Chile advice

[Tracy]

I have booked return flight to Santiago for next year. I want to visit Easter Island and Atacama desert. We have 14 nights total with arrival night booked in Santiago. Anyone else done this trip, any insights?

[Jill Kinkell]

Somewhere in Destinations forum there are a few threads on Chile with various posters thoughts on EI and Calama . We are doing this trip in Oct. So can report back after. Unless there is anything specific about trips, Flights etc you are after

[masaccio]

There are lots of people posting about Chile in the forum. A Google search with *site:headforpoints.com* will do the trick.

Here’s my thoughts on Easter Island:

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/trip-report-easter-island-and-machu-picchu/

4 days was plenty in Easter Island but I would definitely hire a car for one day to go solo, particularly for the sunrise Moai at Ahu Tongariki which was breathtaking. Don’t both paying to go in as you can park on the road to get the ‘money shot’ you’re looking for. Get there 30 minutes before sunrise, but do go back during the day to take a closer look with a guide.

[Tracy]

Thanks @JillKinkell, I’ve been looking at flights with LATAM, think I read somewhere that it’s cheaper on the local LATAM site, did you do this?

@masaccio, thanks for the Easter island info, sounds like 3/4 nights are adequate. Will be looking to book hotels soon, not paying 5 star prices though, any mid range recommendations?

[davefl]

If you’re flying from San Pedro de Atacama (Calama airport) back to Santiago I would recommend Sky over Latam. I’ve never seen anything like the chaos for Latam check in, the queue tailed all the way back from the desks to the arrivals area, whereas Sky took just a couple of mins.