Easter Island

A tiny speck of land that quite easily qualifies as one of the most remote locations on the planet, Easter Island is an enigmatic place. Blessed with a stunning array of archaeological landscapes, most notably the monumental statues called moai, Easter Island has a lure that is very hard to resist. Depicted most famously by the moai in popular culture, Easter Island (or Rapa Nui as its real name is) has been a matter of interest for historians for endless decades now. The moai form an open air marvel the likes of which is hard to rival and as such has gained widespread publicity and recall. But that is not its only calling card.

It being such a focal point for historians, many fail to find out or realize that Easter Island is a stellar location for lovers of adventure sports. Scuba-divers have waxed eloquent about the clear azure waters of the isle, some going so far as to dub it the clearest in the world, while surfers have gone to town and extolled the virtues of riding the waves churned out by the raging Pacific. If you wish to visit the ancient sites, a hike or a ride on horseback is all that’s holding you back. But of course, most people are now interested in knowing more about the innumerable moai. These were chiseled out of volcanic basalt, found further inland, before being erected on the coastline for reasons that still baffle historians. Wildly varying theories exist as to their existence, but none of the mystery surrounding them have been lost.

Thor Heyerdahl, famous explorer, observed traces of Peruvian influence, and it could be very possible that a pre-Incan civilization had drifted here somehow and set about constructing the monolithic structures. Paro, the name given to the single largest moai that tips the scales at 82 tons and stands over 32 feet tall, is today face down on the coastline. Clearly constructed in an era when architectural implements were hardly existent, it begs the question; how were these goliaths transported? The statues have no tales to tell, and their mysterious ways might remain forever unanswered. The moai today remain scattered all over, mainly near the coast, and remain the only vestiges of a bygone era.

One of the highlights of the trip would have to be a visit to the extinct volcano of Rano Kau, not very far from Hanga Roa. This can be reached after following an unmarked trail from the township, but it is a long walk of about 2 hours, so the less fit among us might find a taxi a more viable option. The taxi will take you near the top of the volcano from where you can walk downhill back to the town. Once there, be prepared to be greeted by spectacular vistas and around the Vocano rim is the Orongo archaeological site, an area central to a testing tribal challenge dating back several centuries.