Summary
In the Southern Pacific Ocean, a remote volcanic island looms out of the sea with giant stone statues called Moai. The Easter Island Statues are as mysterious as they are famous. Located on the island of Rapa Nui (aka Easter Island), one can’t help but wonder who put these giant stone heads on Easter Island and what was their purpose?
The island is famous for its stone head statues called Moai scattered throughout the park. It is believed that there are some 900 statues and 300 ceremonial platforms on the island. The Moai statues range in height from 2 m (6.5 feet) to 20 m (65 feet).
Once you appreciate the size and scale of these massive stone sculptures, you begin to wonder; Who put them here? What purpose do they have? How did they transport them across the sea? A traveler is on the trip of a lifetime to discover where this isolated civilization came from and where they went.
When you first see a Moai statue, you are drawn to its disproportionately large head, which is why they are commonly called “Easter Island Heads.” They are one of the most fascinating archaeological sites to see, and we are going to break down everything you need to know about visiting Rapa Nui.
How to Get to Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Easter Island (Rapa Nui in Polynesian) is a remote island in the southern Pacific Ocean. In fact, it is the most remote inhabited island in the world. It is listed among the most isolated places on Earth.
The only way to reach Rapa Nui is by plane. LATAM Airways (formerly LAN) operates flights from Santiago (Chile), which is a 5-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean.
Upon arriving on the island, you will find the majority of accommodation offerings in Hanga Roa, a short drive from the airport. Hanga Roa is the only town on the island, and you will discover that public transport is virtually nonexistent here.
How to Get Around Rapa Nui
The best option for getting around is to hire a car, which you can arrange with most hotels or guesthouse owners. I strongly recommend this approach as opposed to a tour bus; after all, this is one of the most remote islands in the world. I find that sense of remoteness central to the Easter Island travel experience.
Once you’ve secured your vehicle, collect a map from the ranger station (along with the park entrance fee), and the entire island is laid before you to explore. You can easily circumnavigate the whole island in a day.
Moai Nursery at Rano Raraku
Rano Raraku is known as the “nursery” of the stone head Moai statues. As you approach the site from the road, you will begin to see the giant heads dotted along the hillside. Look closer, and you will find examples of Moai at each stage of development; much like a manufacturing line.
There are statues only partially carved out of the slopes of this volcanic crater, and others are fully complete and ready for transport to their final destinations. All but 53 of the 887 Moai statues were carved from this tuff (compressed volcanic ash).
The mind boggles that humans from a stone-age civilization could carve such massive statues from rock and transport them around the island, a thousand years ago. A stunning archaeological discovery made in May 2012 revealed that the Easter Island heads have bodies!
You can climb to the top of the crater, which provides an almost 360-degree panorama of the island.
Ahu Tongariki
A short drive away leads you to Ahu Tongariki, the most photogenic of the statue sites. “Ahu” refers to village burial sites defined by a large flat stone platform with a seaward vertical wall. You will notice that the statues here all have their backs to the sea; they’re all facing inland.
So Who Put the Easter Island Statues Here?
It is believed that the Rapa Nui people, Polynesians who sailed here from other Pacific islands in Eastern Polynesia, erected the Easter Island statues. Alternatively, some theories suggest they could have arrived from South America.
The colonization of Easter Island began around 1000 AD, although dates differ between archaeological evidence and radiocarbon dating.
What Purpose Do the Statues of Easter Island Have?
Archaeologists suggest that the statues represented the Polynesian people’s ancestors. The Moai statues face away from the sea and toward the villages, presumably watching over the people.
Anakena Beach
Continuing our circumnavigation of the island takes us west along the north shoreline to Anakena Beach. This white-sand beach, flanked by swaying palm trees, is one of my favorite beaches in the world; rugged, remote, and restful.
The focus of your attention as you walk down to the beach is Ahu Nau Nau, a group of 7 Moai silhouetted in front of the calm turquoise waters of this secluded bay.
Ahu Akivi Moai have Eyes
As you venture toward the west coast now, you arrive at Ahu Akivi, which is unique because these Moai are the only ones that all face toward the sea, although they do overlook a village site too. A theory suggests these Moai looking out to sea are to help travelers find the island.
Rano Kau Crater
No visit to Easter Island would be complete without visiting the volcanic crater at Rano Kau.
The Orongo Ceremonial Village sits on the slopes of this extinct volcano crater. The stone dwellings here are from the “Birdman” era, where the annual Birdman competition (Tangata Manu) was held. Competitors had to climb down the cliffs and swim out to the small island at Motu Nui to collect a fresh egg from the manutara bird and then swim back to the village.
Easter Island as an Example of Human Frailty?
Could the vulnerability of humanity be expressed through the history of Easter Island? Here we have a remote civilization that overexploited its natural resources to destruction, as one theory suggests. However, another theory posits that the arrival of European settlers introduced disease and slavery, leading to their downfall.
I’m inclined to believe the second of these theories. Professor Stephen Hawking once said:
“If you look at history, encounters between civilizations with advanced versus primitive technologies have gone badly for the less advanced.”
Professor Stephen Hawking
About Rapa Nui National Park
Rapa Nui National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers nearly half of the area of the island of Rapa Nui and its four nearby islands. Positioned 3700 km off the coast of continental Europe, there are two weekly flights from Santiago, Chile.
For more about Chile, consider exploring why Chile is an ideal adventure travel destination.
