explora en Rapa Nui Opens New Lodge on Easter Island

With 30 rooms and a wealth of comforts to go around, Posada de Mike Rapu will heighten the journey of discovery on Easter Island, as well as that of the explora experience.

On a landmass with limited accommodation options, explora's new addition is a standout. Named for explora's local partner, co-owner Mike Rapu, Posada de Mike Rapu is distinctively remote, looking out on the roaring Pacific and the ancient Rano Raraku Volcano where Easter Island's renowned moai were born. There are five miles separating the property from the island's only town, offering a striking setting to appreciate the vast dimensions of the water, land and wonder that surround it.

Guests are greeted at Posada de Mike Rapu by a welcoming patio and gracious staff. Inside, each of 30 guest rooms, including 4 suites, is designed for subtle comfort with a sitting area, ultra comfortable beds and a hydro-massage bathtub. Design accents are created from indigenous materials such as furniture of local Rauli wood, bathroom flooring and walls of Piedra Pizarra stone, and interior Lenga wood paneling. Each room faces the Pacific, assuring drop-dead sunrise views and fresh ocean breezes throughout the day.

The lodge is also highlighted by excellent service, a magnificent restaurant with a glassed-in kitchen, a bar, inside/outside dining, and Casa de Baños Hare Val, an inviting outdoor area with pool, massage salon and open-air Jacuzzis for unwinding after long days of exploration. A library and a meeting space for up to 30 people are available for business and pleasure, while a satellite dish provides permanent communication with Chile and the rest of the world. Of course, Internet access is available, too.

Plenty to see and do
Not all the delights of Posada de Mike Rapu were in the plans, however. During the lodge site's excavation, explora came across a cave that has since been glassed over to allow guests a glimpse of the island's origins – a typical move for the deluxe tour company, which revels in the unexpected.

As with all explora properties, Posada de Mike Rapu is integral to the explora experience on Easter Island. Guests can expect a thoroughgoing, explora-style stay, including food and beverages, roundtrip transfers to the island's only airport, and guided hikes and bike rides of all levels with bilingual local guides. The Walk to Hanga Oteo, for instance, takes in spectacular views, natural bathing pools and abundant archeological sites before winding up with a picnic on the beach. The Climb to Tereveka heads to Easter Island's highest point, with extraordinary vistas, coastal ridges and a swim in the sea. And Te Pito O Te Henua (The Navel of the World) shimmies along a trail on the island's northern coast with views of Ana Okeke and Maunga Parehe, along with archeological sites, the La Perousse fishing cove, and interactions with local villages.

Gone Green
As if all of the above weren't enough, Posada de Mike Rapu offers the greenest accommodation experience in Chile and South America. The property is in the midst of obtaining full LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, having recently reached "silver" level certification, with the possibility of "gold" in mid-2008. By following LEED recommendations throughout the construction process, explora assured certification while protecting the sanctity of the property's delicate surroundings.

Easter Island Encapsulated
As with all explora programs, explora en Rapa Nui presents Easter Island in its own unique context: a place of magnetism and mystery whose cultural origins remain unknown. Easy to difficult guided walks reveal the secrets and beauty of the island, especially the numerous ahus with gigantic moai sculpture that have fascinated and perplexed for ages.