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Rapa Nui is Chilean territory and so the official
language is Spanish - the South
American variety. Most of the inhabitants speak Spanish but they also
have their own language which is very similar to the language spoken
by the Maoris in New Zealand and on various islands throughout Polynesia.
Many speak English as well but don't depend on it. |
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The climate is generally warm and pleasant for most of the year though it does rain a lot in the rainy season when it is not unusual for torrential rain to fall for long periods. The best times to visit are during the summer months of November to March when temperatures well into the '90s may be experienced. The rains start in late March, usually. A festival takes place at the end of January or early February and lasts a week. |
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Geographically the island is small with an area of only 64 square miles. There are the remains of three inactive volcanoes. These are Rano Kau in the extreme south, Rano Raraku near the eastern coast about three quarters of the way to the north of the island, and Teravaku dominating the north west. All three volcanoes have lakes though the lake at Teravaku is more of a bowl of reed covered mud. The island's water supply is derived from the lake in Rano Kau. The capital and only town is Hanga Roa. Arriving at the airport you will be met by a hoard of people with rooms to let in guest houses, and small hotel owners. Accommodation on the island seems to be plentiful and varied. More information about accommodation can be found in the Accommodation section of this document. The airport is located about one kilometre outside Hanga Roa. Transport to your selected hotel or guest house will be provided by the owners. The population of Rapa Nui is quite small, of the order of 2,800 people, most of whom live in Hanga Roa. A few farmers and other hardy characters live on properties away from the town. Hanga Roa is the only place on the island where you can buy water and other drinks and food. When walking you will need plenty of liquids so ensure that you buy water before starting out as you will have no opportunity to buy any until you return to Hanga Roa. CREDIT CARDS Curren¢y: The unit of currency is the Chilean Peso and, at the time of writing (May 1997), the exchange rate is US$1=Ps407. All shops, restaurants and supermarkets will accept US dollar traveller's cheques and good condition bank notes though they often convert at the slightly lower rate of US$1 = Ps400. Small denomination traveller's cheques are, therefore, very useful. To change larger denominations you should find your way to Hanga Roa's only filling station (at the eastern end of the main street running through town past the market, then turn right at the top of the hill) where the proper exchange rate is given. Transport: 4WD vehicles are US$50 per 8 hours, US$65 for the whole day. there are also motorcycles at about US$40 for 8 hours, horses (US$35) and bicycles (US$15). Roads are generally unpaved and can be treacherous when it's raining. Some parts of the island cannot be reached in a vehicle, especially when wet. It is difficult to hire vehicles with credit cards. Those unable to walk the 38km to the other end of the island and back in a day will need to hire a vehicle to get about. Apart from a single return bus journey on Sundays and the local taxi services there is no public transport on the island. An international driving licence is required and police do make spot checks so make sure you carry it with you when driving. Insurance cover is not available - the driver is totally responsible for any damage to the vehicle. |
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BEWARE:
Forget your credit cards except for those really expensive purchases.
You cannot use credit cards in restaurants, most shops, and especially
not in the bank. You cannot, under any circumstances, draw cash against
credit cards anywhere on the island and it is difficult to rent a
car with plastic. Many places widely advertise that they accept credit
cards but it is always wise to check before spending to avoid embarrassment
as, when the crunch comes, your plastic may be useless.