Round the World in 30 Days

Photo of the Day – explora Rapa Nui, Easter Island

Yes, there will be a complete post about my week on Easter Island coming soon but for today, I wanted to take a moment to highlight my weekend at explora Rapa Nui. To call this luxurious eco-lodge a hotel would be a disservice to the explora brand and the staff that make this property so unique. explora operates 3 lodges in Chile: Rapa Nui, Patagonia and Atacama. The mission for all three is “In-depth exploration and luxury of the essential.” This concept treats the luxury of the lodge as a comfortable home base for the exploration of your surroundings. Like the others, the Rapa Nui lodge is small – just 30 rooms – and the room price includes daily explorations and all meals and beverages.

I arrived at the lodge Friday afternoon and after settling into my cosy room and enjoying a delicious lunch, I met up with head guide Joanna to plan my afternoon exploration (there are no tours or excursions at explora – only explorations). Since I’d already spent 3 nights in town and had covered much of the southern part of the island, we focused my activities on the northern half of the island and I headed out with 3 other guests and 2 guides to the Rano Raraku quarry. After a terrific afternoon, we returned to the lodge for evening cocktails while the guides explained the explorations available for the next day (the offerings change daily) and tailored an individual plan for each guest. After cleaning up from our hike, we enjoyed another exquisite meal featuring local ingredients and fresh fish – all accompanied by fine Chilean wines.

My plan for the next day was a morning visit to Tongariki with Joanna, followed by a hike along the northern coast to the island’s two beautiful beaches. Jo timed our arrival at Tongariki (Easter Island’s most visited site) perfectly and we had the entire site to ourselves for more than an hour. This is just  another one of the subtle things explora does so well. After a hike and a trip to both beaches, we returned to the car and our driver headed out in search of the site for the day’s picnic lunch. Since the location changes daily, Jo had to contact another guide via radio to confirm the location. I hadn’t been told much about the picnic lunch I was about to experience since they like to keep some things under wraps at explora.  All I did know was that fellow guest Walt from Kansas City told me, “if they ask you if you want to go for a picnic lunch, just say YES.  Don’t ask questions.” So, when Jo asked if I would like to join the picnic lunch the next day, I just said yes.

And I wasn’t disappointed. Set by the crashing waves and seaside tide pools, white umbrellas dotted the shore as the lodge chef grilled up fresh seafood. I was handed a glass of champagne and a grilled shrimp appetizer and grabbed a seat to take in the view. Simple luxury by the sea. Spectacular.  That afternoon, I rounded out my exploration of the island by heading offshore for a snorkeling adventure at Motu Nui. Again, my expert native Rapa Nui guide, Roberto, really made the experience exceptional.

While the luxury and sustainability of explora Rapa Nui are admirable, it’s the guides that are the true heart of this place. Their ability to translate their love and appreciation of their culture and natural surroundings is what transforms a holiday into a journey. A vacation into an experience.

My stay at explora Rapa Nui leaves me daydreaming about the journey that awaits at explora Atacama and explora Patagonia. I look forward to a day when I can say that I have lived all of Chile that explora has to offer.