Covid-19: closed for two years, Easter Island reopens its doors to tourists

Easter Island, a Chilean island territory in the middle of the Pacific famous for its monumental statues, lifted this Monday the entry prohibition measures imposed two years ago to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

A first flight with tourists on board, most of whom had booked before the pandemic in early 2020, will land this Thursday at the Hanga Roa International Airport, the capital of the island, the deputy of the Secretary of Tourism, Veronica Kunze.

“We have to open up the island, but we have to do it safely,” he said.

a strict protocol

Before the pandemic, the island located about 3,500 kilometers from the Chilean coast, which is home to some 7,000 permanent inhabitants, received around 160,000 tourists a year transported by two daily flights.

The reopening will be done gradually. There will only be two flights per week and only people who are up to date with their vaccination schedule and who present a negative PCR test within 24 hours will be able to visit the island.