Tag: Travel

While in Chile—Don’t Miss Out on Easter Island

Published on by DU AbroadLeave a comment

Easter Island/Isla de Pascua/Rapa Nui:

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Most remote island in the world
  • Home of the famous “bellybutton of the world,” the birdman cult, and the mysterious moai statues

Never heard of it?  That’s ok, most people haven’t.  But Easter Island is a stunning, remote and incredible island that officially belongs to Chile, although the indigenous Rapa Nui community claims independence.  Considered the most remote island in the world, its culture is related to that of native Hawaiians and other Polynesian groups, but without the massive over tourism that has turned many of those cultures into tourist attractions.  A five hour flight from Santiago, it is pretty difficult to get to from anywhere other than Chile, but if you’re in Santiago, it is an incredibly easy trip to plan.  I was there for a week, and it was fantastic.  I warn you though—it is an “outdoorsy” kind of trip.  There are no five star resorts, only locally own hostels and family ranches.  Activities available are pretty physical too—biking, hiking volcanoes, camping, horseback riding, scuba diving and snorkeling to name a few.  If you are looking for a week on the beach, this is not the place to go.  If, however, you’re looking for an incredibly unique travel experience (I’m still the only person I know outside my travel group who’s has been to Easter Island), getting to know an incredibly ancient culture and enjoying some outdoor activities, you can’t do better than this!

Planning is pretty simple—

  • LAN Chile is the only airline that flies to the island.  Roundtrip tickets typically run between $200-300 and go throughout the week.  Book the ticket early, since there are limited daily flights.
  • Hanga Roa is the main (and really only) town on the island.  There are multiple hostels and campsites just outside the town and is probably the best and easiest place to stay.  I recommend booking at least your first couple of nights, but you may decide to do some camping so leave yourself some flexibility.
  • Be prepared for higher costs of food on the island since almost everything needs to be flown from the “mainland.”  I would buy some basic staples in Santiago (bread, breakfast stuff, even water) to avoid having to pay the higher prices on the island.  Definitely go to the grocery store though, since it’s the only one on the island and a great way to meet locals.
  • I’m usually not a huge fan of the guided tour, but I do recommend it for the island.  In one day you can get around the entire island, see all the main sites and learn about the culture and history of the island, and then plan to go back to your favorite places later on.

Only locals can own land or be employed on the island, so wherever you end up, your guides and hosts will all be Rapa Nui individuals with a great pride in their heritage.  I highly recommend this trip if you plan on spending any time in Chile—it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

– Stephanie Roberts, DUSA Peer Advisor

10 Best Free Things To Do in the U.K./Ireland

Published on by DU Abroad1 Comment

In case you find yourself without anything to do and not really looking to spend a heap of cash, check out these awesome opportunities!

1)      Walk the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland—The Royal Mile is one of the city’s main streets and it’s also where you will find some of the best attractions such as St. Giles Cathedral, Mary King’s Close and it leads to Edinburgh Castle.

2)      Watch the Changing of the Guard in London, England—All things associated with the Royal Family are a huge attraction for tourists, but crowds flock to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace 11.30am daily during the summer and every other day during the winter.

3)      Enjoy a Free Concert at the Wales Millennium Center in Cardiff, Wales—The popular Wales Millennium Centre is regarded as one of the world’s most iconic arts and cultural venues, and is host to free concerts for all musical tastes from jazz to classical to choirs!

4)      Bask in the beauty at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, Ireland—Situated in the former Royal Hospital Kilmainham, the Irish Museum of Modern Art houses a glorious collection of modern art from Jack B. Yeats to Rebecca Horn, not to mention its own stunning grounds!

5)      Browse the Old English Market in Cork, Ireland—The Old English Market dates back to 1788 and as the name suggests, it’s a market! A walk around Cork’s English Market is a must to soak up the atmosphere, but you probably will end up spending some money as it can be hard to resist the food on offer!

6)      Visit Abbey Road in London, England—Re-enact the famous Beatles album cover, with a strut across Abbey Road and don’t forget to sign the wall in tribute to this famous pop group!

7)      Stroll through the Castle Gardens of Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, Ireland—A great thing to do on a sunny afternoon, the Castle Gardens offer beautiful rose gardens, large green spaces, walkways and a fun-filled playground for all ages!

8)      Soak in the magnificence at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland—This is Scotland’s premier museum and art gallery and admission is free!  With an impressive collection of over 200,000 items, including one of Europe’s great civic art collections and one of the finest collections of arms and armor in the world, you can spend a good few hours of your day here.

9)      Stop by St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast, Northern Ireland—This beautiful cathedral is home to Ireland’s largest Celtic Cross and has many mosaics and stained glass windows. Visit for free on weekdays from 10am to 4pm and for a short period before and after Sunday services.

10)   Drool over the gems in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, England—This area of Birmingham dates back over 250 years ago with over 200 historical buildings and is still home to many jewellery businesses today.

Hurry and get off the couch, you don’t want to miss any of these!!

— Kelsey Guyette, DUSA Peer Advisor