Taxis are available on the island, they can often be found and hailed on the streets in town, but it’s a good idea to pre-book before heading out on a daily adventure. Your hotel can call and book a taxi ahead for you. 

The main town of Hanga Roa is easily accessible on foot, it is quite compact and the main street in town is called Atamu Tekena where most of the shops, and restaurants are found. The main market is set in the heart of town. There are some remote places that are only accessible on foot, and there are some excellent hikes to take in the area. To get to the larger attractions outside of town you will need to hire a taxi or take a tour with transportation included. 

It is possible to get around town on a bicycle and there are a few places that rent scooters and mountain bikes for the day. Riding a bike is quite pleasant here is mostly flat terrain and easy to ride a bike. Riding a bicycle is a popular way to travel the island and a good way to access various archeological sites and other scenic areas. There are several companies that offer bike rentals including mountain bikes. There are also guided bike tours available.  

Easter Island is considered a very safe destination to visit. Take the necessary travel precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your valuables out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like markets, and tourist attractions. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. Be careful when walking at night and don’t walk outside the main center of town.

Spanish is the official language of Chile. Rapa Nui is the native language on Easter Island spoken mostly by the elders. You will most likely find English speakers in Santiago, the Lake District, Patagonia, and other tourist-centered enclaves across the country. There is not a high percentage of English speakers in Chile, but if you are to find someone who does speak English, they are most likely younger and/or work in the service industry. Take some time to learn key phrases in Spanish, like hello/goodbye, please/thank you, how much is it?, where is the bathroom?, and numbers from 1-10. To ask someone if they speak English, say `¿Habla inglés?`

The most popular time to visit Easter Island is the first two weeks in February when the highly celebrated annual Tapati Rapa Nui Festival is held. Booking well in advance is highly recommended if you plan to visit during this busy time of year. And keep in mind that you will be sharing the island with thousands of others and many businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and such close during this time to participate in the celebrations. 

The island features a tropical rainforest climate bordering on a humid subtropical climate with mostly sunny and dry weather. The summer season (December through March) in the southern hemisphere is the winter months in the northern hemisphere. The highest temperature on the island was recorded at 82.4 F degrees in February. The warmest months are January to March with daily average temperatures around 73 F degrees. The lowest temperature recorded was 59 F degrees during the winter months of June to August. September is the driest month, heavier rainfall occurs in June and July, the windy months are June and August with the austral winter fronts, the rest of the year the trade winds from the east and southeast are dominant. The quietest time to visit is September, and October, or April and May which both offer good weather and warm temperatures around 77 F degrees. 

The currency of Easter Island is the Chilean Peso (CLP). US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Argentine pesos upon arrival. Currency exchange desks and ATMs can be found at the airport, and at the bank’s Banco Santander, and Banco Estado.

Easter Island cuisine is known as Pascuense or Rapanui food, it is characterized by a lot of fresh fish and seafood due to its location in the South Pacific Ocean, as well as fruits and vegetables grown on the island. One of the main fish found in the surrounding waters is tuna so menus are full of this type of fish which is used to make everything from empanadas and ceviche to tacos. Other popular fish and seafood include mahi-mahi, swordfish (kana-kana), octopus (heke), lobster, sea snails (pipi), eels, and shrimp. 

Most of the restaurants are found in the main town along the main street. Other restaurants are located at hotels and other accommodations. Hotel Vai Moana is one of the few places that does a traditional Umu Rapi Nui or Easter Island curanto which is a feast of either beef, chicken, or fish and other ingredients wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over hot stones. 

Some authentic Chilean dishes include caldillo de congrio (fish stew with tomatoes and potatoes), and ceviche using fresh bass and scallops. Locally sourced fresh ingredients are used to make Chilean specialties such as machas a la parmesana (razor clams layered with cheese, white wine, and lemon juice), along with seafood stews using freshly caught fish from the Pacific. Other classic popular dishes include Empanadas which are typically filled with meat, cheese, or seafood and then baked or fried. Completo is a Chilean-style hot dog loaded with toppings like sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, pebre (spicy salsa), and generously adorned with mayonnaise. Pastel de Choclo is a traditional hearty casserole dish made with ground corn, seasoned meat, onions, and olives, and topped with a golden crust made from cornmeal. Alfajores is a sweet dessert of soft, delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche. 

Surprisingly for such a small island, there are some good nightlife opportunities on Easter Island. Hanga Roa is the main town which has some restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs to offer visitors once the sun goes down. There are two main nightclubs; Pikano, and Piriti which don’t kick off until midnight or later. There is live music at some of these establishments as well as dance shows. Many of the hotels are resorts on the island offer their own nightlife options. 

In case of an emergency dial 911 or 107

Hospital:

Hospital de Hanga Roa tel. 56-32-257-8360