2 Day Private Tour: Easter Island’s Cultural Heritage

Don’t hesitate - just book this tour!!! My 12 year old son and I came from Michigan (USA) to see this magical place, and I wanted a private tour so that we would have a more personalized experience. It was such a fantastic experience!!! And after talking to some of the other travelers we met while in Rapa Nui, unfortunately not everyone had such a great experience with their guides. But our guide Joaquin not only grew up in Rapa Nui, but he was extremely knowledgeable about every little detail about the island - both historical and current events -so we learned so much more than just the history of the moai. Most importantly to me, he made it very interesting for my 12 year old son… and he kept my son engaged by asking him questions and playing chess with him at lunch, etc. Joaquin was truly such a kind person and I have no doubt that he has left a lasting impression on both myself and my son. He also spoke excellent English and was a very good driver. He personalized the 2 day experience according to our interests and also modified the order of things according to the changing weather (we only experienced some light rain- but Joaquin made sure that we saw the things we wanted to photograph the most while the sun was out ). He chose great spots for us to have lunch on both days. Several other guides that we came across saw us with him and said to us “oh you are lucky - you have the best guide!” We definitely agreed with those other guides! The island is such a special place, and I am so grateful that we had such an amazing guide to make it such an unforgettable and amazing experience. I know this is a bit more money than the group tours, but you really do get what you pay for. With this private tour, you get to avoid the group vans which take longer to get everyone on and off … and you can personalize the tour as much as you want. I feel this was much more relaxing and enjoyable than doing a group tour. But again, the very best part was our amazing guide Joaquin!

Had an amazing day exploring Easter Island with Joaquin. As a local guide, Joaquin is extremely knowledgeable on Rapa Nui culture and very welcoming and friendly! He made sure we saw all of the important sites and was a wealth of information. Thank you for showing us around!

We are a family of 4 with two kids aged 11 & 12. We did a 2-day tour of the island with Joaquin and had a wonderful time exploring the island. Joaquin knows so much about the island, its people, culture, and history, and you can tell he is passionate about sharing it with others. It made our time on the island even more special. We had a different tour operator the third day for our cave tour and horseback ride, and the kids kept saying how they missed Joaquin and wished we'd had him for the 3rd day. He will always be a part of our memories we made on the island! Highly recommend! Pro tip - it gets hot during the day on the island (the sun is unforgiving there) so if AC in the car is a must-have as it is for us, I'd request that in advance because most locals do not have or use AC in their vehicles, just as most hotels also only have AC in the rooms and not any of the common areas.

Exceptional tour. Joaquin's indigenous perspective and heartfelt connection to the island helped us understand and experience what we were seeing on a different level. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Rapa Nui. He has studied archeology and partcipated in excavations. Great sense of humor. We loved this tour and highly recommend it.

Joaquin was a excellent guide for this 2 day adventure. We visited all of the major sites on Easter Island and even went to some lesser known areas. He truly has a passion for the indigenous culture and people. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking and be aware there is little shade. However, being a private tour it is flexible and Joaquin can tailor it to your individual desires. We would recommend this tour without hesitation.

We had such a wonderful 3 night stay on Rapa Nui and this private tour made the absolute best use of our two days. It felt like we covered every inch of the island but there was never a moment that we felt rushed. Joachim was the perfect guide for us. Relaxed, friendly, knowledgeable and fun. He spoke really good English and he was a very safe driver. He’s a local man and it was lovely to hear about his life growing up in this magical part of the world. We visited all the main sights but never seemed to be surrounded by tour groups and there was lots of time to take photos. Joachim took us to a lovely patisserie on the first day and we also stopped to eat something at the restaurant beside the “Quarry” on the second day. No pressure put on us to rush. There’s no comparison between a private tour of this nature and a shared tour in a minibus/van. Well worth the little extra cost to have such personal service from a thorough gentleman.

This was a wonderful experience. Joaquin was a great guide. Was very considerate and looked out for our comfort and safety. He arrived with water and snacks and a smile on his face. He took us to many beautiful places and explained the history and meaning of all the the landscape. We stopped at local places for lunch and experienced local cuisine. I am 71 years old and he was there to assist me when I needed an arm to hold onto, but did not treat me like an old lady. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see the real Island of Rapa Nui.

Our guide Joaquin was very pleasant, friendly but especially in love with his island and heritage. He was generous of his time and passed on his knowledge of the history of his island. He adapted the two-day visit according to our interests, including photography

Joaquín provided us with a private tour of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) that was nothing short of spectacular. He is a phenomenal guide who mastered both the logistics and the historical storytelling. Joaquín shone brightest through his thoughtful planning. He expertly timed our route to ensure we had perfect lighting for family photos at every site, resulting in stunning memories we'll cherish. Crucially, he also navigated the island to avoid large crowds, making each stop feel personal and serene. As a Rapa Nui local, Joaquín is a living encyclopedia of the island—covering its deep history, complex culture, and modern political context. His stories about growing up here and sharing Rapa Nui traditions offered priceless, authentic insight that you simply cannot get from a book. We were incredibly fortunate to have Joaquín as our guide. An unforgettable tour on an unforgettable island--we will cherish the memories for years to come.

We enjoyed this private tour immensely with Aroha tours. Joaqun shared his culture and knowledge with us, and we never felt rushed nor hurried. He timed our visits to the Rapa Nui sites incredibly well for my husband who enjoys taking professional photographs. He was friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand to other tour guides and other travelers alike. Book this tour - you won’t regret it!