Santiago & Easter Island

A 17-day adventure by Steve Read more

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Trip start
January 27, 2025
Santiago & Easter Island Steve Catterall
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Day 2–3
January 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM - January 29, 2025
1 night
☁️ 7 °C
Altitude: 12 m
England Lytham 53.742198, -2.94525953°44’32” N 2°56’43” W
Santiago day 1 travelling
Jan 28–29 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
The anticipation of this trip has been immense, I've read and planned so much in my mind - so hopefully all will come together.
All checked in train running so all's good to start 😎 bit of delay at Manchester airport but not enough to worry about Heathrow connection.

Well would you believe it Heathrow terminal 5 has a weatherspoons 😱

Well arrived on time 24 hrs after leaving my front door, good sleep on plane and on we go immigration nowRead more
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Day 2
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 7:14 PM
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 588 m
Chile Baquedano Square -33.437164, -70.63645533°26’14” S 70°38’11” W
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Day 2 arrived !
January 28 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Well hotel staff are nice, no room till 3 so espresso, water and stroll around barrio bellavista to start with though it looks like a nighttime area too try, caught the funicular up to San cristobal hill where there's a statue to the blessed virgin Mary, but to be honest the views from up there are amazing, well I wouldn't walk up and certainly not walking down so took a cable car ride down 😎
Trouble with ride down, it was other side of hill so having now walked 6.9k I'm having a well deserved lunch 🤪

Well I couldn't not try a Chilean pisco sour to compare against it's Peruvian counterpart 🤣 couldn't tell the bloody difference very niceRead more
So far so good, look lovely and sunny too ☺️x [Lisa]
1/28/25Reply
Steve Catterall Yeah , how's that song go....no wind, no rain ....etc.(ain't no mountain high enough Dianna Ross 🤣🤣🤣). And been over some high ones today too 😘
1/28/25Reply
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Santiago & Easter Island Steve Catterall
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Day 3
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 10:03 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 579 m
Chile Santa Lucia Hill -33.431514, -70.64346833°25’53” S 70°38’36” W
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Day 3 santiago
January 29 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Nice breakfast followed by a stroll , well stroll turned into over 12k ! Back now after seeing quite a few sites, really good day now for siesta and out tonight
Traveler Love Chewbacca and El gringo sign.
1/30/25Reply
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Santiago & Easter Island Steve Catterall
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Day 4
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 10:40 AM
☁️ 30 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Chile Museo de Arqueología e Historia Francisco Fonck -33.01971, -71.55024433°1’11” S 71°33’1” W
Day 4 .Valparaiso, vina del mar
January 30 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
So decided to take a trip to see the murals at Valparaiso, followed by a short look at vina del mar, and then some wine tasting 🤪 well couldn't miss the chance to sample some Chilean reds eh .

Eight o clock pick up from hotel, looks like there's seven of us on the tour.
Well weather is warm but cloudy (thank god). Only a quick pit stop at vina del mar, not what I'd call a go to place but it's only a short distance from there back to Valparaiso.Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11:34 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 56 m
Chile Palacio Baburizza -33.040204, -71.62924833°2’25” S 71°37’45” W
Day 4 Valparaiso general
January 30 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
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Santiago & Easter Island Steve Catterall
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Day 4
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 26 m
Chile Palacio Baburizza -33.039695, -71.62944433°2’23” S 71°37’46” W
Day 4 Valparaiso street art
January 30 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
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Day 4
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 299 m
Chile Casablanca -33.358859, -71.30953533°21’32” S 71°18’34” W
Day 4 wine tasting
January 30 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Well we stopped off for wine tasting at the Emelia vineyards , I learnt a bit about the way to look and taste the wines and had a play with their alpacas 😊
The vineyard is one of the largest producers of wine producing 250 million litres a year.
Can't believe the price compared to the city .Read more
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Day 5
Friday, January 31, 2025 at 1:55 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 588 m
Chile Baquedano Square -33.437189, -70.63643133°26’14” S 70°38’11” W
Hotels
January 31 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
I only used two hotels, in Santiago I used Luciano K hotel in the barrio lastarria area, picked it because it is reasonably central to the major sights and restaurants,
My other hotel was the Hotel Manavai in hanga roa, basically the only town on Easter island, again I picked it for location in terms of walking around the town.Read more
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Day 5
Friday, January 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Chile Caleta Roa -27.147032, -109.42722227°8’49” S 109°25’38” W
Day 5 -Off to rapa nui
January 31 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Wow, it's finally here, I've wanted to come here since I was sixteen 😱 and now the day has come.
Well it is meant to be the most isolated inhabited island in the world, where there's more horses than people so I should be at home here.

The flight takes 5 hours to travel the 3700k into the south Pacific, and apart from Chile I think the Pitcairn islands are the next nearest land mass, they're a mere 3000k the other way, so basically I'm heading for a tiny dot in the middle of a big pond ! 😎

Omg, talk about being emotional, only just kept the tears back when I got off and into airport 😱Read more
Have the best time! Trip of a lifetime ☺️x [Lisa]
1/31/25Reply
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Day 6
Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Chile Caleta Roa -27.148708, -109.43192927°8’55” S 109°25’55” W
Day 6, morning stroll
February 1 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Well it's Saturday, in 4 days I've walked over 60k 😱 I've woke up with a blister on my foot so first thing has to be to get some foot cream.
Walked down the street and there's a farmers market on , conveniently a coffee shop and chemist on same road. Got some cream and just sat watching the world go by for now, can't wait for tonight.Read more
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Day 6
Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM
🌙 23 °C
Altitude: 490 m
Chile Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport -33.396409, -70.79561133°23’47” S 70°47’44” W
Day 6 tapati festival
February 1 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
It's been a lifetime dream to actually come here, and by pure chance the tapati festival is on while I'm here

There's a stage set up at hange vare vare and everything starts around 9pm tonight, so today's going to be a relaxing day until tonight.
Just going for tea and I was able to pop into the hall to see everyone practicing for tonight.
Well it certainly lived up to my expectations, what a really good night, didn't end until gone 1am 😊
Believe it or not the star of the show for me was a stray Alsatian ! It would appear that there are 3 or 4 stray dogs that wander and stroll around the area without a care in the world, they went absolutely anywhere and no one bothered them at all. Even to the extent that an Alsatian wandered on to the stage at least half a dozen times, and everyone just ignored it and danced around it, absolutely brilliant !Read more
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Santiago & Easter Island Steve Catterall
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Day 7
Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 7:29 AM
🌙 24 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Chile Caleta Roa -27.147084, -109.42727227°8’50” S 109°25’38” W
Day 7. Part 1 of island tour
February 2 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
Being picked up after breakfast for day one of a tour round the island to see the moai, can't wait, even though I've only had a couple of hours sleep this is it 😎

Well quite surprised really, we only went to the local sites today, and tomorrow is the far side of the island, started off by visiting ahu vinapu
Ahu a kivi, which was a really calming site with seven moai facing out to the sea, which are the only ones on the island that do that.
Ana te pahu is a cave, and if I'd have known what it was I probably wouldn't have gone, it's a large set of caves formed by molten magma that ran to the sea, and where it is said some rapa nui people lived. Little did I expect to be given a caving helmet let alone go in to the system, after all there's a difference between looking and doing, but hey I enjoyed it 😊
Capped today off with a trip to the Orongo ceremonial village and rano raku crater. The village was used for the birdman ceremony and has about 50 shelters the contestants used, there are petroglyphs carved in the rock of some of the winners. You can see the island of Moto nui where the birdman contestants raced to, from the top of the crater it's deceptive because it's about a mile out to sea!
The view down into the rano raku is stunning and again from the top of the crater it's hard to believe how far down it is.
Then, back to hotel, a little sleep and into the town to see what's on at the festival site, or just see the dogs 😊Read more
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Day 8
Monday, February 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
🌬 25 °C
Altitude: 24 m
Chile Punta Yama -27.126761, -109.27805927°7’36” S 109°16’41” W
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Day 8 island tour part 2
February 3 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
A really good day, started off by going to anekena, then pitokoru, tonariki, rano rakuru (quarry) which was spectacular all in all far more than I expected.
The guide was really good and explained about the moai, and to be honest I've probably come away with more questions than answers 🤣Read more
Brilliant picture! X [Lisa]
2/4/25Reply
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Day 9
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 7:40 AM
🌙 24 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Chile Punta Yama -27.125404, -109.27721527°7’31” S 109°16’38” W
Day 9, around hanga roa
February 4 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
Well back from sunrise tour, as it's my last full day on the island decided to wander round looking for something to take back, but to be honest it's all in my head and really my memories are as good as anything.
Looked round local market, all locals warning it's going to be really hot today with little wind.
Going to see what's on at the festival during the day, and then have another late night there lol.Read more
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Day 9
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 7:41 AM
🌙 24 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Chile Punta Yama -27.125405, -109.27721327°7’31” S 109°16’38” W
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Day 9 sunrise
February 4 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
Early start today (5:am) as I head to see the moai at tongariki and to see the sunrise, not sure what to expect but if the sunrise is as good as the sunsets I've seen over the ocean it should be good 👍
Well it wasn't as good as I was hoping for due to low cloud out at sea, but the clear dark sky above certainly showed off the stars, just wish I knew a bit more about the constellations on view 😵‍💫
Anyhow it was an ok short trip out but sunset at sea far outweighs getting up early 🤣🤣Read more
I bet this was amazing! X [Lisa]
2/4/25Reply
Steve CatterallThe whole trip here has been amazing beyond my dreams love 🥰
2/4/25Reply
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Day 10
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 12:50 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 28 m
Chile Mataveri International Airport -27.159046, -109.43006627°9’33” S 109°25’48” W
Day 10, back to santiago
February 5 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Well I'm really glad I came here, it's made me really emotional after so many years of wanting to come.
The people are so so friendly and even put up with my pigeon Spanish.
It's a shame the museum is closed apparently a fued between the land owner and the museum ... So the museum are trying to get their exhibits out and move to a new building, but it's taking time lol
The sights have far exceeded what I expected and everywhere is so tranquil and calm, if I ever just want to de stress this certainly is the place to come. If I'd have realised how much it would have affected me I'd have stopped longer rather than heading back to Santiago,, people had said you can do everything in a couple of days, well ibeg to differ there is souch here that you could spend a lazy two weeks easily, but my time here is up and there's so much still to see in Santiago so away I go 🛫Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 11:18 AM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 527 m
Chile Parque Quinta Normal -33.439915, -70.67929133°26’24” S 70°40’45” W
Day 11 museum of memory and human rights
February 6 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Well on my Previous fleeting visit to Santiago I decided that I would visit this museum on my return trip.
Little did I expect it to be so graphic and certainly very moving. Not quite on the same par as my visit to Sachsenhausen near Berlin,but equally as harrowing, considering that this took place between 1973 and 1990. The museum has various exhibits like the torture devices used during the Pinochet dictatorship and lots of newsreel footage and eye witness accounts on display, with English translation available.
What was probably the most harrowing part was watching the Chileans searching the pictures and archives that are held here, I took one picture of a family searching the details on a picture wall which really moved me.Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 12:33 PM
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 529 m
Chile Parque Quinta Normal -33.439621, -70.67948433°26’23” S 70°40’46” W
Day 11 The railway museum
February 6 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
There is a park opposite the museum of memory and human rights, and I decided to go through it watching the parakeets in the trees, and at the far end I came across a railway museum so I thought , he'll why not 😵‍💫Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 7:46 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 578 m
Chile Santa Lucia Hill -33.438759, -70.64163933°26’20” S 70°38’30” W
Day 11, evening stroll
February 6 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Well watched the Liverpool match and decided to stroll around barrio lastarria to look at the sights and get some food.
Well there's a multitude of places with everything under the sun but I came across a Vietnamese and it would be rude to say no 😊Read more
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Day 12
Friday, February 7, 2025 at 9:20 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 556 m
Chile Plaza de la Ciudadanía -33.443901, -70.65423933°26’38” S 70°39’15” W
Day 12 changing of the guard at moneda p
February 7 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Every other day there is the changing of the guard at the palace.
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Day 12
Friday, February 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 624 m
Chile Canal El Carmen -33.416852, -70.60679133°25’1” S 70°36’24” W
Day 12 sky costanera & walkabout
February 7 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Following the changing of the guard, I took a trip to the sky costanero tower, but the shopping centre below it has to be seen to be believed, than a stroll around in the city
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Day 13
Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 1:29 PM
☀️ 33 °C
Altitude: 362 m
Chile San Luis -33.73653, -70.85811633°44’12” S 70°51’29” W
Day 13 maipo valley vineyard trip
February 8 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Found an all day trip to the maipo valley vineyards, well you can't come to Chile and not sample the wines can you 🤪
First stop, la Quirinca vineyard, it's a tiny boutique vineyard and the visit included tour of the vines and production area followed by feeding the animals then a tasting , the guide was absolutely brilliant 2 glasses of wine and some pisco.
Next came Santa Ema, a massive place opened in 1956. 3 glasses here Chardonnay very nice merlot, mellow & light. Carmenere (amplus) very nice more fruity. 2021 a good year 🤪

Break for lunch at zin fandel, chose Ravioli made with squid black ink and sweet crab filling in a buttery sauce with a sangria
On to last vineyard Undurraga we had 4 wines to taste here, I thought the second site was massive but this one was enormous with fantastic grounds with some really old trees.
I think I fell lucky with this trip, started at 8am and didn't get back to the city until gone 6 😎
There was a guy from the first vineyard who came with us, he kept taking video clips and photos, apparently he was making a promotional video for the tour, he's promised photos and video so let's see what comes about.Read more
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Santiago & Easter Island Steve Catterall
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Day 13
Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 364 m
Chile San Luis -33.736516, -70.85810533°44’11” S 70°51’29” W
Day 13 - part 2
February 8 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
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Santiago & Easter Island Steve Catterall
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Day 14
Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 10:59 AM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 578 m
Chile Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts -33.435338, -70.64377833°26’7” S 70°38’38” W
Day 14 chill day
February 9 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Well it's Sunday, think it's a day to just stroll around and enjoy the sun 🌞
Started off with stroll through park and came accross museum of fine arts, some good stuff in there.
Then continued stroll to the central market. The fish were amazing and even though a Sunday still buzzing.Read more
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Day 14
Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 570 m
Chile Central Market -33.433334, -70.6528233°26’0” S 70°39’10” W
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Day 14 continued
February 9 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Found a decent bar in the market and as it's so bloody hot decided to quench my thirst.
Went to another museum, pre Colombian art, really good ,well set out and beautiful artifacts
Bargain! [Lisa]
2/10/25Reply
It looks like Donald Trump 😂x [Lisa]
2/10/25Reply
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