In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in the Chilean Polynesia and far away from all the continents, there stands Easter Island, a place where tropical weather, strong colors, a unique language, native music, and a millenary and intriguing culture make up the habitat of a destination that invites everyone to live an unforgettable experience.
Rapa Nui is a tiny island with a population of 7 thousand inhabitants and a small village called Hanga Roa that is its capital. You can go from one of its sides to the other in just one day since its maximum width is 24 kilometers. It is made up by three volcanoes that give it a triangular shape: Terevaka, Poike, and RanoKau, which, in turn, has 90 parasitic volcanoes.
Each volcano is a place worth visiting. RanoKau is the most impressive because its crater is full of water and that image together with the beautiful view of the sea make it an amazing landscape. Inside the very same crater, there is a small village called Orongo, where the members of the Rapa Nui culture used to go during spring to choose the Bird Man, who was then going to be the leader of the island.
What can you visit?
Moai are the symbol of archaeology and tourism in Rapa Nui. There are more than 900 hundred spread all around the island. The most stunning are the fifteen moai that stand by the seaside and that can been seen from different parts of the island.
The seven explorers, the only moai that look to the sea, make up another must-see that gives you knowledge about Rapa Nui culture. Legend says that the seven explorers were sent by King HotuMatu’a from an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called Hiva to look for new lands for the population to live in because in Hiva there were many social problems. Once sent, the explorers found Rapa Nui and they are looking to the sea because, in fact, they are looking towards Hiva.
The Quarry: it is the place where moai used to be created, and where nowadays lies the highest one, of 20 meters long. The remarkable aspect of the place is that there are many moai by the side of the volcano, as if the quarry had been suddenly abandoned.
Roiho caves: they are lava channels that appeared after the eruptions of the volcanoes and that are spread all around the island. In the past, they were used as shelters in times of war. Ana Te Pahu is one of the biggest caves, its surface is of about 7 kilometers, and it is possible to go inside it and walk through its rocky and wet corridors. If you go, we advise you to take flashlights and comfortable sneakers.
There are just two beaches where you can get inside the sea because the others are rocky and might be dangerous:
Anakena, which has white sand, crystal clear water, and the seven moai by the seaside, is perfect to spend the day and enjoy nature.
Ovahe, where it is better to go in the morning since during the afternoon cliffs cast a shadow over it, is ideal to snorkel and it is characterized by its rosy sand.
Ahu Te Pito Te Henua: it is the place by the seaside where there is the stone that symbolizes the belly button of the world. According to the Rapa Nui culture, this stone has magnetic properties and it was carried by HotuMatu’a from Hiva, which is why the four smaller stones that surround it point at Hiva’s location. Besides, it is said that the energy of the stone is equivalent to the energy of the whole Earth.
Toki: it may not be known by tourists, but it is worth the visit. Toki is a music school that was almost entirely built with recycled materials. The project is led by Enrique Icka, a musician born in Easter Island; and Mahani Teave, one of the best pianist in the world and the only Rapa Nui pianist. The purpose of the school is to give guitar lessons to all those that are interested in learning to play Rapa Nui instruments and to sing Rapa Nui songs. The place is really mystic: its core area, under a glass dome, has stones from different parts of the island which were activated with a prayer so that the “mana”, that is, the positive energy, could spread all around the place. Website: tokirapanui.com
Food:
Hanga Roa offer many options to enjoy local food by the seaside.
One of our favorite places is Te Moana, where ceviche, tuna tartare, lobster, and French fries with prawn sauce are delicious.
Poerava y Koala is another option. It is located inside the Hangaroa hotel and everything there is exquisite, but the menus we like the most are pasta and tuna “tiradito”.
Explora hotel has a restaurant that is worth visiting. It changes its menu everyday offering two options and a great variety of Chilean wines.
But if you go on a tour and you want to take your own food, we suggest that you step by the bakery called O Te Ahí, on the main Avenue. Pastries are a classic and the entire confectionery is really good.
And if you want to live a traditional Rapa Nui experience more tailored to tourists, Ta ra’ ai is a good choice. There, you will be able to dance, watch a typical Rapa Nui show, and try local menus prepared underground with volcano ashes and banana leaves.
Hotels?
HareNoi: It is located inside the town and it is near the airport. The place is perfect to go with family or friends since it has bungalows with common areas and four rooms. The swimming pool imitates the pools that naturally pop up on the stones of the island, and the restaurant is excellent.
http://www.noihotels.com/hotel/hare-noi/
Hangaroa: It has a privileged location inside the town and it faces the sea. Its architecture respects the colors and the materials of the island.
http://www.hangaroa.cl/es/hangaroa
Explora Hotel: It is located on a hill, about 15 minutes away from the town. Its philosophy invites you to take care of the place and enjoy nature in a different way.
http://www.explora.com/es/hoteles-y-travesias/rapa-nui-chile/
Other tips:
Guides: Unless you stay at Explora hotel, which has its own guides, we suggest that you hire a guide that knows the place and the Rapa Nui culture to visit all the attractions and get to know and love the history of this mystic and enchanting island.
We recommend that you hire Marcus Edensky, a Swede who loves Easter Island, lives there, and, in order to be accepted by natives learnt Rapa Nui language and all the habits of this peculiar culture.
+569999991077
Something curious?
There aren’t many women in the island, that’s why they are carefully looked after by men so that the ethnic group is preserved. So if you are a man, be careful: to flirt with a Rapa Nui woman, you must be part of their culture and their community!
