Are you curious to explore one of the world’s remote inhabited islands – Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean? This island is part of Chile, and one of the most remote volcanic islands on earth. Easter Island, or Rapa Nui to give it its Polynesian name, is most famous for its archeological sites, but also offers extinct volcanoes and white-sand beaches. There are numerous attractions to explore on Easter Island as part of a guided private tour.
Some must-visit sites on Easter Island:
# 1- Rano Raraku
Rano Raraku, the quarry where nearly all of the moai were carved, and where almost 400 unfinished moai still lie, is one of the highlights of any visit to Easter Island. It is easy to spend several hours here and still be mesmerized by the sheer quantity of moai in all stages of carving, as well as the almost ghost-town atmosphere that pervades, as if the workers had all simply downed their tools one day, never to return.
# 2- Rano Kau Volcano and Orongo:
One million years ago, Rapa Nui’s most spectacular volcanic eruption created the southwest corner of the island, leaving behind an amphitheatre of a crater, and one of Easter Island’s most majestic sights. Perched on the furthest corner of the volcanic crater, Orongo is the ceremonial village where the Birdman Competition took place in former times, as a method of selecting the next island leader.
# 3- Ahu Tongariki:
No superlatives suffice for your first glimpse of Ahu Tongariki, with its seemingly infinite platform adorned with 15 colossal moai. This ahu represents the very pinnacle of the Rapa Nui stone carving period, and the sheer effort and expense involved in having created such an extravagant ceremonial altar is beyond belief.
#4- Anakena Beach and Ahu Nau Nau:
Anakena is the island’s main beach, ideal for swimming and sunbathing, and one of the highlights of any guided Easter Island tour. This island gem has beautiful white sand, palm trees and turquoise water, not forgetting the moai of Ahu Nau Nau in the background. This particular ahu is one of the best preserved of the whole island.
#Place 5- Terevaka:
Maunga Terevaka is the highest point of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), 507m above sea level. Cars are definitely not allowed up here, so the ascent is either on foot or on horseback. From the top you can see the whole island, and it gives an amazing sense of just how isolated it is here – the one place on Easter Island that really gives you that Robinson Crusoe feeling!
Do you want to get the most in-depth information during your Easter Island tour? Are you looking for help arranging a private guide on the island? Easter Island Spirit has years of experience in the tourism industry, resulting in memorable trips to this iconic and remote Polynesian island. We specialize in providing a wide variety of Easter Island tour and travel packages for all budgets.
For more information, feel free to email us at info@easterislandspirit.com.