11-day trip to Easter Island and Santiago.
 

Hello!

Me, my wife and our 8-yr old are planning on making a trip to Easter Island and Santiago in mid-April 2014. I am using my airline miles to buy the tickets; hence the need to plan a year in advance. This is the itinerary that I have come up with, but I don't know what I can do on days 8 and 9 in Santiago, or if I should make any day trips (Valparaíso?) that will be fun and relaxing for the entire family. I have yet to buy my return ticket so I am open to adding or removing a day.

Day 1: Depart from New York.
Day 2: Arrive in Easter Island. See Easter Island.
Day 3: See Easter Island.
Day 4: See Easter Island.
Day 5: See Easter Island.
Day 6: Arrive in Santiago. See Santiago.
Day 7: See Santiago.
Day 8:
Day 9:
Day 10: Leave Santiago
Day 11: Arrive in New York.

Thanks,
D

Typo in "Day 6" plan. It should be "Day 6: Arrive in Santiago." as the flight reaches in the evening so no sight-seeing for that day.

In Easter Island, if your kid likes walking you have option to do or the north coast from Ahu tepeu to Anakena or on the east part in Poike with arrival on the cliff over Ahu Tonagriki.
It's relatively flat, full of archeologic sites(petroglyph, caverns, moais,...) and far from the turists...
An half day in Anakena is a must to relax and swimm.
We do that with a guide, Tito who can be reach by mail
[email protected].
While in Santiago a day excursion to Valparaiso worth the miles if the weather is nice and your kid will like the "cable-cars".
1-2 days in Santiago is enough...
I think there are some day excursions to some canyons from Santiago but we'll explore them only next yera...
I do a trip report on our 2 weeks vacation in Chile/easter island last february.
Erik

You could do a day or two in Mendoza, Arg. It's just over the border and the road goes over the Andes to get there. Although wineries are admittedly not very interesting to 8 year olds. You could also head over to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.

Have you thought of a side trip to the Atacama Desert? You would probably need to add a day, but I have this trip on my wishlist for a future South American safari.


Happy planning,


Pol

I'd spend a day or two,in Valpraiso. You've got a lot of time in Santiago.

Hi Pol:

I was considering 3-4 days in Atacama Desert, but I switched that with Easter Island. I will spend 1 day in Valparaiso, and 1.5 days in Santiago. This will allow me to fly out on Day 9 as the flight's at 9 pm.