We recently published an article in Food, Wine, and Travel Magazine about our visit to Easter Island/Rapa Nui. While we can’t share the entire article due to publication guidelines, we’re excited to offer a glimpse. Click the link below the small excerpt to read the full article and discover all the details.
8 Things to Love About Easter Island (Beyond the Moai)
Published on FWT Magazine March 21, 2025 Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough
When we started planning our Easter Island trip, we thought we were ticking off a box. After all, how could we not visit the Moai? Those legendary stone statues had been on our minds for years, and Ryan’s 40th birthday seemed the perfect excuse to see them up close. We figured we’d fly in, marvel at the statues, and head home.
We didn’t expect Easter Island, with its natural beauty, laid-back vibe, and welcoming people, would steal our hearts in unexpected ways.
Getting to Easter Island
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is about as remote as it gets. It’s more than 2,300 miles off the coast of Chile, sitting alone in the Pacific Ocean. That distance is comparable to flying from Seattle to Washington D.C. We flew in from Santiago, Chile, on LATAM Airlines, and the flight was a smooth five hours. As we approached the island, the ocean felt endless. From the plane, it looked like a tiny patch of green surrounded by the deep blue of the Pacific, a distant promise of something extraordinary.
Our Guide Roberto
One of our best decisions was hiring Roberto Teao, a native Rapa Nui guide, to show us around the island.
We met him on our first day, and we felt a sense of calm and connection from the moment he introduced himself. Roberto wasn’t just a guide; he was a storyteller who invited us into the narrative of his people’s past. As we walked, he shared the Moai’s history and wove stories about Easter Island’s daily life—how the Rapa Nui worked with the land and the sea to survive.
Throughout our time together, Roberto played an eight-string, beautifully carved solid-wood ukulele for us in several memorable moments. The soft hum of the music seemed to merge with the breeze, and the island around us appeared to muffle as if it were listening. It felt like the island was singing its own song, and we were fortunate enough to be part of it.
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To read the full article on FWT Magazine, click here.
Some of Our Favorite Images from Easter Island
Flights, Accommodations, and Everything You Need to Book in One Place
Are you planning a vacation this year? Start your research early to explore your options and find what fits your budget. By booking your own travel, you’ll uncover great deals and have complete control over your itinerary. The links below can be used for all elements of your trip, not just accommodations.
It is essential to price out accommodations on various sites. Expedia is a US-based company, whereas Booking.com is Europe-based. Not all properties appear on both, so it is ideal to check both out. Our personal first choice is Booking.com. If the establishment has a website, check the price there as well. Click the link below to check out hotels and vacation homes in the area. It may be just the motivation you need to start planning that next grand adventure.
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