What's the best time to visit Easter Island?
The best time to visit Easter Island is from March to May, when you can enjoy its beaches, historical sites, and pleasant weather, ranging from 63.9°F to 80.4°F. This period includes April’s Arts and Culture Week, offering a rich blend of local music and workshops, and the exclusive Easter Island Marathon in May or June. These months provide a perfect combination of cultural events and outdoor adventures.
World-famous for its captivating statues known as the “moai,” Easter Island is an adventurous destination. Its uniqueness and secluded vibe make it so authentic that many tourists end up being drawn to Chile because of Easter Island alone.
While visiting it sure sounds exciting, going to Easter Island is usually a once-in-a-lifetime trip, as it’s quite expensive and remote. To secure an awesome stay, you should pick the best time to visit Easter Island based on your travel preferences.
Follow along to learn all about Easter Island’s climate, activities, shoulder seasons, and potential itinerary costs. Let us be your guide!
The Overall Best Time to Visit Easter Island
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The overall best time to visit Easter Island is in fall (March–May). You can hit the Anakena beach and marvel at the white sand, head to Ahu Te Pito Kura to see the largest moai, visit Rano Raraku to see what a volcanic crater made up of consolidated volcanic ash looks like, or go to Ahu Tongariki and take many photos.
In April, the Arts and Culture Week is an absolute must. Hosted by the Tongariki Cultural Center, this event provides local products, workshops, a wide range of music performances, and other engaging activities.
Then there’s the Easter Island Marathon in May or June. Accepting just 150 runners (50 of which are locals), this running event, which also includes a half marathon and a 10K run option, is one of the most intimate and exclusive running competitions worldwide.
The race starts in Hanga Roa’s center, resumes at the island’s center, and wraps up back in Anakena Beach. March, April, and May have temperatures within the range of 63.9°F and 80.4°F.
Cheapest Time to Visit Easter Island
The cheapest time to head to Easter Island is from late August to early September.
Note that when discussing the cheapest time to visit Easter Island, we refer to securing better airfare prices than the usual ones and more affordable accommodation options, as Easter Island is going to be a rather pricey adventure regardless of when you go.
That said, even if you can’t head to Easter Island during this particular period (as it’s a very brief one), booking your tickets and accommodation well in advance may be just what helps you visit this remote destination without necessarily breaking the bank.
Finally, many people are under the illusion they can travel to the island by boarding the Aquiles operated by the Chilean Navy.
However, the truth is that this vessel departs once or twice a year from Valparaiso, and it’s only for naval staff and selected individuals traveling for business purposes.
Plus, the ship takes around seven days to reach the island, which isn’t something most travelers will be able to afford time-wise anyway.
Others end up looking for various cruise options, but this is something that may cost you up to several thousand dollars — sticking to flying during the period we just discussed is hands down the most convenient (and affordable!) option.
August and September have average temperatures between a high of 71.1°F and a low of 59.7°F.
Least Busy Time to Visit Easter Island
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The least busy time to visit Easter Island is in the December–February period, with the exception of the first two weeks in February (you’ll see why in a minute).
While Easter Island usually sees moderate crowds, and there’s never an influx of tourists, such as with other popular tourist hotspots in the world, those who really wish to enjoy the location in tranquility and quiet should bookmark these months and look forward to having the island to themselves.
Given the island’s climate, visitors can get out and explore the island in whatever way they want.
From going to the beach, horseback riding, and hiking all the way to the volcanoes to exploring archeological sites, spelunking, or snorkeling, Easter Island has something for everyone. December and January visitors should expect temperatures fluctuating between 65.1°F and 77.7°F.
Worst Time to Visit Easter Island
The worst time to visit Easter Island is in early February, or more specifically, the first two weeks of February.
This is when the Tapati Rapa Nui Festival happens, so these two weeks see extremely elevated prices — even visitors who dream about making it to the festival may be put off from scheduling their trip.
Those who do end up booking, however, will pay an arm and a leg. Plus, February is one of the school holiday months for Chileans, which translates into larger crowds.
That said, the Tapati Rapa Nui festival is a week-long cultural festivity and not only the biggest event on the island but all of Polynesia in general. Locals are divided into two separate clans fighting for two titles — king and queen of the island.
People play some ancient games, such as Haka Pei (sliding on a banana tree trunk down a cliff), and there’s excitement in the air. Other festival activities include dancing, swimming, canoeing, and triathlon, to name a few.
While this is all very enticing, if you’re hoping to enjoy Easter Island, you may find yourself more immersed in the festival chaos and crowds rather than focused on experiencing the island the way you might have expected.
A warm month, February has average temperatures ranging between a high of 81.1°F and a low of 68.4°F.
Things to Consider
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Visiting Easter Island will be adventurous no matter how much you prepare or believe you have learned in the process of planning your trip.
Still, there are certain pieces of information we believe you should consider before embarking on this exciting island quest:
- Most travel guides suggest that the island and its residents aren’t keen to interact with foreigners. While this may be certainly true, heading there in some of the shoulder months when things are calmer allows you to establish some more meaningful contact and get insights into the Rapa Nui culture. Locals love it when foreigners show honest interest in their culture and will happily discuss things with you and share information you probably can’t come across anywhere else. Do note that while few people speak English, Spanish might be just the language tool that will get you what you need.
- If you go by plane, we recommend booking a window seat on the plane’s left side. We don’t want to spoil things for you — all we’ll say is enjoy the view! Oh, and if you end up booking a LATAM flight, rumor has it that booking via the Chile website is cheaper than opting for the US site.
- Make sure to bring enough Chilean pesos. You may be surprised to hear that specific restaurants, hotels, and even tour agencies will charge you less if you pay in cash. Also, certain locations, such as Anakena Beach, function on a cash-only basis, so relying solely on your credit card during your stay can be somewhat challenging in any case.
- Airfare costs aren’t the only expensive aspect of your Easter Island getaway — if you visit, you’ll figure out soon enough that food prices are quite high as well. This may surprise you, but the thing is that, as a result of the island’s remoteness and isolation, many ingredients are imported at a much higher cost, which translates into higher prices for consumers.
- Biking on the island is tempting due to the small distances, but given how unpredictable the weather can get, at times, cycling may very well be an uncomfortable activity.
- Non-Rapa Nui Chilean visitors and all other foreigners are allowed to stay on Easter Island for a maximum of 30 days.
- It’s not uncommon for flights to be delayed thanks to high winds, so be flexible with your itinerary plans, as you may find yourself waiting in Santiago or staying on Easter Island for an additional day or two.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Easter Island?
EASTER ISLAND – MARCH 27: Polynesian folkloric show with dancing and traditional costume at Anakena beach, Easter Island aka Rapa Nui, Chile on March 27, 2007/Christian Wilkinson/Shutterstock
All in all, although a year-round destination, the best time to visit Easter Island in fall, in the March–May period. You can either unwind and enjoy the breathtaking views or opt for a more dynamic stay and engage in many of the outdoor activities the island is known for.
With that being said, if you’re looking to add a bit of cultural touch to your island experience, then heading to Easter Island in the midst of festival chaos may not be such a bad idea after all.
On the whole, if you’re looking for a destination that is highly protective of its cultural heritage and sites and limits the number of visitors so each person can enjoy their stay without fighting large crowds, Easter Island is a terrific destination that simply has to be part of your bucket list.
So what are you waiting for — book your trip today and experience for yourself all that Easter Island has to offer. Happy travels!