Found Easter Island ‘beautiful’

I would like to comment on the subscriber’s letter titled “Did Not Find Expected Amenities on Easter Island” (June ’13, pg. 24), about a visit he made in July ’12. I was quite surprised by his letter, in which he wrote, “…my visit to Easter Island… was the worst travel experience I have ever had, out of 17 or 18 countries. Although the moai are nice, I felt that, as a whole, Easter Island was overrated.”

My husband and I traveled to Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, in April ’13, and I wonder if we were on the same island as the subscriber, as we are still raving over our tour there and the warm and friendly people we encountered. 

We felt the island was quite beautiful, especially up-country where there was so much lush grass and large forests of trees.

There are at least a dozen sites where the moai are located, some still fallen over and some without the typical red hats but most restored to their original sites by the Chilean government. Every site has something different to see. 

This gentleman wrote that he visited in July and felt cold in his hotel. July is one of the cooler months there. December to June is usually the best time, weather-wise, according to the guides and books.

I hope no one will be discouraged from visiting this remote Pacific island. The flight there is expensive, but LAN flies direct from Lima and Santiago, and there are also flights from Tahiti.

WANDA WALKER

Palo Alto, CA