Easter Island - Three Wonderful Days!

Our last day of exploration on Easter Island -- how did the time fly by so quickly!  I still have to pinch myself to believe I'm really on the most remote inhabited island on earth!

It's located 2500 miles from any inhabited land mass of more than 100 people.  Pitcairn Island (1289 miles to the west with less than 100 residents) is the closest neightbor! You can get some perspective of its location on the map to the right.  Easter Island is in the lower right-hand corner of the Polynesian triangle.

Most of  the moai we had seen the 2 previous days had been restored and placed in their original positions.  At Ahu Aka Hanga the statutes still lay where they had fallen when either pulled down by an opposing clan or knocked over by the tsunami in the 1960's.. 

We climbed around to the backside which faces the ocean and peered through a small crack in the lava rock exposing human bone fragments buried here centuries earlier.

Among Easter Island's most breathtaking sites is the moai-studded slopes of Rano Raraku, a volcano which provided the stone for the island's famous moai.

This was the quarry where the Rapa Nui carvers chiseled their huge statues and eventually freed them from the quarry to be transported across the island.  We could see many of these still standing, never having been totally detached from their quarry origins. Only about a quarter of the statues were installed, while nearly half remained in the quarry and the rest sit elsewhere, probably on their way to final locations.

Climbing  up  the side of the volcano, we had a beautiful view of the crater's fresh-water lake whose edges were lined with totora reeds.

Herds of wild horses roamed freely in the area.

After so much climbing I was ready for a rest under a nice shade tree.  Actually, Easter Island has only remnants remaining of the original lush tropical island.  Apparently, the original inhabitants focused most of their energy on the tremendous tasks of building the moai rather than preserving their native environment. Much of the natural resources were consumed and not replaced. Hmmm, sound familiar?

Our guide saved the "wow" factor  of the morning until just before lunch.

A short drive from the quarry is the island's most stunning and photographed asset -- Ahu Tongariki.  This is the island's largest platform (base upon which the moai sit) with its 15 moai. This impressive row shows the variety of pukao (top knots.)

Next on the agenda was definitely lunch.  Knowing we would venture quite a distance  from the hotel today, they had prepared a box lunch and we were ready to enjoy our picnic. 

Located on the northeastern shores of Rapa Nui, Playa Anakena is the islands only broad sandy beach and , with its tall palms and turquoise waters, is almost a caricature of a South Pacific paradise. According to Rapa Nui oral tradition, this was the site that chief Hotu Motu'a landed with the first Polynesian settlers

Lunch was fun although the skies suddenly turned dark and rain looked imminent, but the Sun god continued to watch over us and soon  sunny skies reappeared.  After eating we walked over to another platform containing moai with a variety of  pukao and even some tattoos on the back sides. Two of the moai  were badly damaged, but the remainder were in good condition.

Climbing back into our van we bounced (quite literally) over some roads that make Costa Rica's feel like expressways!  But the drive was worth the destination -- Ahu Te Pito Kura with one of the largest remaining platforms but no moai remained.  What was there was a rock sacred to the Rapa Nui people.  By rubbing it legend says you will be empowered with special spirits.  I tried but am still waiting to feel empowered!

Beautiful wild horses were on the land we walked back through and several had young colts.  Couldn't resist a photo. 

Apparently, the population of these horses is getting out of control and there are estimated to be more than 4500 on this small island.


Tomorrow my wonderful odyssey through Peru and Easter Island comes to a close.  It's been a fabulous experience,  incredibly good weather, great guides, lovely hotels, delicious food, pleasant traveling companions and the most fascination destinations in the world.  What more could I ask -- except to return one day!

A big thank you to Latour and LAN Airlines for providing me with this opportunity.
Linda