Easter Island & the Atacama Desert: A Tale of two adventures in Chile
In 2005, I was watching NBC’s Today Show during their series Where in the World is Matt Lauer. Matt Lauer was broadcasting live at sunrise from Easter Island. I had, of course, heard of Easter Island before, but I didn’t really know much about it. After watching that broadcast, I was enamored—this remote island quickly earned a spot on my travel bucket list.
Fast-forward to today: I just returned from Chile, home to that long-awaited bucket-list destination, Rapa Nui (Easter Island). On this same journey, I also explored the Atacama Desert, a vast region of Chile filled with mountains, volcanoes, salt flats, and landscapes so surreal they feel Martian.
Adventure travel is my personal passion—and one many of our clients share. There’s something magical about venturing to otherworldly places. When you think “South American adventure,” you might picture Machu Picchu or Patagonia. But here’s a little secret: my recent journey with Explora Travel—the premier adventure company with lodges sprinkled across South America like perfectly placed souvenirs (think Patagonia, Sacred Valley, Atacama, Rapa Nui)—completely rewrote my definition of adventure. (See the entire Virtuoso collection of Explora luxury lodges HERE)
Getting here is easier than you think
From New York, I hopped a flight to Santiago, Chile, spent one night enjoying my hotel and room service, and the next morning boarded my flight to Rapa Nui, a 5 hr flight from Santiago.
Here’s the kicker: I flew LATAM Airlines and I have to say… I’m a HUGE fan. Everything ran on time (miracle), the business-class seats came with privacy doors (hello, introvert’s dream), the food was restaurant-worthy, and the crew felt more like friends than flight attendants. Honestly, it was one of the best business-class experiences I’ve had—ever.
I flew LATAM on all 6 legs of this trip and every flight was exceptional!
One reason I love traveling to South America is that there is little or no jet lag due to minimal time change.
Rapa Nui: Where Giants Stand Watch
The moment your bucket list becomes a reality!
Being hosted by Explora is a dream. Their lodge in Rapa Nui is reflective of the local culture and fits perfectly int the hilside of the island. The rooms are perfectly laid out, with views of the ocean. The staff is friendly and accommodating, both the food and service are excellent. During your stay, everything is included from the Food & Beverage, to all of your excursions with their expert guides.
Each Explora lodge operates in a similar manner: You start out your day with a review of what you will be doing that day. You end your day with a review of what you will be doing the next day. Your guides will change for each excursion as well.
Once on the island, I dove straight into exploring. Highlights included:
The Famous Seven Moai (Ahu Akivi): Seven towering statues, each about 13 feet tall and weighing up to 14 tons. Fun fact: unlike most Moai, these guys face the ocean. No pressure being the island’s only statues on lifeguard duty.
Lava Caves & Ocean Windows: Hiking through lava tubes felt like wandering into the Earth’s lungs. The pièce de résistance was a “window” cave with two openings where the Pacific Ocean hurls itself against the cliffs in a nonstop audition for Most Dramatic Actor.
Anakena Beach: White sand, turquoise waters, Moai keeping watch—basically, the South Pacific served up on a postcard.
The Quarry (Rano Raraku): This is where Moai were carved from volcanic rock, and it’s wild. Imagine hundreds of half-finished statues scattered across a hillside, some buried up to their necks like ancient stone meerkats. It’s here you realize just how massive and mysterious these icons really are.
The whole island feels like an open-air museum curated by Mother Nature with a flair for the dramatic.
The Atacama Desert: Mars, But With Flamingos
A visit to the Atacama Salt Flats ....dotted with 3 species of flamingos
After Rapa Nui, I retraced my steps: flight back to Santiago for one night, then off to Calama, followed by a drive to San Pedro and the Explora Lodge Atacama.
At 8,000 feet above sea level, smack in the driest place on Earth (outside the poles), the lodge is a haven of cool stone, desert chic, and endless adventure. There are three pools, the dining is off the charts, the hospitality is welcoming and warm. I commend the whole team here for making me feel welcomed and cared for. I did some damage to my hand while bike riding, and they also assisted with any medical attention that I required, a nice touch!
There are over 50 activities in this location to choose from, all at different fitness levels! Here is how I chose to spend my time in this special place:
Acclimatization Hike: First stop—get used to breathing less oxygen. The reward? Running down giant sand dunes, which are also popular with sandboarders. I did it on foot and still felt like a superhero.
E-Bike Through Moon Valley: My absolute favorite. The terrain sparkles like it’s been dusted with stardust, hence the name. Movies like The Mandalorian and Dune 2 were filmed here, but honestly, it looks more like Mars than the moon. Cruising through on an e-bike was part sci-fi, part cardio.
Salt Flats & Flamingos: Three different species of flamingos, strutting around as if the desert was their personal catwalk. Surreal, beautiful, and surprisingly loud.
Explora Observatory: That night we turned our eyes skyward. With one of the most important telescopes in the Southern Hemisphere, we spotted constellations I’d never seen before and even Saturn, rings and all. It was humbling and mind-blowing—a cosmic mic drop.
Overland to the Geysers: The next day, we drove to 14,100 feet (thank you, Explora, for not making me hike that). At the Tatio Geysers, 80–100 steaming vents shot boiling water into the air while wild vicuñas casually sipped the mineral-rich runoff, clearly unbothered by the drama.
Natural Hot Springs: Explora is the only company that is allowed to take a vehicle to these popular hot springs, something to be thankful for because it is a very steep walk down to the area. Once you arrive, you are welcomed with a gourmet picnic and your own private springs for relaxing. NO PASAR says a sign to the onlooking public, who kept wondering how we got so lucky!
Not to be missed during your visit to Explora Atacama is the charming town of San Pedro, a 10 min walk from the lodge. This charming village is full of shops with great items from local artisans, some are even there making their wares while you shop! I made sure to purchase items that I knew were straight from the artist, and not some far-away country! There are tons of restaurant choices (which I did not try since my stay with Explora is all-inclusive, but I was tempted!) and the downtown scene is lively and full of energy!
I strongly recommend a trip to South America that includes the Explora lodges! There are seven luxury lodges in total, and each with their own special and unique destination. My next one with them willl for sure be the Explora Torres del Paine, in Patagonia.
It is good to plan a trip like this as far in advance as possible, Patagonia 9-12 months for peak times. If you’re looking for adventure with a side of luxury, Explora’s lodges are basically the cheat code. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself running down sand dunes by day and stargazing with Saturn by night.
Tips about traveling to Rapa Nui and The Atacama Desert
Best Time for Rapa Nui (Easter Island): December to March is peak season, with warm weather and calm seas. January–February are the busiest (and priciest), especially around the Tapati Festival, so book early if you want that cultural immersion. For fewer crowds and still-great weather, April and November are excellent shoulder months.
Best Time for Atacama Desert: March to May and September to November are ideal. Days are warm, nights are chilly, and skies are crystal clear for stargazing. December to February is summer, which can be hotter and busier. June to August (winter) brings colder temps but fewer visitors.
How Long to Stay: Rapa Nui deserves at least 4 nights to explore at a relaxed pace. In Atacama, plan for 4–5 nights to balance acclimatization with plenty of excursions.
Packing Tips: Layers are your best friend. Bring breathable clothing for daytime, cozy jackets for chilly evenings, sturdy hiking shoes, and don’t forget sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat—especially in Atacama, where the sun is basically auditioning for a lead role in Solar Flare: The Movie.