|
|
| Rapa Nui Island Vacations and Luxury Vacation Packages |
|
Rapa Island vacations, Rapa Island scuba diving---
 Youngest sister of Easter Island, the legendary Rapa Nui, big Rapa, situated to the west and which is not part of French Polynesia, little Rapa, "Rapa Iti" in Tahitian, is the most far-flung of the Austral Islands, some 1,420 km to the south of Tahiti. It rises up from the midst of the ocean with its nearly 600m high Mount Perehau in a much cooler air. With its peaks wreathed in clouds and its long dark green folds crenellated into deep bays, it seems so mysterious. Rapa ! What were its links with Easter Island ? Its ancient ruins, its many fortresses, its proud "pa" surrounded by the beautiful dry stone walls that crown its volcanic ridges have not yet yielded up all their secrets.
Rapa's temperate climate is not warm enough for corals to grow, nor for coconut trees which are not to be seen on its shores and where the Australs' winter temperature in July and August can go down as low as 5C. Yet how many fruits and how many vegetables, either known or unknown elsewhere, grow on her fertile soils! Sweet oranges, pears, figs, passion fruit.
Coffee bushes which produce an excellent coffee, but also a huge variety of "taro", succulent root crops and with "mungu" which are plants with pinkish flowers and sugary tastes that children love to suck for candy. Goats and wild cattle live in the mountains. They augment the daily menu of the islanders alternating with salmon, crayfish, seas slugs, oyster and sea urchins that are in great abundance near the shore. The 521 inhabitants of Rapa are incredible fishers and hunters! They are also farmers.
As owners, all holding common title to the island, they live mainly at Aore, which has a Mayor's office, a church, a post office, a school, an infirmary and a cooperative. Some families live over at Area, a very tiny village. The only link from Rapa to the outside world is the cargo boat Tuhaa Pae III which drops anchor in Haurei Bay every two to three weeks. And sometimes the odd yacht or a scientific research vessel stop here just long enough take on board fresh provisions. Entry permits are only granted for a very short length of time. |
|
|
|
|
| Full Service Rapa Nui Island Vacation Planner |
| Click here to start planning a great South America vacation, tour or cruise with our Virtuoso Travel Advisors. You may call us too, but we'd really appreciate it if you complete a vacation planner first so we can determine which destination specialist to introduce you to.Thank you very much! 1 800 330 8820 or 415 446 5252 to book your South America vacation. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
   
We accept credit cards:   
|
|
During this time of price volatility in the Rapa Nui Island vacations, travel, tour and cruise industry, please be advised the pricing can fluctuate within the same day. All of our promotions are subject to change without notice. As a result, prices will not be guaranteed until booked.
Disclaimer: We've worked hard to make all the Rapa Nui Island vacations, cruise and travel packages information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.
Travel Agent Career Opportunities
State of California seller of travel License No: 2061139-40
We are on the Better Business Bureau Honor Roll.
© 1998 TravelWizard.Com, Rapa Nui Island Vacations, Cruises and Custom Travel Packages Dept. All rights reserved. | |
|
|
