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The only regularly scheduled airline flights to and from Easter Island are via LANChile airlines. LANChile flights depart from Santiago and stop at Easter Island, with many flights then continuing on to Tahiti. The flights are reversed the next day, leaving Tahiti, stopping at the island, and then on to Santiago. Some "domestic" flights are only Santiago > Easter > Santiago. Depending upon whether you are booked on an international flight or a domestic one, the flights leave from two different terminals at the Santiago airport. Be sure to ask. While the terminals are not a huge distance apart, a shuttle bus is involved, there is baggage to deal with and, often, time is a factor. So inquire as to whether you are on the Tahiti run, or a domestic flight only. Get to the airport early and check in as soon as possible.
It is possible to take a "circle flight" on LANChile Airlines. This means you can fly LANChile from either the East or West Coasts, to Santiago, and then on to Easter Island from Santiago, and go out via Tahiti and thence home to LAX. Or, you can reverse the direction. This option will cost a little more, but you get an extra country in the price.
LANChile's scheduled flights to the island vary with the season. In "high" season (December-March) there are flights many times a week. In the "low" season (pretty much the rest of the year), they may only make the flight once or twice a week. Always confirm your reservations!! (In fact, confirming several times is recommended. These flights fill up rapidly and are often overbooked.)
Whether you are flying from Tahiti or from Santiago, the flight to Easter Island takes at least five hours, slightly longer if there is a headwind. The distance from either direction is around 2,500 miles [2,023 kilometers].
When on the island, you can reconfirm your outgoing flight on the main street where LANChile has an office: the corner of Calle Pont and Atamu Tekena.
For information about flights, check out the LANChile Web site (www.lan.com).
Upon arriving at Mataveri Airport on Easter Island you should expect to be greeted by a representative of your hotel or residenciale. This person will take you directly to the place where you've booked your stay. (See further information about this on page 20.)
Although islander are friendly, we have heard of incidents where a driver carrying a sign for a hotel or residenciale does not actually take visitors there. Be alerted when you hear something like "your residenciale is full, and you have been assigned to us". Insist on being taken to the place where you booked your reservations. Wait for the correct driver; he'll show up.
Content © 2005 Easter Island Foundation All rights reserved. Update:04/26/06