Easter Island : Profile

Facts

• Lying at the south-eastern point of the Polynesian triangle, yachts increasingly call at this isolated island the South American coast is over 2000 miles away while its nearest neighbour is tiny Pitcairn, 1200 miles to the west.

• Easter Island, or Isla de Pascua, belongs to Chile and is also known by its Polynesian name Rapa Nui.

• There is good protection inside the small harbour at Hanga Piko, on the west coast, but access is difficult without local knowledge and the port captain insists that a local pilot is employed, who will charge about $US100 for his services.

• The anchorage off the main settlement of Hanga Roa is open but sheltered from the prevailing south-easterly winds. If the wind turns, one can move to Anakena Bay, site of some of the most interesting excavations and statues on the island, or to Huituiti in the east. Swell is a problem in all these anchorages.

• Tourism, fishing, agriculture and on-going archeological studies are the primary activities of the island. The 3500 inhabitants, most of whom are Rapa Nui of Polynesian descent, live around Hanga Roa, the only town.

• A different way to visit the island is to fly from/to Papeete, thus leaving your boat safely in Tahiti while enjoying a visit to the island.

• Approximately thirty yachts visit Easter Island every year.

Weather

From October to April the SE trades prevail. The summer, mid-November to mid-February, is when winds tend to be lighter and the seas calmer. May to September are the rainier and colder months, when westerlies predominate. The island falls outside the cyclone belt. The climate is subtropical, with an average temperature of 20C (15C-27C) and the mean humidity is 77%. The coolest months are July & August. The month averaging the highest average rainfall is May.

WX reports are available 3 times a day by listening or calling the port captain's office on VHF CH 16 (Spanish, French & English spoken). Wind changes will be announced so you can move your boat to a safe side of the island in time.

Easter Island Weather Forecast

Main Ports

Hanga Roa *

*Indicates a port of entry.

Related Reports

South Pacific Ocean Passage Planning (25 May 2011)

Panama to Callao, Peru in June  (27 Apr 2009)

Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Anchoring Guide (26 Nov 2008)

Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Anchoring Guide (23 Nov 2008)

Easter Island – Off the Beaten Track (02 Jul 2008)

Easter Island Statues Under Threat (25 Jun 2008)

Australia, Brisbane to Coquimbo, Chile (22 May 2008)

Chile to New Zealand (22 May 2008)

Ecuador, Salinas to Easter Island  (17 May 2008)

Tide Information In South Pacific (17 Oct 2007)

Weather Forecast Services for South Pacific (24 Jan 2006)

Easter Island Visit (24 Apr 2001)