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.
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I am currently researching a visit to Rapa Nui in 2025 – by air.
There are no flights from Tahiti as stated on the ‘facts’ page but there are daily LATAM flights from Santiago.
Let us never forget – nothing goes to windward like a 787!
Rapa Nui Anchoring Guide available at
https://migrations.brucebalan.com/for-sailors/#RapaNui
Entry was easy, all officers like immigration, Armada etc. came aboard. It was done efficiently and quick
Easter Island/Rapa Nui is a bucket list item. I did a tour and it was amazing. Worth our 3 week sail passage from Panama!
Anchoring is a problem and anchorage should be changed according to prevailing wind diection.
Contact Armada on VHF 16 or WhatsApp +56 9 8823 0089 to inform about anchorage change.
There are a few grocery stores at Hnaga Roa town with Henua Market,Sebastián Englert s/n, 2770000 Hanga Roa, Isla de Pascua, being the most modern and best stocked. Theyre’re produces stalls on different streets. Just walk around to find it.
If you want an island tour, get your tickets on-line at https://rapanuinationalpark.com/ and get a required guide. I used Nicolás Yancovic Pakarati at whatsApp +56 9 9832 3876. He was able to pick us up at Hanga Hotuiti anchorage with his car and gave us 4 hrs private tour. I found it the easiest way to organize that. There are other tour operators here and they can be found on-line.
As for bunkering, it is an issue. One has to get ashore get to a gas station with jerrycans and lug them back to one’s vessel. I found a peron, Alfredo González, WhatsApp +56 9 7750 0149 who is able to help out with re-fueling. He will come with a lancha and take you and your jerrycans to shore and drive you to a gas station and back to your boat. Great help! However remember this is his side gig, he’s a diver with a diving center, so he has to find a free time slot to do that. Highly recommended.
All in all place is beautiful and very interesting with great history, and friendly people.
Thank you for this really useful feedback.
It’s not yet an easy job to get into Easter Island after the opening of the borders related to COVID. Checking the sites seems like a really good idea. No specifics for entry for yachts, unfortunately. https://www.gob.cl/noticias/luego-dos-anos-rapa-nui-reabre-sus-puertas-al-turismo-conozca-los-requisitos-para-visitar-la-isla/
There have been reports that the Port Captain for Easter Island has been advising yachts (coming from Galapagos and mainland Ecuador) that they will be allowed into Easter Island. However, Immigration (PDI) are not permitting yachts to enter as the borders are closed. In an emergency, yachts may be permitted to anchor and get food/fuel.
Posted on behalf of Davidi Gilo
We just sail to Easter Island from Galapagos via Lima, Peru (February 2020) and we wish to inform you of this information regarding entering Easter Island by Boat from outside Chile:
Every boat arriving to Easter Island from outside Chile must clear upon entry in Hanga Roa however:
Based on Chilean government regulations, boat are not allowed to clear in themselves and they are required to you an agent.
There is ONLY one agent in Easter Island and he change about 4 times more then other agent charge anywhere else in Chile or other location in South and Central America
We are 37M sailing yacht and his fees were around $3,000 – he charges others fees such as to bring the custom and immigration officer to the boat $250, we paid the same boat $20 for the same ride. He charge $200 communication fee and on and on. Basically it is a total extortion and there is no way around it, we argues for 5 hours with the Chilean port authorities – but they refuse to get involved in this extortion and we had no choice but to use him.
Other points:
There is ability to fuel in Easter Island, however you must use the agent and he charge $1500 for providing the fuel pump and marine’s fuel protection at sea plus $250 per 1,000 liter delivery plus fuel costs. (Prices are Feb 2020).
I hope it is helpful,
Kind Regards,
Davidi Gilo
Visiting in August 2014.
Impossible to anchor in front of Hanga Roa, always during our stay -10 days- S to SW swell 3,5 m to 4 m!
Anchorages of Hotuiti and of Anakeda alternative BUT very uncomfortable because of the swell not the same direction than the wind.
Beautiful stop, winter, few people in sites.