Location
Rapa Nui - Easter Island

Explora offers distinctive oceanview accommodations on Easter Island in its striking contemporary lodge, Posada de Mike Rapu. The lodge, which opened in December 2007 and was the first in South America to earn LEED certification for environmental sustainability. It is located on the southeast side of Rapa Nui about five miles from the main town of Hanga Roa. The distinctive architecture pays homage to the natural environment, built to harmonize in a low-impact manner with its commanding setting atop a hill overlooking the Pacific, surrounded by natural vegetation. 

 The structure, which uses fully curved perimeters, rests on a base of stones from the site that were gathered, transported and worked by local people. The lodge has 30 comfortable rooms, all with ocean views and designed to maximize silence and privacy. The sophisticated design uses pine wood and earth-colored concrete for the floor. Each room has a small living area, hydromassage bath and beds designed for deep, restful sleep after a day of exploration. And, in keeping with the tranquil ambience, the rooms are television-free. Public spaces, which also integrate design aspects of the local culture, include a lounge, luxury restaurant highlighting local dishes, outdoor bar, shop, swimming pool and the open-air Hare Tajeta massage area. 

The lodge is named in honor of Mike Rapu, born and raised on Rapa Nui, where he became a skilled diver. In 1989, he set up his own diving center at the Hanga Roa Otai fishing cove, one of the most important on the island. In 2000, he beat the South American record for free diving, managing to dive to a depth of 233 feet and staying underwater for 3 minutes, 48 seconds. A year later, he broke his own record, descending to 259 feet while training.