South America

Easter Island- gem in the middle of Pacific.

Easter Island

Mata ki te rangi – Eyes looking to the sky

There are places in the world that you would like to visit, there are places that you dream of going to and places that you think you will never be able to go to. For me the Easter Island was one of those places I did not even dream about, because the dream was to unreal to come true. And here we go!

This amazing open air museum full of history and one of the most famous archeological sites in the world is truly an amazing experience. I am sure that this will be a story you are going to remember for ages. I got a curiosity bug after the visit. The legends, history and the mystery surrounding them are so captivating that I can’t stop searching for more information.


Favourite travel resources:

  • Booking.com for searching best prices on accommodation.
  • Discover Cars is a great website as they search both local and international car hire services, so you can choose the best deal for yourself. Make sure though, that the company has a good reputation and reviews.
  • Get Your Guide is my place to go for searching and booking tours and excursions, especially when I travel solo.
  • World Nomads travel insurance. I like them because they have quite extensive coverage of different activities.
  • Jack’s Flight Club is a service that can save you hundreds of dollars on flights, it works especially well in Europe.
  • Trivago where you can search and save on hotels.
  • Go City is a perfect site for booking bucket list experiences and attractions all in one to avoid paying for multiple tickets. Easy and saves money.
  • Trip Advisor– amazing for good quality recommendations.
  • Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.

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Easter Island

Some geography

Easter Island is located 3600 km away from the Chilean coast and over 2000 km away from the nearest neighbours in Pitcairn Island. This makes it the most isolated inhibited place on Earth. It is a really small island. Having only 163,6 square kilometers and being located in the middle of Pacific, makes you feel that you really far away from the world. Even though it is not easy to get there, every flight is fully booked. I think there’s 5 flights a week only. You can fly there from Chile. No other options and the shortest fly lasts over 5 hours…you get the idea how far it is.

There is only one airline flying there and the prices are generally high. However, depending on a a day, you can find cheaper flights, especially if you are flexible. Use this link to compare different dates.

The island is formed by three extinct volcanoes, which create the triangular shape of the island. Hiking Terevaka volcano will give you a chance to see the whole island. This will show you how small it really is.

Easter Island

The island’s history

Easter Island is only one of the names throughout the history. The name was given to the island by a Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen, who arrived there on an Easter Sunday in 1722 and was the first European person visiting the place. Before that the island had a few others names:  Te Pito o Te Henua, which means ‘The Center of the World” and Mata-Ki-Te-Rani – “Eyes Looking at Heaven”. The current Polynesian name that is being used to these days is Rapa Nui and was given to the island after the slave raids in the 1860s.


See also: 

Easter Island. 4-day itinerary.

Keep calm…and go to Chile. What you need to know before your trip.

Chilean bucket list. What to see and do in Chile.

Caleta Buena. In search for penguins and discovering hidden gems of Chile.

10 top places in South America that should be on your bucket list.


 

Moai statues

This is the statues that the island is famous for. There is many stories and many theories related to the statues. It still remains a mystery why they were made and what purpose they served. So far, 887 statues has been discovered on the island. The biggest secret remaining is how they were moved. Of course, there are many theories, which make total sense, but some anthropologists still find it a point of argument.

Upon arrival to the island you quickly will notice that all the parts of moais are strictly protected. Vulnerability of the statues is one of the reason why any kind of contact is prohibited and even punished by heavy fines and prison. I asked some locals about the statues hoping that they will tell me something I couldn’t read elsewhere. I was told that some of the statues are places on ahu- platforms that look like altars. The statues were made when a member of a family died and therefore moais served a ceremonial purpose and need to be respected. It was believed that dead people brought fertility of the land and animals, good fortune and health to the island.


Learning about Easter Island is fascinating. I recommend these few books, if you’d like to read some amazing stories:

Easter Island

 I absolutely loved the island and I must admit that it was more beautiful than I ever expected. I heard many opinions of the island from people who went there. Some say that apart from the statues there is no much to do. I must disagree. You could easily stay there for 2 weeks and be busy. Well, at least I wish I could. If you are not an active type, breathing the freshest air, watching the unspoiled nature and wild animals is like a bliss.

 

I have prepared for you a 4-day itinerary full of tips and ideas how to organize a trip to give you the best experience. Stay tuned next week for a post with plenty photos from this beautiful island and some tips from the locals.

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Easter Island, Chile


Disclosure: Please note that this post included affiliate links, when you decide to purchase anything through these links I get a small commission at NO extra cost to you, it helps me to keep running this blog! I only promote products and services I use or would use myself. All images are the property of Postcards from the World and cannot be used without permission.


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