“Return
to Paradise”TAPATI !
RAPA NUI (EASTER ISLAND) 2009
“Return
to Paradise”
(updated 5 June 2008)
Sun.
Feb. 1: Welcome
to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)! 2,400
miles from the mainland, it is the most isolated human habitation in the world;
and it is paradise! We
will be met by Titin and all of our other friends from previous visits.
The annual Tapati Rapa
Nui Festival will now begin! The entire time
we are here the whole community takes part in this carnival that recreates
traditional cultural events and competitions.
The participating men wear nearly nothing but paint; with their hair in
topknots with plumes. The women
wear skirts of flowers. There is a
banana trunk sliding (each contestant toboggans down a steep hill on a tree
trunk, rolling and bouncing at the finish); snorkel fishing competition (the
bounty is grilled on the beach and shared with all); songs; dancing; body
painting; stone figure carving. One
midnight, warriors beach a canoe to the sound of drums and wade ashore carrying
torches and chanting. All events
are free and everyone is welcome. An
experienced English-speaking archeological guide will accompany us each day.
HOTEL: (HANGA ROA)
Mon.
Feb. 2: Breakfast
will be provided every morning at our hotel.
The island is as green as Ireland; but with a clear tropical sky.
It is summer here. Rolling
hills and volcanic craters. Thousands
of horses roaming free. Twenty-two
miles long with 3,000 residents. Only
a small number of tourists arrive on the few flights each week.
There are wild, unspoiled open spaces in every direction. Every day but one a
feast will be prepared outdoors, just for us: Usually of fresh Tuna steaks,
barbecued ribs, big salads, native potatoes, accompanied by snacks of olives,
peppers and goat cheese. Beer,
bottled water, fine Chilean wine, soft drinks and “P &P”s
(pisco & fresh pineapple juice). All of this will be included.
This afternoon we will visit Tahai, with three restored sanctuaries
where we will encounter our first moai,
the mysterious stone statues with elongated heads that bear no resemblance to
the features of any group that has lived there.
There are over 600 of them on the islands, some as tall as 68 feet,
weighing as much as 200 tons. This
is the doorway to the island’s open-air museum and the proper site for our
guide’s introduction to its cultural history and environment.
We will have our own private vehicles and drivers for transport to all
sites and activities. On to
Vinapu, one of Rapa Nui’s first ceremonial centers.
Our guide will explain Thor Heyerdahl’s theory about the “Inca
connection”, based in part upon this wall’s similarity to the ones in Cusco.
We will visit Ahu Akivi, a monument with seven restored statues; one of
the few ahu (stone platforms) with moai facing toward the ocean.
Our guide will explain the significance of the orientation of the sites
and other aspects of the ancient Rapa Nui religion.
We will explore Orongo, a huge crater on the Western tip of the island
with cliffs dropping in to the sea. On
the rim is the ceremonial village of the ancient tangata manu (birdman)
cult. Here, coming-of-age and
fertility rites were preformed in the later phases of the old culture. There are birdman petrogylphs and carvings on the rocks.
We will be here to view a magnificent sunset!
HOTEL: (HANGA ROA)
Tue.
Feb. 3: We
will start early and visit Akahanga ceremonial village.
Our guide will explain the history of the toppled moai.
We will visit Rano Raraku. This
is a crater/quarry where there are about 400 giant statues in varying stages of
completion. It is an overwhelming
sight! There will be ample time to
wander over the site and see every detail of the carving process.
Transport and erection methods will be discussed.
The next site is one of the most impressive:
Ahu Tongoriki, a huge platform of fifteen grand statues.
They had been toppled by a tidal wave in 1960, but are now upright.
We will drive to Anakena Beach. It
was the ancient abode of the main chiefs of Rapa Nui.
There are many archaeological sites, including two large altars and
important groups of petrogylphs. After our tour of Ahu Nau Nau we will enjoy today’s feast in a special
setting; the shade of a coconut grove overlooking a beautiful secluded beach.
We can swim in the crystal clear waters at the end of a fascinating day.
HOTEL: (HANGA ROA)
Wed.
Feb. 4: Today
you can arrange to scuba dive among the huge lava tubes below the coastal
surfaces. Those
who prefer to, can relax and explore the crafts markets for beautiful works of
art carved from wood, stone and bone. Tonight
there will be a private beach party for us at a beautiful hidden cove surrounded
by high volcanic cliffs. A huge
meal cooked under the stars, beer, wine, soft drinks and “P & Ps” will
be provided. Bathing suits are
optional.
HOTEL: (HANGA ROA)
Thurs.
Feb. 5:
Today we will be provided with
good saddle horses, tack, and the services of wranglers and guides; so
that we can spend the entire day exploring the rest of the island; much of which
is inaccessible by car (There are few paved roads on Rapa Nui).
We will have lunch at the highest point, from which we can see the entire
island. By
now, you will be contemplating having a tattoo; something you never seriously
considered before.
HOTEL: (HANGA ROA)
Fri.
Feb. 6:
This morning we will board our private boats.
Local mariners will take us along the coast to three small rock islands (motus)
offshore from the huge crater, Orongo. Each
year during the time of the birdman cult; the warriors (or their hired
representatives) would swim to one of these islands to retrieve the first egg of
the sooty terns which nest there. The
successful competitor would then swim down the coast to Hanga Roa to be
proclaimed king. This
afternoon you can explore Hanga Roa at your leisure, do some last minute
shopping; or, get a tribal tattoo of a design unique to the culture of
Rapa Nui by Tito, an excellent artist and one of the main festival dancers.
HOTEL: (HANGA ROA)
Sat.
Feb. 7: Today
we will enjoy the island on our own; whether revisiting that secret beach,
attending that last parade, or shopping for exquisite carvings; there is a
bittersweet emotion: Tomorrow we fly away; but leave our hearts behind.
HOTEL: (HANGA ROA)
Note: Schedule of activities and events on Rapa Nui will vary.
Total cost of $2,000.00 ($2,140.00, effective Friday, June 6 for new participants); per person, double occupancy*; all hotel stays; all breakfasts; all ground transportation with private vehicles and drivers; the services of an experienced English-speaking guide for tours of the archaeological sites; gourmet lunches with beer, bottled water, wine, soft drinks and cocktails as noted; saddle horses, tack, the services of wranglers and guides; voyage around the motus in private boats with local mariners; and, the private beach party.
A non-refundable payment of $1,000.00, payable to W.S. DONAHOO and received at:
will be required for reservations.
AVAILABLE SPACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS, UPON RECEIPT OF INITIAL PAYMENTS.
ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE; Payments are not transferable to other passengers nor other trips. Credit cards are not accepted.
* There is no additional cost for those signing on alone.
Final payments will be due in November, 2008. Failure to pay on time will result in the cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of your initial payment.
Items in italics are not included, but are suggestions based on location and time available. Flights to and from Rapa Nui, taxes at foreign airports, visa fees, porterage, and gratuities are not included.
Passports, valid for 6 months after the end of the trip, will be required.
Buz Donahoo, Condor
Adventures
Post Office Box 3415
Winter Park, FL 32790, USA
Tel/Fax (407) 645-0490
buz@condoradventures.com