如何规划前往《Wild Horse Nine》取景地复活节岛的旅行

After making a splash during the film festival circuit, director Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine has finally hit theaters. The dark comedy-thriller starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell follows two CIA operatives on their 1973 mission to the remote Pacific outpost of Easter Island. Followers of McDonagh’s work are no stranger to his interest in mind-bending landscapes (who can forget the melancholic ocean cliffs in The Banshees of Inisherin?). But the decision to shoot on Easter Island—or Rapa Nui, its indigenous name—was especially history-making.

To begin, Wild Horse Nine is not only the largest Hollywood production ever shot on Rapa Nui, but it’s also only the second. Then, of course, there are the herculean logistics of shipping period sets by boat to an island that sits more than 2,200 miles west of South America. And most critically, the crew worked hand-in-hand with local officials to coordinate filming locations that would not disrupt the archaeological sites or the sacred Rapa Nui culture. Notably, almost half of the island is part of the protected Rapa Nui National Park.

• Where Is Easter Island?
• How to Plan a Trip to Easter Island
• Easter Island Itinerary Recommendations
• What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Easter Island?

As British Vogue’s film and culture editor Radhika Seth notes, it’s a story that wins you over emotionally, and that ultimately stays with you. And if you come away from the theater with a burning desire to journey to Easter Island, let the expert-led guide below inform your 2027 travel plans.

Key Takeaways

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, was the filming location for Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine. The island sits more than 2,200 miles west of South America and is among the most remote inhabited places in the world. It is famous for its nearly 1,000 moai statues scattered across the landscape.

Where Is Easter Island?

Rapa Nui is an island in the eastern Pacific Ocean long regarded as one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth. It is located 2,200 miles west of mainland Chile and is the easternmost outpost within the chain of Polynesian islands.

How to Plan a Trip to Easter Island

How to Get to Easter Island

“I think there’s something incredibly special about traveling somewhere that still requires a little more effort to reach,” Carola Fresno, Timbuktu Travel’s Latin America specialist, says. Arriving by air requires a five-hour flight from Santiago, Chile, and flight connections are often limited. Because of the long-haul journey, Fresno recommends a minimum of three nights on Rapa Nui, but suggests four or five if you can swing it. “There’s so much more to the island than the famous moai statues, and it’s worth leaving time to explore properly and get under the skin of the island and the culture,” she adds.

Where to Stay on Easter Island

For an oceanside stay that’s within walking distance of the island’s main town, check into Nayara Hangaroa. Each of its 75 guest rooms comes with a private terrace, and the design is driven by natural materials like cypress logs, clay, and volcanic stone. Sustainability programs go beyond the expected solar panels, extending to a local initiative that collects, recycles, and compresses and molds microplastics to transform waste material into moai figurines—a clever keepsake that reminds visitors of the importance of protecting the surrounding ocean. Guest experiences are shaped by the Hitorangi family, part-owners and cultural stewards of Nayara Hangaroa, and range from traditional dance classes and cooking demonstrations, to visits to a local beekeeper to learn why the honeybees of Rapa Nui are thought to be the world’s healthiest.

Easter Island Entry Requirements

If your nationality allows you to enter Chile without a visa, one is not required for Rapa Nui. However, visitors are mandated to complete an online entry form.

How to Get Around Easter Island

It’s possible for visitors to rent a car, scooter, or bicycle to explore Rapa Nui, but many of the archaeological sites are regulated and require an accredited local guide. “Personally, I think the real value of visiting Rapa Nui lies in understanding its culture, and that’s where a knowledgeable local guide becomes invaluable,” Fresno says, who always recommends that her travelers explore with a driver and local guide.

Easter Island Itinerary Recommendations

Revisiting Wild Horse Nine

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent partnered with Searchlight Pictures to create a Wild Horse Nine itinerary inspired by the film. “We’re seeing growing interest in film-inspired travel, particularly when a destination plays such an important role in the story,” explains A&K’s Adam Fogg, who created the itinerary. The journey begins in Santiago, discovering the events surrounding the 1973 coup highlighted in the film, eventually transporting travelers to the remote shores of Rapa Nui to explore its ancient culture and archaeology. On the island, guests enjoy dinner in a local family’s home before embarking on a nocturnal exploration. “Inspired by the legends of Haumaka and Hotu Matu'a, they discover how early voyagers crossed vast stretches of the Pacific using the stars, ocean currents, and natural elements to guide them,” Fogg says.

Things to Do On Easter Island

Beyond the film, excursions on the island range from trekking volcanic craters to horse riding up to the island’s highest point on Mount Terevaka. “One of my absolute favorite experiences is hiking along the northern coast of the island,” Fresno says. This hike showcases a quieter side of Rapa Nui and finishes at the white sands of Anakena Beach. For travelers eager to visit one of the island’s dormant volcanoes, Fresno points to a longer hike in the Poike area, which explores the volcanic landscapes and caves before continuing towards Ahu Tongariki, where 15 moai stand on a single ceremonial platform. “It’s one of the most mesmerizing sites on the island.”

If you’re a diver, the island’s volcanic origins can be explored via underwater cliffs, caves, and rock formations. “The water is this extraordinary, almost electric shade of blue,” Fresno says. “And while you won’t necessarily find the abundance of coral and marine life associated with some tropical diving destinations, the combination of exceptional visibility, volcanic scenery and the vastness of the surrounding Pacific makes diving here really special.”

Best Places to Eat and Drink

Fogg notes that one of the most impactful ways to support the local community is being thoughtful about where your tourism dollars go, which includes dining at family-run restaurants. And while Rapa Nui isn’t a destination brimming with elaborate fine dining, that’s not really the point of coming here. Travelers will encounter plenty of Polynesian influences in the local cooking, as well as Chilean flavors. “I always encourage my travelers to try the seafood, particularly the tuna,” Fresno says. “The island’s isolation…is generally much more relaxed and informal, and I think that’s part of its charm.” While here, seek out an umu, which is a traditional Polynesian method of cooking food in an earth oven using heated stones.

How to Support Rapa Nui Culture

In addition to dining at family-run restaurants and booking family-owned hotels, respecting archaeological sites and local traditions is equally important. “The island's moai and ceremonial sites hold profound spiritual and cultural significance, and visiting responsibly helps protect this extraordinary heritage,” he says.

What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Easter Island?

Rapa Nui has a subtropical climate with rain throughout the year. The warmest month is February, with highs around 80 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest tends to be August, with lows around 59 to 63. The best time of year to visit Easter Island is between April and May and September through October when the temperatures are mild, and there are fewer tourists. If your priority is to have ideal beach conditions, consider January, February, or March (but expect bigger crowds).