Easter Island - Facts

Easter Island FAQs

Pre-Arrival Boat: All arrivals must complete the Rapa Nui Entry Form before entering the special Territory of Easter Island - Rapa Nui.   See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew:  Entry requirements are the same as for the mainland of Chile - most nationals do not require a visa in advance.  See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter?  Hanga Roa is the only place to enter Easter Island.
Are fees high to enter by yacht?  There are charges for yachts based on tonnage as well as entrance fees for the National Park.  See Fees for more information.
What security concerns should I know about?  There are no known security issues for Easter Island.  As the island is not often visited by yachts, it is likely that everyone will keep a close eye on your vessel and where it is anchored.

Easter Island Facts for Sailors

• Easter Island, or Isla de Pascua, belongs to Chile and is also known by its Polynesian name Rapa Nui.
• Lying at the south-eastern point of the Polynesian triangle, yachts increasingly call at this isolated island.
• The South American coast is over 3200 kms (2000 miles) away while its nearest neighbour tiny Pitcairn Island , lies 1930 kms (1200 miles) to the west.
• There is good protection inside the small harbor at Hanga Piko, on the west coast, but access is difficult without local knowledge and the Port Captain insists that a local pilot is employed, who will charge about US$100 for his services.
• The anchorage of the main settlement of Hanga Roa is open but sheltered from the prevailing south-easterly winds. If the wind turns, one can move to Anakena Bay, site of some of the most interesting excavations and statues on the island, or to Huituiti in the east. Swell is a problem in all these anchorages.
• Tourism, fishing, agriculture and on-going archaeological studies are the primary activities of the island. The 3500 inhabitants, most of whom are Rapa Nui of Polynesian descent, live around Hanga Roa, the only town.
• LATAM Airlines have direct flights to Easter Island from Santiago, Chile. Fights between Papeete (Tahiti) and Easter Island are currently suspended.
• Approximately 30 yachts visit Easter Island every year.
• While Rapa Nui is among the most remote spots on Earth, it is also among the most polluted. Residents are having to deal with a flood of multinational plastic, much of it tossed overboard by the factory fishing ships hoovering up sea life just offshore. Read this report to find out more details.