Easter Island Things to Do

 
by pure1942
 
  •   Things to Do
    by pure1942
  •   Things to Do
    by pure1942
  •   Things to Do
    by pure1942
  •   Things to Do
    by pure1942
  •   Things to Do
    by pure1942
 
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Caleta Hanga Roa

by pure1942

The small harbour of Hanga Roa is an interesting place to have a picnic, while soaking up everday life on the island. Especially busy in the morning, the harbour is one of two harbours used by local fishermen and their colourful boats fill the small protected harbour. This is also the place to come to arrange dive trips around the island with two dive centres located here. There is also the aforementioned Ahu Tautira which has two restored moai statues which stand in front of the harbour.

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Parque Nacional Rapa Nui

by pure1942

Since 1935, much of the island of Rapa Nui has been designated a national park administered by CONAF, the Chilean forestry and national park authority. Almost everything outside the immediate vicinity of Hanga Roa and Mataveri Airport lies within the park parameters and so the majority of the island’s moai, ahu, caves, quarries, volcanoes, beaches and other ancient sites require the purchase of a ticket for entrance to the park. These tickets can be purchased at the ranger stations at Rano Raraku and Orongo. Rangers patrol the park and can help with visitor information with many speaking english to some degree. Leaflets and information brochures can also be picked up at the ranger stations at Orongo and Rano Raraku and there is sometimes a ranger posted at the Tahai Complex with information booklets. The entrance fee is USUALLY US$10 and the ticket is valid for the entire duration of...

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Motus

by pure1942

Just off the south-western corner of the island lie the three motus or islets of Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao. While you can’t land on any of the motus due to their protected status as nesting grounds for seabords, there are fantastic views over the three motus from Orongo and they have played an important part of the island’s history.At almost 4 hectares, Motu Nui is the largest of the three offshore islets and is basically the summit of a 2000m high underwater volcano. Motu Nui played an important part in the make-make cult and in particular the tangata-manu competition where competitors had to swim as far as the island to find the first egg of the sooty tern and return to the main island (see separate tips on Orongo and the Birdman cult for more info). The island has two caves which contain paintings and carvings and there is also the remains of a small ahu. Today the island...

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Orongo Petroglyphs

by pure1942

Apart from the interesting stone houses at Orongo, visitors to the island flock here to view some of the island’s finest rock art and petroglyphs. There are thousands of petroglyphs carved into the volcanic rock of Rapa Nui and examples can be found all over the island. Some of the petroglyphs date from the time of the ‘moai’ culture but the most famous and beautiful examples of rock carving come from the time of the make-make (Birdman)cult and can be seen at the Orongo ceremonial village. The most famous motif used throughout the collection of petroglyphs at Orongo is of the tangata-manu or birdman, a half man, half bird figure which represented the make-make culture. Other important petroglyphs depict ‘komari’ (fertility) symbols and make make. The best place to see these petroglyphs is at the Mata Ngarahu sector at Orongo. This was the ceremonial centre of the village where ‘priests’...

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Orongo

by pure1942

Perched high above the crater of Rano Kau is one of the island’s most enigmatic places. Orongo village is located on the southern ridge of the volcano on a cliff overlooking the pounding waves of the Pacific far below and looking out over the three small islets, or motus, Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao. Orongo was a ceremonial village comprising of about 54 stone houses connected to the make-make cult, more commonly referred to as ‘The Birdman Cult’(see Local Customs Tips for more on the birdman cult) The village was occupied and used for only a few weeks every year at the beginning of spring during the time of the make-make cult although evidence suggests that there were dwellings here at Orongo since the 16th century. Orongo became the focus of a new political and religious order after the clan warfare and inter tribal rivalries led to the abandoning of traditional ‘moai’ based...

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Rano Kau

by pure1942

While there are around 70 small volcanoes and volcanic vents on Rapa Nui but it is the three principal volcanoes of Poike, Tervaka and Rano Kau that give the island its triangular shape forming the three vertices of the land. Nothing will prepare you for your first gaze across the mile wide crater of Rano Kau and down onto the glassy surface of its freshwater lake. Forming the south-western tip of the island, Rano Kau is not the highest point on the island, that distinction belongs to the 507m high Maunga Terevaka. However, Rano Kau is arguably one of the most dramatic points on Rapa Nui and a walk along its upper ridge gives sweeping views across the island and out over the vast, blue emptiness of the Pacific Ocean. Standing at a height of about 330 metres, but feeling like much more, you can look down on the stunningly beautiful lake with its patchwork of totora reeds and marshland and...

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Ana Te Pahu

by pure1942

Following the track east away from Ahu Te Peu and the coast, you will soon come across signs for Ana Pahu. Like many of the island’s caves, the ana was created when rock solidified around flowing molten lava and created a hollow lava tube. One of the more interesting of the island’s ‘public’ caves, the site once acted as a kind of island greenhouse and horticultural area. Because of the sheltered and humid atmosphere created in the cave and at its entrance, plants, vegetables and fruit grew abundantly here. Sweet potatoe, taro, mahute and banana trees have been grown effectively here in the past and some can still be seen as you make your way down into the cave.Inside, the cave opens out to reveal an extensive underground complex, which was used for shelter, growing plants and food and as an important source of fresh water. The cave proved invaluable for locals who could collect and...

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Ahu Te Peu

by pure1942

The trek along the western coast of the island is well rewarded with another remarkable ahu site. While none of the moai have been re-erected, Ahu Te Peu is more notable for its outstanding masonry and construction techniques. The ahu platform has similarities to that of Vinapu, with the same skill and craftsmanship displayed throughout the construction. As at Vinapu, the precise masonry has had some theorists and archaeologists draw comparisons between the stone work on Rapa Nui and that of the Incas in South America, which in turn has led some to conclude a possible link between the two cultures. As well as the impressive ahu platform at Te Peu, the site gives a great insight into a typical traditional village as the remains of many stone buildings can be seen here and you are free to wander about the site freely, although as at all the heritage sites on the island, you are forbidden...

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Ana Pora

by pure1942

Further along the western coast you will come to Ana Pora, another lava tube cave used as both a dwelling and ceremonial centre. Like many caves, the entrance is reinforced with additional stones and rocks to provide more cover and protection. After an initial stoop this cave opens out into a head high cavern. You pass through a passageway of stones which opens out into a large arched room. This cave would have been used for shelter during bad weather and times of war. There are many local legends detailing the use of these caves or ‘ana kionga’ during times of strife and war. The presence and use of these caves may explain why early visitors to the island, including Captain Cook, noted only a small population present on the island, mostly men. It is now believed that the women and children could have possibly been hiding in these caves during these early visits by European explorers.

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Ana Kakenga

by pure1942

Easter Island has a huge number of caves and lava tubes buried underground and while there are a number of caves or ‘ana’ which can be visited by tourists, the vast majority of these caves are hidden with their entrances a deeply guarded secret. Many of these caves are owned by local families and their exact locations have been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation. It was only after reading Thor Heyerdahl’s ‘Aku Aku’ did I become fully aware of the importance of these family caves which were used as hiding places and storage rooms for important family treasures most notably strange stone statues which are described in detail in Heyerdahl’s book and some of which are on display in the Kon Tiki museum in Oslo.Ana Kakenga is one of the caves which can be visited by tourists and is located on the western coast about 3km outside Hanga Roa. The entrance into the cave is...

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Q:  Hi All, I live in Macau PRC and am thinking of visiting Easter Island which is always one of my dream places. But travelling to... 

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A: Hi! Was on that amazing island a few years ago. And then the only flights from South America was from Santiago, Chile. But there were also possible to fly there from... 

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