Explora Rapa Nui - Hotel Posada de Mike Rapu
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.
An explora "picnic"
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.
Posted 2 weeks, 6 days ago at 1:00 pm. 2 comments
One of Easter Island's most beautiful beaches - Ovahe Beach
I’ve posted lots of pictures of the cultural sights on Easter Island in the past few days but you may be wondering if Easter Island has any great beaches. I’m happy to report that it does, Ovahe and Anakena Beaches are both on the northern side of the island and rival the beaches of any great South Pacific island. Yesterday I started my day with a private guided tour of Tongariki – the site of the largest area of restored moai and what you see in most pictures of Easter Island. Thanks to the cleverly-timed arrival of my guide, Jo, we had this spiritual site all to ourselves. It was simply amazing. After breathing in Tongariki for a while, we hiked the northern edge of the island making stops at both Ovahe and Anakena beaches before meeting up with a few other guests of my hotel for a picnic by the sea – Explora Rapa Nui-style – which is to say, first class all the way. We sipped champagne by the crashing waves as the hotel chef grilled up fresh seafood and local specialties. It was definitely my kind of picnic! I’ll post a few pictures of that on Twitter as soon as I get to Santiago tonight. This afternoon, I’m sad to say it’s time to leave Easter Island and head back to Santiago before moving on to Europe later this week. This island has been a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience and I can’t wait to tell you all about it and share many more pictures!
Posted 3 weeks ago at 11:21 am. 1 comment
Easter Island's top spot for sunset - Ahu Tahai
Last night I watched perhaps the best sunset of my life. It’s amazing what a few moai can add to an already spectacular sunset. I was also lucky enough to share it with a couple of new friends, Ali and Amanda, also from Atlanta! Ali’s a travel blogger, too, and I discovered she would be on the island this week after doing a search for Easter Island on Twitter. We met up last night and made the walk over to what I’d heard was the best spot on the island to watch the sun set, Ahu Tahai. And it certainly didn’t disappoint. Despite the somewhat cloudy day, the skies cleared as the sun began to set and we were treated to a stunning display of nature. As most of you know, I love a good sunset and this was one I’ll never forget.
Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago at 11:21 am. 1 comment
Ana Kai Tangata cave just south of Hanga Roa
Another incredible day so far here on Easter Island! Today I took a fairly strenuous hike up to the top of the Rano Kau volcano. The volcano’s crater measures an astounding 1 mile in diameter and is quite an amazing sight. But one of the best parts of the day was the walk past this cave on the way. The sea-cliff cave was used as a refuge during Easter Island’s early years of conflict and inside it prehistoric paintings of birds still remain. Tomorrow, thanks to the handiwork of my friend Jill who runs an eco-luxury hotel website, I’ll be switching to the ultra-luxurious and decidedly-green Explora Rapa Nui for my final two nights on the island. In exchange for writing a comprehensive review of the hotel, I’ll get to enjoy all the luxury it has to offer. It’s a real treat that I’m definitely looking forward to!
Posted 3 weeks, 3 days ago at 4:05 pm. Add a comment
Moai at Ahu Tautira overlooking Caleta Hango Roa harbor
After a solid night’s sleep, this morning I set out to begin my exploration of Easter Island. I started with the island’s only town, Hanga Roa. Virtually all of Easter Island’s 3,800 residents live in Hanga Roa and after a stroll down the main street and over to the charming harbor, it’s easy to see why people love this mellow little town. Surfers were out enjoying the steady waves just offshore and in the colorful harbor I spotted a giant green sea turtle swimming around just below the boats. Moai are everywhere on the island and Hanga Roa is no exception. This one at Ahu Tautira seems to be standing guard over the harbor.
Posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago at 4:59 pm. Add a comment
Re-booking lines in Lima
Well, let’s just say RTW #7 is off to a rocky start! Today was one of those “Murphy’s Law” travel days and it’s thanks only to a few minor miracles and the complete inefficiency of LAN Airlines (actually working in my favor for once) that I am writing this to you now from my hotel on Easter Island, at last.
It all started out fine enough with a perfect Delta flight into Lima last night that arrived right on time at 11:00pm. But as soon as I stepped off the plane into the chaos that was the Lima airport, I knew something was amiss. Of course, South American airports can sometimes be a little less civilized than those in the U.S. or Europe but this was another level. As the Delta passengers entered the gate area on the way to customs, I was thankful we were separated by a glass partition from the agitated throngs waiting to board our plane. It was apparent that some of these people had been in the airport for a while. They had the look. I noticed as I made my way to the transit area that the monitors showed a number of flights canceled for the night (including the last one to Santiago). I wondered why since the weather seemed fine and we didn’t have any delays on arrival but didn’t give it much thought. Since my flight wasn’t until 8am I figured it couldn’t possibly affect me.
My night continued on a high note when I managed to work my way into the lounge that Delta shares with several other airlines in Lima. (Since I had a first class arrival boarding pass, they had to let me in.) It was packed and people were sleeping on the floor everywhere but it was open 24 hours, had wifi, snacks and even showers so I figured I was set for the night. After a productive night of work, I decided to check my flight online around 5am. It all spiraled downhill from there.
Yep, you guessed it; my 8:00am flight had a bright red CANCELED flashing next to it. My connecting flight from Santiago to Easter Island, however, was still going as scheduled. I had to get another flight to Santiago in time to catch that flight. Easier said than done. I soon learned that flights in and out of Lima had been canceled for two days thanks to a fog bank that had settled over the airport. It didn’t seem to affect my inbound flight but the airport was in severe turmoil after two days with more than 50% cancelations. The lounge agents were not airline employees so my only choice was to get in a LAN customer service line that wound through the airport concourse in a manner vaguely reminiscent of the Great Wall – or try calling LAN via Skype from my laptop. I opted for the laptop and was eventually successful at getting a representative who told me my only option was a flight the next day to Santiago and since there was no Thursday flight to Easter Island, I wouldn’t be able to get there until Friday – 2 days later. I took the flight but decided to try my luck with the customer service desk and resigned myself to a morning spent standing in line.
Four hours later, I finally made it to the counter to speak with an agent. At this point, my spirit broken, I had made peace with the fact that I’d either be spending the next two nights in Lima or in Santiago…but the agent worked a miracle and got me a seat on the noon flight to Santiago getting me in with just 30 minutes to make the Easter Island connection. Hallelujah! (At this point I feel compelled to mention that the only reason I was able to even get on that flight was because I didn’t have any checked bags…score one for carry-on!!!) I didn’t have a minute to spare since it was after 11am by this time so I rushed to the gate.
All during the morning airline drama I had been emailing back and forth with the owner of my hotel on Easter Island who graciously allowed me to cancel the first two nights of my stay without penalty and then quickly re-instated them when it looked like I’d make it after all.
Excited, I boarded my noon flight to Santiago. And then we promptly sat at the gate for a full hour past departure time. With only 30 minutes to make my connection if we were on time, I was surely sunk. By the time we landed in Santiago (90 minutes late) I didn’t think I had a shot. But after clearing customs, I rushed to the departure terminal and was thrilled to see that for once LAN’s inefficiency had worked in my favor…the Easter Island flight was also delayed!! I ran to the gate and made it just in time for boarding. Five hours later we touched down on the island and I have just arrived at my hotel and can’t wait to go to sleep. I’ve been awake for almost 40 hours now and – crisis averted – it’s time to re-charge and enjoy the next five days exploring this fantastic island. All’s well that ends well, right? And after all, with an inauspicious start like this…there’s nowhere to go but up!
Posted 3 weeks, 5 days ago at 11:46 pm. Add a comment
Ready to go Round the World with Delta!
After months of planning, the day is finally here! This afternoon, I’ll depart for my 7th Annual Round-the-World trip! As I’ve said before, 30 days is more a guideline than a rule and this year’s trip will top the calendar scale at 45 days (thanks, primarily, to award seat availability in and out of the U.S. – but who am I to complain?). It will also be my most ambitious itinerary yet with 19 stops in 16 countries (increasing my current country count from 105 to 115). Like previous trips, most of the stops are new to me but there are a few favorites that I never miss when “in the neighborhood” (like Paris, Bangkok & Auckland). Two of this year’s stops are hard to reach destinations that have been on my wish list for years (Easter Island and Maldives) and thanks to creative flight routings, this is the year I will finally get there! I’m also happy to report that one of my very good friends, Susan, will be joining me for two weeks in the middle of the trip (meeting me in Paris and flying home from Hong Kong).
Without further adieu…here’s the complete itinerary:
Round the World #7 – The 2012 Itinerary
Jan 11-16 Easter Island, Chile
Jan 16-18 Santiago, Chile
Jan 19-24 Malta
Jan 25-27 Mauritius, Indian Ocean
Jan 27-28 Reunion Island, Indian Ocean
Jan 29 Paris, France
Jan 30 Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Jan 31-Feb 3 Maldives, Indian Ocean
Feb 3-4 Sri Lanka
Feb 5-7 Koh Samui, Thailand
Feb 7-9 Bangkok, Thailand
Feb 9-12 Hong Kong & Macau
Feb 13-14 Melbourne, Australia
Feb 14-15 Hobart, Tasmania
Feb 16-19 Queenstown, New Zealand
Feb 20-22 Vanuatu
Feb 22 Auckland, New Zealand
Feb 23 Seoul, South Korea
Feb 24 Back home in Atlanta, GA!
If you have travel tips or must-sees for any of the above destinations, I’d love to hear them. Tonight, I’ll be starting my trip with a flight to Lima and an overnight layover at the airport before flying on to Easter Island tomorrow. I hope you’ll all follow along as I attempt to see even more of the world – one month at a time!
Posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago at 10:45 am. 2 comments
Sunset over Lima
Well, the time has finally come! In just a little over 24 hours I’ll be embarking on Round the World #7, my longest trip yet at almost 6 weeks. Though it’s just a brief stop, my first flight will take me to Lima, Peru where I’ll have an overnight layover before flying on to Santiago, Chile and ultimately Easter Island on Wednesday. Lots of last minute details to wrap up and a packing challenge of gargantuan proportions happening right now. After all, it’s no simple task to decide what you want to wear for the next six weeks and then squeeze it all into an international size carry-on. But I will sort it out and - whether I’m pleased with my wardrobe selection or not - I’ll be headed to the airport this time tomorrow. At least I don’t have an impending snow storm to worry about this year!
Posted 4 weeks ago at 11:15 am. Add a comment
The Santa Monica Pier
Within a few years of its opening in 1909, the original Santa Monica Pier soon had a neighbor. Famous carousel manufacturer Charles I.D. Looff purchased the land immediately south of the pier and developed one of the area’s first successful amusement parks. The two piers were ultimately joined and in 1996 the opening of Pacific Park reinvigorated the pier by introducing new rides and creating the vibrant entertainment complex we know today. It’s just one of many great stops along the Pacific Coast Highway and I’ve had a great week exploring the coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Now it’s time to head home and start packing for Round the World #7 which begins next Tuesday!
Posted 1 month ago at 1:15 pm. Add a comment
Point Dume Nature Preserve, Malibu
After spending the night in Santa Barbara, I hopped in the car at dawn again to continue my drive south down the Pacific Coast Highway. My goal for the day was to explore some of the many great beaches the Los Angeles area has to offer. So, I headed straight for the most famous 21-mile stretch of prime Pacific coastline in southern California – Malibu. Nicknamed, “the Bu,” Malibu is home to both warm, sandy beaches and many of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars and moguls. Framed by the Topanga Canyon to the East, the Santa Monica Mountains to the North and the Pacific Ocean to the South, Malibu’s natural beauty makes it almost impossible to believe you’re just a few miles from the city. While this exclusive community is home to the rich and famous, almost all of its beachfront remains open to the public.
Posted 1 month ago at 1:32 pm. Add a comment
