Easter Island is famed for its 1887 extant massive statues, known as moai, constructed by the early Rapa Nui people. It has confounded historians and archaeologists for decades. Without a question, this is one of Chile’s, if not the world’s, most fascinating and mysterious locations. Continue reading to discover about the sights to see on the Easter Islands.
Rano Raraku
When deciding what to see on Easter Island, don’t forget to include Rano Raraku, the quarry – or factory – where all the island’s famous stone statues were created. Each statue was carefully cut away after carving and brought to its appointed final resting place on the island, which was often many miles distant. There are currently 397 moai in the quarry. Some statues are virtually finished and ready for shipping, while others are still being carved and have not yet been taken from the bedrock. All the moai in Rano Raraku are still there today, as they were when the quarry was abandoned. It is definitely a window into the past.
Anakena Beach
Anakena Beach is among the island’s few sand beaches, and it is fairly idyllic with its white powder sand, sparkling blue waves, coconut palms, and probably a few wild horses. It is an historical landmark featuring an ahu with seven moai rising directly in front of the shore, creating a postcard-perfect image.
Rano Kau
The island’s southwestern cape is formed by an extinct volcano, Rano Kau, which rises 1,063 feet (0.32 kilometres) above sea level. You may hike up the basaltic lava flows that formed the volcano’s sides. A massive crater with a one-mile diameter and a 33-foot-deep freshwater lagoon can be found inside. Parts of the crater wall have merged with the high sea cliffs due to erosion over time. The panoramic views of the ocean, the island, and the crater lake from the summit are breathtaking. The finest light is late morning or mid-to-late afternoon, and this is a highly photogenic location.
Hanga Roa Church
The Church of Hanga Roa was established in 1937 and is worth visiting during Sunday Mass. Father Sebastian Englert, a German priest who arrived at the island in 1935 and spent the next 34 years of his life studying and distributing Rapa Nui’s language, traditions, and archaeological history, was the parish’s first parish priest. Inside are beautiful wooden statues depicting the Rapa Nui’s conversion to Catholicism.