Easter Island Botanic Garden
The Botanical Garden of Easter Island or Tau Kiani Botanical Garden occupies an area of 3,600 square meters and houses more than 2,500 varieties of plants.
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The suprising natural attraction of the island
The Tau Kiani Botanical Garden has become the new tourist attraction of Easter Island, thanks to the combination of the hand of man and the exuberant nature. Located a little away from the Hanga Roa center, occupies an area of 3,600 square meters and houses inside more than 1200 varieties of plants from all over the world.
Its creator, Juan Carlos Poblete, began in 2009 the work of building the first private botanical garden on the island. His entrepreneurial spirit and good taste had already been demonstrated with the publication of the magazine O te Henua and other projects, but the task of building a garden of these characteristics was going to require a lot of effort, not a few difficulties and a lot of energy.
Several years later the result is in sight. Its objective is to try to reproduce and preserve the native flora of Polynesia, as well as many other tropical species that find in this privileged climate the possibility of developing at its maximum expression.
We must highlight the incredible work done by Juan Carlos Poblete, a man who without formal technical knowledge has created a surprising place. Many of those who visit the garden confess that they did not expect to find something so beautiful and so great. Only the dedication, care and affection that Juan Carlos puts daily in each of his plants, explain that he has managed to create this place.
Symbols, ponds and exotic flowers
The garden has a beautiful landscaped design made with woods and volcanic rocks characteristic of Easter Island. Among the plants, in strategic places, sometimes looking for surprise of the visitor, there are moai statues and sculptures in rock and wood that evoke the legends of the god Make Make or the Tangata Manu or birdman.
The tour of the garden is easy and undulating. It should be noted that the trails have ramps that facilitate movement for people with mobility problems, so the Botanical Garden is a fantastic visit for all audiences.
Following the signage, the visitor goes through suggestive bridges made of trunks, small flights of stairs or ramps and roads with gentle ups and downs that lead to viewpoints and terraces that allow observing the landscape from different perspectives, enjoying it even more.
During the tour, visitors will be able to appreciate different types of plants both from the island and from other parts of the world; learn their names, backgrounds and enjoy the stories told by the host himself during the visit.
There are also two small ponds that host aquatic vegetation such as papyrus and lotus flowers. In addition, one of them (the superior) hosts turtles and the other (the lower one) dozens of beautifully colored koi fish. Every corner has been thought to the smallest detail, even in the bathrooms, where huge stones welcome beautiful plants that give them a unique air.
During the tour of the botanical garden it is possible to know up to seven varieties of bananas, fifty of Hibiscus, different species of palms, avocado trees, guavas, and delight with the beautiful flowers called Tipanie, which are a one the most characteristic images of Easter Island.
Recycling and care of the environment
The Tau Kiani Botanical Garden is, in addition, a sample of the commitment of its creator with the care of the environment.
On the one hand, the most precious resource on the island is maximized here: water. Rapa Nui lacks natural sources of fresh water, so rainwater charges a fundamental value. Juan Carlos is aware of this and, for this reason, the Botanical Garden has huge wells whose objective is to store the rainwater, to be used to water the plants.
In the Tau Kiani Botanical Garden nothing is wasted. Not only rain water is stored, but the water that the visitor can find during their journey (in surprising sinks) to cool off during the hot days, recovers and returns to the cycle that feeds the plants.
But the environmental commitment in the Easter Island Botanical Garden goes further. Its creator shows signs of amazing ingenuity when it comes to reusing things that others throw away. An example is the streetlights of public lighting converted into seedbeds, pieces of washing machines converted into wastebaskets, sinks or toilets converted into planters and a long etcetera.
In short, a visit to the Botanical Garden of Rapa Nui holds many surprises for those who observe carefully.
How to get to Tau Kiani Botanic Garden
The botanical garden is a bit far to walk from Hanga Roa. Tourists who rent a vehicle can easily get there on their own. It is also possible to call a taxi that can take visitors for a fairly reasonable price from the city center.n.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 09:00 am to 18:00 pm
Saturday: 09:00 am to 14:00 pm
Sunday: closed
From March 20 to April 4, 2023 the schedule will be as follows:
Monday to Friday: 09:00 am to 13:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: closed
Ticket value
General admission: $4000 CLP
Phone: +56322551655 | +56984781948
Note: Contact preferably by WhatsApp.
Come to visit our Tau Kiani store where you will find a wide variety of t-shirts, shirts, dresses, sarongs and fabrics with unique designs with Rapanui and Polynesian motifs.