fact that there are way less tourists roaming around the archeological sites makes it considerably more charming – it’s even easier to take photos of the Moai statues without all those human heads around!

 

- Do not book accommodation from abroad

Sleeping in Easter Island can easily cost you USD80/night for the least expensive options. It might be a good idea to look around once you are in town, as budget accommodations do not have the same on-line presence as bigger guesthouses and hotels do.

You might want to book accommodation for one night so that you have your first day in the island covered, but you can take it from there once you are in Hanga Roa. Particularly if you come during low-season, there is no shortage of options and you can try to negotiate rates in person, depending on the length of your stay.
Choose a “cabana” instead of a hotel - this rustic style housing is very common, tends to be cheaper than places that go by the name “hotel” and still are very comfortable and convenient. And there are some good looking options on Airbnb too!

At the entrance of our cabana in Orito, inland of Easter Island

At the entrance of our cabana in Orito, inland of Easter Island

If you stay at a “cabana” you would normally have a kitchen, instead of just a place to sleep at, like you’d have at a hotel. This means you have much more autonomy when it comes to preparing your meals and this can save you some serious money. Simple meals in town easily cost USD20 and with that much money, you can purchase food for several days if you have somewhere to prepare it.

 

- Buy your supplies at the right place!

If you decide to cook some of your meals, buy your ingredients where locals do. In the mornings, trucks stop by the main road (Atamu Tekena) selling produce and even meat. Not only this is cheaper than in supermarkets but also there is much more variety when it comes to the vegetable side of things.

It might be a good idea to bring some basics with you from the mainland – for example, I always carry my spices, condiments and small bottle of olive oil wherever I go. This kit makes me ready to cook-set-go!

A stall at the Hanga Roa street market

A stall at the Hanga Roa street market

 

- Eat in restaurants outside the main road

Most of the expensive restaurants are, obviously, on the main road, as this is where all tourists head by default. Roam around secondary roads and you are likely to come across cheaper options. Also, some restaurants offer “menu” or “menu del dia”, which are set menus that include main dish, bread and drink – this would cost around the same price as a main dish on an average place, but will include a drink and sometimes soup. Extras are always welcome!

Eating a mouth-watering ceviche at a fishermen's shack: proof that you don't need to go to fancy restaurants to indulge in delicious food!

Eating a mouth-watering ceviche at a fishermen's shack: proof that you don't need to go to fancy restaurants to indulge in delicious food!

Empanadas and sandwiches are also great cheap eats! Oven empanadas (the ones purchased at bakeries and supermarkets) would normally cost $1500 Chilean pesos (USD3) and 2 of those, with minced meat or ham & cheese, are very filling. Fried empanadas (the ones restaurants normally serve) could go for $2500 chilean pesos (USD5) but most people would settle for 1.

Sandwiches cost $5000 (USD10) in many places and although this sounds like a lot, these sandwiches we are talking about here are massive monsters filled with meat/fish and salad.

 

- Take only one tour

Easter Island is the kind of destination where it is worth it to take a tour (click here to see the details of the guided tour we joined) – this will allow you an insight on the local history and traditions that goes beyond guide books. Local people would normally be the guides and can contrast the scientific theories with their local oral traditions.

But the truth is that, if you take a one day tour that goes around the main archeological sites, this would be enough to give you that introduction that will make you understand and appreciate the history of the island.

After 1 tour (full day tours tend to cost at least USD60, excluding lunch) you can take it from there and explore the rest of the sites independently. The internet is a good source of free information. Read before you take your trip and save some materials to read while you are in Easter Island (but don’t count too much on reading online once you’re there, as internet is not 100% reliable).

Ashray in Ahu Tongariki in the only guided tour we took around Easter Island

Ashray in Ahu Tongariki in the only guided tour we took around Easter Island

 

- Hitchhike or rent a car/bike in the small shops

It is very common for tourists to rent vehicles to explore the island: having a car or motorbike, you can go all around and see the main sites in one day even! But vehicles and bikes are extremely costly: I refuse to pay USD20 a day for a bicycle!

When you come across Insular or Oceanic rent-a-car shops just walk past them. Yes, they are the most well-known and you will see their name printed on maps given away for free around the island. But YOU are the one paying for that advertising. They have the most expensive prices and they won’t look at you with a nice face if you try to negotiate their rates – believe me, the voice of experience is talking here. So, if you MUST rent a vehicle, look around the souvenir shops that have a “rent-a-car” sign on their window shops. These tend to be more flexible and will sometimes have older cars that work just fine and are simply cheaper – still, be ready to pay USD50/day for a 4×4 or USD 40 for a scooter. Fuel, at least, is not more expensive than on the mainland.

We rented an older 4x4 for a day while in Easter Island: it wasn't the smoothest ride ever but enough to get around and did save us 1/3 of the total price!

We rented an older 4×4 for a day while in Easter Island: it wasn't the smoothest ride ever but enough to get around and did save us 1/3 of the total price!

Hitchhiking in Easter Island is easy and very safe. Particularly if you are heading from the outskirts into town, it’s easy to hitch a ride in 4x4s and pick up trucks. Locals are very willing to take you for free and this is something we really appreciated during our stay.

 

- Do not buy souvenirs in the stores

Along the main road in Hanga Roa you will come across the Handcrafts & Vegetable Market. Here, souvenirs cost considerably less than in most souvenir stores and, at the end of the day, they all sell pretty much the same. A little Moai figure that costs $2000 in the market, generally goes for $3500 at the shops, and the same price difference applies to other articles.

Bee and a typical Moai souvenir that can cost double or triple the price, depending on the store.

Bee and a typical Moai souvenir that can cost double or triple the price, depending on the store.

 

- Avoid dinner when you go for a cultural show

One of the things most tourists do in town is going to a cultural dance show in the evening. This kind of event starts at USD20/person for a show that lasts about one hour. Some companies combine the dance with a pre-show dinner but this can cost about USD75. You are better off going for a show alone and, as you can see, you’d still have an opportunity to take photos with the attractive dancers:

Ashray and a dancer from Ballet KariKari

Ashray and a dancer from Ballet KariKari

 

I hope these tips come in handy if you plan a trip to Easter Island (aka Rapa Nui). It might not be the most pocket friendly destination, but I can hands down say, being such a unique place, it is worth the expense! And, after all, you do not have to have an exorbitant amount of cash to truly enjoy it, if you spend your money wisely.

And if you still have any doubts about taking a trip there, just check all the things we learnt and all the fun we had while at it!

 

RAPA NUI AWAITS YOU!

 


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15 Comments

  • Agness Says

    Guys, awesome tips, really! So helpful and well organised. Wow, I didn’t know the Easter Island is so expensive! However, following your tips everyone can cut some costs down and enjoy it pretty “cheap”. Car or bike rental is great, I always do it when travelling in expensive places and avoid extra souvenirs and dinners :-). I strongly believe once you are in the town and keep looking for cheap accommodation you will finally find something on a budget with a little help of locals :)

    • Zara Says

      Agness, Easter Island is quite expensive indeed!
      The key is to get there and then, once you’re in the ground, there’s aways a way of cutting down the expenses.. as long as one doesn’t go for the first option and spends a little time scoping the possibilities!

  • That is so great that you guys made it to Easter Island! It was a tempting thought when we were in Chile, but we knew we had a lot of ground to cover on the rest of our trip in Chile & Argentina. The closest we came to Easter Island was seeing the Moai at a museum in La Serena.

    Really great to hear first hand experience on trying to lower your costs when traveling there. Thanks for sharing!!

    • Zara Says

      Hi Lisa!

      I know exactly what you mean when you say “a lot of ground to cover” – we ended up spending 3 full months in Chile (including a week in Easter Island) and only left the day before our tourist visas expired! Chile is such a great travel destination: SO MANY things to see and do! And such variety! Specially in terms of landscapes.

      But do not miss Easter Island next time, it’s pretty awesome! ;)

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  • Excellent pics! Looks like you had a great time there. Easter Island can be done on a budget – just about… by hiking most of the island (which I did) and by self-catering. Also, by avoiding any/all tours and choosing the cheapest possible accommodation – and, going in low-season. Excluding my flights, which I got at a very good price (at about $ 540, booked 3 months in advance), I spend about $650 in total.

    • Zara Says

      Great-going Jean-Jacques!
      As you say, one can go to Easter Island on a budget, but “just about”. And it looks like you also made the most of it! :)

  • Great tips, much appreciated!

    #whitebuffalotravels

  • James Says

    Thanks for the extremely helpful article. What time do the market/rental places open in the morning? I’ll be renting a bike and am hoping to get to the other side to see the sunrise at dawn. I’m hoping to be able to rent a bike before then if possible .

    • Zara Says

      Hi James,
      I don’t remember exactly what time the rental places open.. but to catch sunrise you’d most likely be better off renting the previous evening.
      Have a great time in Easter Island! :)

  • Jen Says

    Thank you for the detailed article, I will be traveling to Easter Island in June. I find it interesting that you mention Cabanas. You mention that the Cabanas are rustic. Looking for a little more insight, how rustic is rustic? I don’t mind spending a few extra dollars for a little nicer accommodation.
    Thank you in advance.

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