Easter Island

My journey to Easter Island uncovered mysterious Moai statues, ancient legends, and stunning beaches, all of it secluded in the Pacific Ocean far away from the modern civilization.

GETTING THERE

Easter Island is also called Rapa Nui and it's one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world. It's part of the Polynesian Triangle in the Pacific, yet it's a special territory of Chile, some two thousand miles away. Most tourists arrive into Easter Island Airport IPC on flights from Santiago SCL, to see the enormous stone statues which made the island famous.

As I left my plane, I immediately noticed the warm tropical breeze and the sweet smell of flowers. My host greeted me at the small airport with a lei. It was just a short drive to his home near the beach in Hanga Roa, which he had set up as a bed and breakfast.

AMAZING EXCURSIONS

Right away, I set out to explore the small town. I made it to the shoreline and rounded a corner, then saw my first Moai statue. It was about 20 feet tall and stood alone in front of the harbor, with its elongated body, distinctive hollow eyes and proud nose. Not far away, I found a second large statue laying on a big grassy area. These discoveries pumped me up and I was very excited to see more!

After a tasty meal of coconut infused seafood I went back to my B&B. I hadn't booked any tours in advance but my host offered a few different excursions for the following days. I booked them all.

First I went to Rapa Nui National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A small bay on the eastern edge of the park was home of Ahu Tongariki, the largest and most impressive group of Moai statues on the island. Ahu means stone platform and more than a dozen statues were in a perfect row, on a tall platform made mostly of volcanic rocks. The Moai were different heights and sizes, but all had the distinctive inset eyes, proud nose, and strong brow. They faced away from the ocean, towards the sunset. Waves crashed on the rocky bay behind them and in front of them was a vibrant green field.

My guide said the latest theory about the Moai was they were carved by ancient civilizations and they represented ancestors, mostly chiefs. The villagers paid homage to the chiefs because it was believed they had special powers, even in death, which could help their followers. Most Moai faced inland to protect the communities where they stood. They were mostly made from a type of volcanic rock which was easy to carve. Some also had white coral or iridescent shell pieces in their eyes, which created an illusion that made it seem like they were actually watching you!

Next I visited a place known as the Quarry. It was called Rano Raraku and it was an archeological site where it's believed many of the Moai were made. There were many statues, half carved, sticking out from hillside, some were partly buried in dirt over the centuries. My guide said it's believed when ancient carvers were done making a statue, dozens of people would carefully move it down the hill using levers to lift it and ropes to shift it. Once off the hill, teams would carry it to a village on a wooden plank moving along rollers.

Another day trip took me to the beautiful Anakena Beach. A couple of lively restaurants and bars sat on one side of the small, pretty coral bay. A few Moai statues stood on the other side, most of these ones had hat like shapes on top of their heads. Pure white sand, swaying palm trees, and vibrant green grass covered the rest of the area, and fringed the clear blue cove. I spent a relaxing day hiking among the Moai and swimming in the warm tropical waters.

My final excursion was a sunset viewing on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There were several Moai here, including Ahu Ko Te Riku which my guide said was the oldest statue on the island. Its penetrating stone eyes had been vividly restored. They peered down on the hundreds of people sitting in the large field, watching the sun slowly going down, everyone waiting for that perfect photo of the rays of sun beaming around the statue.