Easter IslandOne of the most isolated and enigmatic places on the planet, Easter Island is situated in eastern Polynesia some 3,700 km (5hr flight) from mainland Chile. Now a world heritage site, it was discovered in 1771 on Easter Sunday by Spanish conquistadors on their way to the Indies. Over 600 mysterious Moai, or stone statues, make the whole island an open-air museum. The purpose of the Moai still remains a mystery and archaeologists are trying to understand this ancient civilisation by interpreting the ancient language of Rapa Nui - a Polynesian dialect. Many Moai can be found unfinished, at varying stages of construction, showing the elaborate carving techniques used with only rudimentary tools. The island is made up of 3 volcanoes, each of which can be explored on foot. The inhabitants are mostly Polynesian and the quiet little towns of Hanga Roa and Orongo with their incredible stonewalls and birdman ceremonial sites adding to the islands charm. In addition to the cultural and archaeological interests, there are beautiful beaches, clear waters and coral reefs, as would be expected of a pacific island. TO SEE AND DO ON EASTER ISLANDThe Island offers a wide array of attractions, including trekking, horse riding, tropical beaches and ancient ruins. Below are some suggestions of what you can see and do, though we can tailor any trip to suit your interests. Hanga-Roa. This sleepy little town is the home of almost the entire island's population. Containing an anthropological museum and thought to be their cultural centre. Ahu-Akivi. These are the most famous of the moais, where 7 giants face the ocean, while all others elsewhere face inland. Legend has it that this was the site where the Rapa Nui king first set foot on the island in the 4th century. Vinapu. The area contains the ruins of two Ahu, (ceremonial platforms for the moais) one of which shows similarities to Machu Picchu's stonework. The moais that used to sit on top of the structure have unfortunately toppled over. Rano Raraku. A volcano containing the quarry where nearly all the moais were sculpted. All 394 moais here were left unfinished and at varying stages of completion. Te Pito Kura. The site of the largest Moai ever transported and erected, weighing 82 tons and reaching 10m tall, it now lies on the ground. Orongo. This small ceremonial village comes to life during the Tapati Rapa Nui festival in January, though it is better known for the nearby Rano Kau volcano, whose crater has a diameter of 1.6 km and is 200m deep. Ovahue. This small rarely frequented beach has a peculiar pink sand and with its crystal clear waters is ideal for lazing away the days. Any of the above trips can be visited on foot or on horseback. The 3 volcanoes of the island can all be summitted in a day, depending on fitness.
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