Good morning

Yes, I know this sounds awful. For what it's worth I've gone "East coast - Europe" long weekends a number of times in the past (for fun, not work!) so I have an idea of what I'm getting into.

I am going to Santiago for a business conference soon, for one week. After this conference is over, our team is considering several independent travel options for a few days. I'm strongly considering Easter Island. Due to other travel plans this year, I have a fairly limited amount of vacation days I can take for this AND there are apparently no flights off island on Mondays which was my first choice and would have given me an extra night there. The bonus of course is that it would be pretty cheap - out of pocket only airfare and two nights hotel and food, and the "somewhat proximity" and the cheaper cost is the only reason I'd consider this. Yes, I know it's a 5 hour flight each way. That is still shorter than going to Europe for the weekend, to me.

If I choose to do this, I would leave Santiago early Friday morning and arrive at lunch time Friday on Easter Island. Friday afternoon and Saturday to sight see, and EARLY Sunday flight back to Santiago = at the airport at or before dawn.

Knowing this is nutty, what best way to spend my time? Truly, if I only saw the Moai I'd be a happy girl. We will be hoofing it for certain (yes, there may be two others with me).

It's doable and I think worth it given your circumstances. Suggest you do a lot of planning in advance (book a guide/etc) so you can maximize your time there.

We were there 2 1/2 days (arrived on the same flight as you would)- we did a half day tour which focused on the Bird Man competition (south of town - we did see Moais along the way). The next day we did a full day tour (so basically circumnavigating the island) that included the quarry, Tongariki (the iconic Easter Island shot), etc. The third day we got up very early and returned to Tongariki for sunrise (a MUST) and explored other sites including the quarry in the middle of the island where the top knots came from, and explored some amazing lava tubes.

Here's a link to our blog which might make the above clearer

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/l...easter_island/

We had an amazing guide the second day - if you're interested I'll find her email addy.

Thank you Elizabeth!

In other readings I've done, it sounds like one more day would be perfect but any more than that may be too much - the main draw really are the Moai and that's it.

We will just have to hit the ground running! Fingers crossed this works out.

It's such an amazing destination that even a day and a half is worth it given it's difficult to reach location. Here is our guide contact info

Josie Nahoe Mulloy

Tel - 56.32.100274

Email - [email protected]

More info about her in our blog.....

Let's put it this way: if it's the only way to get there...go! Easter Island is amazing. I was there for a bit over three days and managed to do quite a lot; I'd have been fine with being there longer, actually, as the weather was amazing when I was there. (That can make a lot of difference.) I'd definitely do a full-day tour, I think, if I were you.

Here's my report, including a picture link: http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...rip-report.cfm