Explora New Place
The tour outfitter explora has crafted a series of remote yet luxurious lodges in Chile's inspired places that get IT feeling dreamy: you can sleep among the Atacama oases or alongside a placid lake in Patagonia. This December, they'll add another to their roster when they open a property on Easter Island.
The newest lodge will be the Posada de Mike Rapu (named for the company’s co-owner), and is the first LEED-certified hotel in South America. (This of course is a tad ironic, seeing as how Easter Island is located 2,360 miles from the continent, but it's a start.) The lodge’s eco-friendly design and architectural attributes include passive energy designs, thermal retention for energy storage, low-flow water fixtures, renewable building materials, and a commitment to being a low-waste resort.
Easter Island, a mere 63 square miles, is of course home to the enigmatic moai stone busts likely carved by the Rapanui people some time between 1000 and 1700; their exact purpose still confounds experts and laypeople alike.
With its national park a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, Easter Island offers a lot to explore, and explora’s expertly guided expeditions offer walks among the island’s moai, and glimpses of its many hidden petroglyphs and caves.
While rates include food, wine, activities, a library filled with maps and books, and clearly, the green roof over your head, the prices are steep. In fact, when first checking out the rates at the Posada de Mike Rapu, IT thought the prices were in Chilean pesos! But, perhaps the hefty fee is a small price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Call 1-866-750-6699 or e-mail reserve@explora.com for more information. From $1,794 per person for three nights.
--Meg Weaver
Photos: Explora; Aurbina via Wikipedia
It's a nice view from the window that you have there. I just wish that I have that kind of view to wake me up each morning and sleep in the breeze that it breathes every night.
Posted by: paradise Philippines | October 23, 2007 at 11:37 AM