Tourists will soon be able to travel to Easter Island in the Pacific again after more than two years of the coronavirus pandemic. The borders of the volcanic island popular with travelers will reopen to foreign visitors from August 1st.

In March 2020, Easter Island, which is called Rapa Nui in the language of the indigenous population, was closed to travelers due to the first Corona cases in Chile. For this reason, there were only a few cases of infection on the island in the southeast Pacific. Foreign visitors are allowed to come back to Easter Island on August 1st. According to the ORF, it is not yet known whether entry to the island is subject to conditions such as vaccinations or tests. No proof is currently required for entry into Chile, but proof of vaccination is required in order to be able to move freely in the country. Random PCR tests are carried out at airports.

Tourism on a significant scale has only existed since 1967, when the first passenger plane landed on the island. Even today, Easter Island can only be reached by plane with LATAM Airlines from Santiago de Chile or from Tahiti.

Easter Island is about 160 square kilometers in size and is isolated in the Southeast Pacific, 3.500 kilometers from mainland Chile. The Rapa Nui National Park on the island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Particularly popular with tourists are the monumental Moai statues found on the island, whose purpose is still a matter of debate in scholarly circles. The island has belonged politically to Chile since 1888, but is geographically counted as part of Polynesia. Travelers are allowed to stay on Easter Island for a maximum of 30 days in order to protect the island and its resources.