Hanga Roa: Home of the Pink-Sand Beach
Hanga Roa, Chile is the capital town of Easter Island. In the native language of Rapa Nui, its name literally means “wide bay”. The nearest airport is Mataveri International Airport (IPC) or Isla de Pascua Airport.
Best Time to Visit
With a tropical rainforest climate, it is ideal to visit Hanga Roa during the months of September through December. Tourists usually flock the town during the months of March through May. People are least likely to visit in December. Every first half of February, Tapati Fest or Tapati Rapa Nui is held. Considered as the most important cultural event in the province, it pays homage to the ancestral traditions of Rapa Nui. In fact, the event’s name literally means “week of Rapa Nui”. Various activities are conducted during the festival, such as cooking, crafts working, sailing, singing, and swimming.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Father Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum is one of the most popular attractions in town. Founded in 1973, it was built to conserve and to celebrate the Rapa Nui cultural patrimony. It was named after Fr. Sebastian Englert, OFM Cap., a Bavarian missionary. The museum features several artifacts— from statuettes to traditional music archives. Another popular tourist destination is Ovahe Beach. While it is relatively smaller than most beaches throughout the province, it is widely known for its pink, fine sand. This blends perfectly with the turquoise-colored water, making it a beautiful sight to see. Some of the top-rated Hanga Roa, Chile hotels with competitive rates include Gomero, which offers a garden, an outdoor pool, and free breakfast; the Easter Island Ecolodge, which is just 5-minute walk to the downtown area, where a lot of shops, restaurants and store are; and the 5-star Hotel Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa has a spa tub an outdoor pool, a children’s pool, and a fitness center.