Mystical Easter Island is one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world – thousands of kilometers to the mainland. Easter Island, one of the most isolated destinations in the world, attracts with its mystical stone statues and ideal climate, but its remote location still guarantees serene peace on the island.
Mystical Easter Island is one of the dream destinations of many travelers. An expensive and hard-to-reach small island is worth all the effort and money despite the challenges.
The special Moai statues have made the distant island world famous, but there is much more to be found on Easter Island. Statues are still for most the main reason to come to the island.
A small island in the middle of the ocean
The Easter Island of Chile is one of the most isolated islands in the world, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 3,700 kilometers off the coast of Chile. The nearest inhabited island is almost 300 kilometers away. The Easter Islands include the main island, Rapa Nui, in addition to two smaller islands, Motu Iti and Motu Nui.
The size of Easter Island is small, only about 20 kilometers from the end of the island. There is one town on the island, Hanga Roa, which also resembles a small village.
The exotic Easter Island is like a green paradise. The island has become famous thanks to about 900 spectacular Moai statues.
The special name of the island comes from the time of its discovery: Easter Island got its name from the Dutchman Jakob Roggeveen , who discovered the island around Easter. In the subtropical climate of Easter Island, the temperature varies between 22 and 28 degrees depending on the season.
Mystical Moai statues
There are about 887 moas on Easter Island, and most of the statues depict men, as only a few women are immortalized in stone. The statues were once carved in Akahanga, and most of them were carved from the rock in the Rano Raraku mine. The mine was apparently abandoned abruptly, as several semi-finished statues remained in the rock.
The most common theory is that the Polynesian population of the island engraved the statues at least 500 years ago. The oldest statues, dating from the 8th century, are the smallest and about three meters high. Statues younger than this reach up to five meters high.
Moait is still largely a mystery, but according to one theory, statues are built in honor of celebrities. The size of the Moans has been influenced by the person’s position and competitive spirit, as it is true that everyone wanted a bigger neighbor than their statue. In the 13th century, red headgear planted on the heads of the statues made them even taller and more impressive. The largest Moai on the island is about 10 meters high.
In addition to the statues, Easter Island also has magnificent crater lakes, fine sandy beaches, caves, ruins and stunningly beautiful scenery. There is a kind of peace on the island that captivates everyone who travels there. For those who love peace, a guided walking tour of the island’s nature reserve is a wonderful experience, not to mention the area’s famous stone statues. Active holidaymakers can enjoy hiking, surfing and deep-sea fishing, not to mention diving. The most beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters can be found in Ahu Ngau Ngau and Anakena.
In addition to souvenirs, there is little to buy on Easter Island, so there is little need to reserve empty space in your suitcase.
Easter Island is a year-round destination
The climate on Easter Island is warm all year round, making it a suitable destination all year round. Rain rains evenly in all seasons and the wind can be strong at times.
Easter Island is a very expensive travel destination. Flight prices are usually high and food on the island is about three times more expensive than in Chile on the mainland side. It is worth bringing your own food from the mainland to the island, because in addition to expensive prices, the selection in the shops is modest and the level of restaurant food is quite modest.
In English, Easter Island is generally doing well, but Spanish skills are helpful.
FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT ON EASTER ISLAND
The tropical climate of Easter Island attracts tourists in addition to fascinating exotics.
By plane to Santiago, Chile
You can reach Easter Island by flying to Santiago and continuing from there. There are also flights to the island from Tahiti. The prices of flights are from about two thousand euros upwards.
The cheapest can be obtained by purchasing a so-called RTW ticket, ie a round-the-world ticket to which Easter Island belongs. Easter Island Airport is in Hanga Roa just about a mile from downtown.
Medium accommodation
Easter Island offers plenty of accommodation options for the size of the island, but the level is usually only average or below. There are only a couple of good quality hotels.
Most accommodation is in small hostels and family-run B & Bs. Although the price level on the island is otherwise high, it is possible to find accommodation at a reasonable price.
Rent a car or bicycle
There is no public transport at all on Easter Island, so you need to rent a car, scooter or bicycle to get around the island. Getting around by taxi is also possible, but very expensive. Sightseeing tours can also be made on guided tours.
The main road on the island is a well-maintained asphalt road, but the other roads are rocky and dusty dirt roads, which required the cyclist a bit of fitness and a good mountain bike.
By scooter, it can be difficult to get around the dirt roads and even with a car some of the roads are difficult to drive. Your own legs or bicycle are enough to move in Hanga Roa.
EASTER ISLAND ATTRACTIONS
The handsome statues are the number one destination on Easter Island.
Famous Moai statues
Because of the Moai statues, most come to Easter Island and you certainly won’t be disappointed with them. Statues can be found all over the island, mainly by the sea.
Some of the statues have been restored to their original condition, but a large part lies lying on the ground. The size of the statues varies from a couple of meters to 12 meters. The finest statues can be found in the western part of the island in Tongariki and near the crane of Rano Rakara.
Rano Rarakun crater
Rano Raraku Crater is located near Tongarik in the western part of the island. The crater has once served as the birthplace of Moai statues, as here they have been carved out of the crater wall and later transported to their final locations.
Rano There are still hundreds of statues in Rakara, most of which are still unfinished.
You can get around the area along marked trails and at the same time climb to look at the lake in the crater above. To get to Rano Raraku, you have to pay a national park fee, which also includes the Rano Kau crater. It is worth getting a ticket already at the airport, as it will be cheaper than buying it on the spot.
Orongo and Rano Kaun crater
The village of Orongo has once been an important and sacred place of ritual. The area still has the ruins of a village and a magnificent lake in the Rano Kau crater, on the edges of which grow many food plants, including coffee and vines.
Rano Kau is located right next to Hanga Roan and is followed by a picturesque walking path through the forest and meadows. You can also get there by car if you can’t climb the slope.
