Explora's lodge on Rapa Nui is built as a base for exploring the island, a short distance from Hanga Roa and five minutes from the airport. Its 30 rooms, 26 Varúa rooms and four Raa suites, sit in rounded buildings of raw concrete and unfinished wood, with wide windows onto the grasslands and the Pacific beyond. Stays follow Explora's model of guided exploration, with a minimum of three nights. Each day guests choose from a menu of walks and outings in small groups with local bilingual guides, reaching the island's great archaeological sites. At Rano Raraku, the volcanic quarry, hundreds of moai still lie at every stage of carving; at Ahu Tongariki, 15 moai stand in a single line with their backs to the sea. The kitchen and bar are part of the stay, so days end without decisions to make. Rapa Nui's Polynesian culture is very much alive, and for those who can time it, the Tapati festival brings two weeks of competition, music and ceremony in early February. January to March is the warmest stretch of the year.
- Nearest airport
- Mataveri International Airport (IPC), 1 Mile / 1.6 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 30 rooms and suites
Insider tip Plan for at least three nights, the lodge minimum, and longer if you want to reach the remote sites as well as the famous ones.
Why I choose it Small-group guiding on an island where context is everything, from a lodge five minutes from the runway.