** Tapati Rapa Nui, Easter Island ** 28 January � 13 February 2010

Since 1975 the natives of Easter Island have dedicated a fortnight of their summer to partying in the name of cultural appreciation for Tapati. Mesmerizing melodies of Polynesian music, grass skirted dancers, feasts and fairs unite the island�s residents and welcome foreigners from all over the world.

Culminating in the election of a �queen�, the festivities of Tapati are an adventure for the senses and where better to enjoy these cultural traditions than Easter Island�s very first luxury hotel and architectural marvel, explora Rapa Nui - Posada Mike Rapu? .

Rising out of the Ranu Raraku volcano, explora Rapa Nui takes travellers to the heart of Rapa Nui history and the iconic site where the historic Moais of Easter Island were carved. explora�s bilingual guides and native staff are on hand to give their travellers insider knowledge to Easter Island and the events of Tapati, with an emphasis on excursions and cultural discovery. At this celebratory time of year, explora travellers can immerse themselves into the festivities to the extent of sporting traditional full-body paints and qualifying as fully fledged experts in Haka Pei, the traditional sport of sliding on banana tree trunks in the Pu�i hills!

After the revelry, travellers may wish to continue their journeys to another of explora�s properties � experiencing breathtaking star-gazing and desert excursions at the recently renovated explora Atacama, or exploring the neighboring Torres del Paine National Park at explora Patagonia. More intrepid travellers may opt to enjoy a Traves�a � one of explora�s unique nomadic journeys. These 8-11 day expeditions take explora travellers into remote areas of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina to discover unspoilt natural beauty.

Rates start at $2,280 per person for a three-night stay. Rates are inclusive of all meals, daily excursions and airport transfers. Reservations: +56-2206-6060 / reservexplora@explora.com www.explora.com.

Notes to editors: explora is not so much a hotel group as a revolutionary way of traveling to remote places in South America, where the focus is on in-depth exploration of the surroundings and the luxury of the essential. Founded in 1989, explora encourages a new attitude towards travel for those who have a passion for discovering new places and people, in relatively unexplored regions of the southern tip of South America. explora owns and operates three lodges � explora Atacama, Hotel de Larache, explora Patagonia, Hotel Salto Chico and explora Rapa Nui, Easter Island (a certified LEED property) - together with four different �Traves�as� that offer travellers nomadic journeys throughout Atacama, Patagonia, Argentina and the salt flats of Bolivia.

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Media Contacts: Daisy Bird / Natalie Lewis / Daisy Sheppard ZFL PRCo Tel: 020 7259 1100 Fax: 020 7259 1101 Email: dsheppard@prco.com