Easter Island (the English name)- Rapa Nui (the native name) or also known as Isla de Pascua (as the Spanish would call it)

Easter Island (the English name)- Rapa Nui (the native name) or also known as Isla de Pascua (as the Spanish would call it)

Isla de Pascua (Rapi Nui) is located just south of the Tropic of Capricorn and its nearest neighbour is Pitcairn Island in Tahiti.

This island is one of the most remote settlements on earth, it is situated some 3790 km from the coast of Chile. The home of the giant carved statues, the Moai, that appear to be in a trance like state protecting those that had given them life.

This Island is 24km long and made up of three Volcanoes one in each corner (Rano Kau, Terevaka and Poike) and the people are of Polynesian origin.

You can defiantly see the island via foot, horse, bicycle, scooter, or car. We choose to see part via foot and part via scooter. Scooter rental and gas was $29 US for the day (there are lots of places to rent them).

There are 6 major areas you simply can not miss;
Ahu Tongariki (the largest on the island consisting of 15 statues)
Rano Raraku (The volcanic cone where most of the Moai were carved, there are almost 400 statues in different stages of development or demise)
Tahaic (3 temples in this area and the only statue that still has eyes)
Ahu Nau Nau (ceremonial centre located right on the beach)
Rano Kau volcano (open crater some 1.5km wide and 300 meters deep with lush vegetation in the centre) This area also in the national park has 54 stone houses, Motu Nui which is three small islands of the coast, and stone carvings.
Hanga Roa (the town) only French restaurant – which has excellent fish and wine.
Keep in mind there is great scuba diving around this area as well.

It is recommend that you stay at least 5 days to really visit all areas of the island and experience the great people of the island.

While on the island we decide to camp at Mihinoa Campground for $14.50 US/day and that included hot showers and use of kitchen plus a great outdoor sitting area and the best spot to view sunsets on the entire island.

Also I would recommend that you look up the past history of the people of Rapa Nui it is one out of a fictional novel. In the end there were only a few left out of the 4000 or so that started this population.

This was a truly worth the $798 dollar (including all taxes) flight out of Chile and a once in a lifetime experience.