Easter Island Moai & Umu Feast
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Port
Easter Island, Chile
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$559.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Food is a window into the soul of any culture and a bridge to understanding the traditions, beliefs and lifestyles of people around the world. Nowhere is this more useful or important to the visitor than here on remote Easter Island, where the Rapa Nui experience of an umu meal is simply not to be missed if you are to make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime visit.
This special day begins with 30-minute drive from Hanga Piko pier to Ahu Akivi. Akivi is the postcard-perfect site where seven nearly identical moai statues, each 14 feet tall, stand equidistant apart on an ahu (platform or plinth). Dating back to about 1442, the ahu was restored in the 1950s by renowned archaeologist William Mulloy. The seven moai represent the seven ambassadors sent to Easter Island by King Hotu Matua, according to the tale passed down by oral tradition. Take all the photos you want at this eerie and impressive spot whose origin is both debatable and fascinating.
Next, head to Anakena Beach -- the venue for an amazing, traditional meal cooked underground in a Polynesian umu -- earth oven. Each of the many countries within the Polynesian Triangle has its own version of the earth oven. Easter Island's version involves workers starting the day before the meal, digging a hole, locating and placing the stones that will be heated to cook the food, and collecting the palm or other leaves that will be used to cover the food while it cooks. On the day of the meal, the same workers return to the hole, light a fire to heat the stones, place the meat and vegetables over the stones and cover it all with the leaves. Then, they fill in the hole with dirt and allow the ingredients to cook and steam underground for many hours. You, the discerning gourmand, arrive 24 hours after the process began, just in time to watch the earth oven being dug up and to savor every bite of an absolutely delicious, succulent umu feast whose sublime flavors, the locals say, fall squarely at the feet of the gods. Worth the wait? You decide!
A folkloric show with three musicians and two dancers, performed while you dine, further extends your local knowledge.
Environmentally conscious guests will be happy to know that, upon your departure from the lunch site, the workers return to the venue and restore the landscape to exactly how it looked prior to the umu being dug, keeping the National Park landscape pristine and perfect. The tour operator has secured a special permit for this meal to be prepared for you within the National Park -- an unusual and highly-prized concession to the importance of your visit.
Notes:
Minimum age is 12 years. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring a jacket as it can be breezy at the beach. Easter Island has a hot and humid climate. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable sunscreen. Bring bottled water. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Tourism infrastructure is very limited on Easter Island. Transportation will be by way of several different types of vehicle, including minibuses and vans. A guide waits for you at each point of interest and provides narration and explanation with a loudspeaker rather than riding with you in the vehicle. The ship is at anchor on Easter Island, and the Immigration clearance process can take more than an hour. Having your immigration card filled in prior to arrival will expedite the process. Very few vendors on Easter Island accept credit cards; bring US dollars or Chilean pesos.