January 20 - 30, 2007

Note: This tour has concluded. The following was our itinerary:

"From Easter Island's mysterious solitudes, where we pass among heads frozen in time and forever as inscrutable as their long-vanished makers, we journey in imagination to the star-studded entrails of the Milky Way. Then among the Patagonian steppes, fjords, and mountains, we travel in the footsteps of Charles Darwin. His ideas showed that species--which had always seemed as immutable as those stone heads--change and evolve. It was one of the most revolutionary ideas of all time.
"We are sure that all who revel with us in the spirit of this cosmic adventure will leave feeling that they have truly seen it all." —William Sheehan

Distinguished Lecturers

Dr. Frank Drake, Dennis Mammana, Dr. William Sheehan

Included in Your Tour...

Your Itinerary...

January 20/21 —U.S.A. - Santiago, Chile
Board your flight for Santiago, Chile and begin the search for Darwin's Exploration. Upon arrival in Santiago, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the Diego de Almagro Hotel for a dayroom use. After a rest, lunch will be taken to the colorful Central Market with a city tour of Santiago to follow before your flight to Easter Island for the next four nights. (L) Request a Brochure

January 22 —Easter Island
After breakfast, a full day tour is planned to Rano Raraku, Tongariki, and Anakena to visit the ancient ruins of Vaihu temple. It is preserved just as it was left after the ancient wars and is situated next to the Vaihu fisherman's wharf. Continue towards Ahu Akahanga, a large ahu (platform) with four big fallen statues. Several phases of construction are visible: 4 platform 12 moais and 8 pukao, feature a boat ramp, houseboats and stone-lined fire pits (umu pae). One of the most well-preserved villages can be observed inland from the ahu. Later, visit Rano Raraku quarry, classic symbol of the island and original factory of the moais. The gigantic statues cover the inner and outer slopes of the volcano; they can be admired from carvings in the rock to upright position to lying face down on the road.

After lunch, we continue to Tongariki, formerly the biggest platform on the island, destroyed by a tidal wave in 1960 and now reconstructed. This is the largest ahu on the island. It has 15 moai and the axis of the platform faces the rising sun of summer solstice. Beyond the main plaza, there is an important petroglyph site called Papa Tataku Poki with figures such as tunas, turtles, Make Make, Bird-Man. The tour continues along the North Coast to visit Ahu Te Pito Kura. From there, you will drive by La Perouse Bay to the beautiful archeological site of Anakena. This is a beautiful beach with white coral sands chosen for the arrival of Ariki Hotu Matu'a and his sister, Avareipua. (B/L) Request a Brochure

January 23/24 —Easter Island
Another full day to study and photograph Rano Kao, Orongo, Tahi, Ahu Akivi, Puna Pao, Te Pahu. Astronomical lecture and sky photography tonight. The route ascends the slopes of the Rano Kao volcano to the summit to reveal the impressive crater noted for its 1.6km diameter and more than 200m depth. Along the crater is Orongo, a magnificent ceremonial city where the majority of the island's petroglyphs are concentrated, representing mainly images of the bird-like man Tangata Manu, Make-Make, god of creation, and Komari, a fertility symbol. From the edge of the cliff, observe the three islets Motu Iti, Motu Nui, and Motu Kao Kao. Their ceremonial village of Orongo is made up of 53 oval-shaped houses with stone walls and small square entrance facing the sea. The houses are laid out in two rows, one of which ends at the sacred site called Mata Ngarahu, center for the Bird-Man rituals and the most richly decorated area of the Island displaying a wide variety of petroglyphs.

The afternoon excursion is to Ahu Akivi, cave and quarry. The excursion visits Ahu Akivi site called The Seven Moais. These are the first Ahu to be scientifically restored on the island by William Mulloy and Gonzalo Figueroa in 1960. The platform with seven moai, faces the rising sun of the equinox. According to recent folklore, it represents seven young explores sent before the arrival of Hotu Matu'a in reconnaissance of the island seen by the spirit of Haumaka from Hiva the Banana's Cave and Puna Pao quarry. Red scoria apparently represents hair that was dyed using red earth. Since only 50moai have these cylinders, and there are 31 more at Puna Pao, it is believed that this addition was a late development related to increased strength of the tribes. (B/L) Request a Brochure

January 25 —Easter Island - Santiago
With new insights to an enigmatic land, transfer back to the airport for the flight back to Santiago and overnight before continuing to Patagonia. (B/In-flight meals) Request a Brochure

January 26 —Santiago - Southern Patagonia
After the flight to Puerto Arenas. Transfer through vast stretches of treeless Patagonian steppe, where thousands of wild sheep feed on grassy hills. Overnight at Puerto Natales. (B) Request a Brochure

January 27 —Southern Patagonia
Today's thrilling cruise along the Ultima Esperanza Fjord will take us to the icy edges of the massive Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. Feel the rumble of the gigantic blocks of ice crashing into rivers of ice; hear hoarse bark of seals and seal lion colonies along the rocky outcrops; search for porpoises and black neck swans in the icy sea. The cruise allows photography of spectacular scenes from a variety of perspectives, sailing within arm's reach of the glaciers. Enjoy the fascinating colonies of sea birds along with the amazing mountain ranges. (B/L) Request a Brochure

January 28 —Torres Del Paine National Park
Travel amid some of the greatest mountain scenery in the world, Torres Del Paine National Park. The park covers 181,000 hectares and is situated in the Ultima Esperanza Inlet. There are several types of pampas, thick Magellanic forests, and lagoons filled with ice floes. The highlight are the Towers and Horns of Paine; it has multitude of multi colored lakes such as: Nordeskjold, Pehoe, Toro, Sarmient and Grey; Laguna Azul with its snow capped peaks Grey and Dickson and the Serrano River, holds large salmon. We will see glaciers surrounded by gigantic rocks that characterize the silhouette of the Horns of Paine. (B/L) Request a Brochure

January —29/30 Torres Del Paine/Punta Arenas/Santiago/U.S.A
Transfer back to Punta Arenas today in time for your flight back to Santiago, where you connect with the overnight flight to the U.S.A. (B/In-flight meals) Request a Brochure

Contact

MWT Associates, Inc.
Reservations: 877-707-7827
www.melitatrips.com

Interested? Request a Brochure