Remote and with a fascinating history.  This small island leaves a big impression.

   

We are very fortunate to have the direct support and participation of Josie Nahoe in the planning of our time in Easter Island and as our guide while there.  Josie is the daughter of an Easter Island father, an American mother, and granddaughter of American archeologist William Mulloy (he is best known for his studies of Polynesian prehistory, especially his investigations into the production, transportation and erection of the monumental statuary on Easter Island).  Josie offers unique perspective, insight, and personal history to Easter Island.

After growing up and receiving an education in the U.S., she relocated to her father’s homeland and shortly thereafter received ‘Top Guide of the Year’ in all of Chile. She is regarded not only as the most insightful guide on the island, but the most engaging as well.  She looks forward to sharing the mystery of Easter Island with you.

Thanks to her guidance, we've arranged to visit Easter Island during the Tapati Festival, and annual celebration of island culture.  We've also arranged to have our visit to include weekend days, when the festival is particularly... festive!  

Josefina Nahoe - your Easter Island guide

OUR APPROACH ON THIS TRIP

Traveling can be a gruesome experience if it's not planned accordingly.  Trips that have you get in and out of buses, several times a day, on the road for miles and miles, or that have you checking into and out of different hotels every night can be exhausting.  Similarly, trying to pack too much into each day can result in sense of being overwhelmed.   

For this trip, we are trying to avoid those pitfalls as much as possible (it's not always possible - we do have vast distances to negotiate).  We're giving you what we think is a good amount of down time in places where it's easy to make use of that down time.   

We try to find a balance between budget and comfort in terms of hotels.  Our hotels in Santiago have a lot of character.  Options in Easter Island are limited - but our local guide has recommended the one we're using.   We're confident you will be comfortable and sleep well in those that were chosen for this trip. 

EASTER ISLAND HISTORY AND TRIP INFO SESSION

WHEN? Thursday, 15 May 2026.  4:30-5:30PM Pacific Time / 7:30-8:30PM Eastern time (presentation will be recorded)

WHERE? This will be a virtual meeting on the Zoom platform.

REGISTER NOW AND MARK IT IN YOUR CALENDAR

Easter Island conjures up images of massive and mysterious statues (Moai), of trans-Pacific human migrations, of ecological catastrophe, of human resilience and cultural renewal.

Our speaker, Easter Island native and widely acclaimed local guide Josie Nahoe, will give us an overview of that fascinating history and CNH Tours' Marc Patry will provide details on the trip we are running in February 2026. 

This reading list is a work in progress - if you have books to recommend, please let us know!

 

NON-FICTION

The Statues that Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island. Terry Hunt & Carl Lipo, 2013

In this lively and fascinating account, Hunt and Lipo offer a definitive solution to the mystery of what really happened on the island. Far from irresponsible environmental destroyers, they show, the Easter Islanders were remarkably inventive environmental stewards, devising ingenious methods to enhance the island's agricultural capacity. 

Ethnology of Easter Island. Alfred Métraux. 1971

A classic work on Easter Island (Rapa Nui) containing info on bird (birdman) cult, rongorongo, tattooing among other topics.

Island at the center of the world: New light on Easter Island. Sebastián Englert. 1970

Easter Island's extraordinary history is engagingly presented in this account by the dedicated man who lived for three decades on that tiny mote of land in the South Pacific.

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.  Jared Diamond, 2011. 

A compelling chapter on Easter Island analyzes ecological degradation and societal collapse. While some interpretations are debated, it’s a great primer on environmental factors and long-term sustainability.

“Easter Island: Puzzles of the Pacific” by Paul Bahn (2003)

Written by a leading archaeologist, this well-reviewed book cuts through myths with scholarly rigor, offering a balanced and accessible look at Rapa Nui's archaeology, history, and moai statues.

The Mystery of Easter Island. Katherine Routledge. 1998

First published in 1919, this work provides information on Easter Island. It details Routledge's journey by yacht from England to South America, around Patagonia to Chile and on to Easter Island, giving an account of its life, history and folklore. 

“Among Stone Giants: The Life of Katherine Routledge and Her Remarkable Expedition to Easter Island” by Jo Anne Van Tilburg (2014)

A biographical account of the first major archaeological expedition to the island in 1914. Routledge was a pioneer, and this book gives rich historical and personal context.

 

NOVELS

“Easter Island” by Jennifer Vanderbes

A beautifully written novel that weaves together the lives of two women—one from the 20th century and another from the island's past. It blends historical fiction, mystery, and emotional drama, all rooted in Rapa Nui’s unique setting.  Recommended by Brett Stevens (CNH Tours 2025 trip).

“Rapa Nui” by C. David Heymann

A historical novel rich in island lore, this book dives into the political and cultural dynamics of the ancient Rapa Nui civilization. Think moai, myths, and epic storytelling.

 

OTHER READING

UNESCO World Heritage file on Easter Island.  You'll find details on why it's considered as part of humanity's heritage along with conservation updates.

Short biography:  William Mulloy.   He's our 2026 trip tour leader's grandfather and led the restoration work of Easter Island's statues (Moais).  

 

If you're not ready for the Easter Island trips we've already lined up, but would like to be among the first to be notified the moment we open future trips for bookings, please let us know by registering below:

EASTER ISLAND ADVANCE NOTIFICATION