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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Te Pu Haka Nini Mako’i

by pure1942

Following the western coastal trail you will come to this area covered in volcanic, rocky outcrops. Searching through the uneven ground and grass you will be able to spot a variety of petroglyphs and carvings. The name ‘Te Pu Haka Mako’i’ literally means ‘holes to roll mako’i seeds’ which refers to a traditional game which local children used to play. Like the petroglyphs at Papa Vaka, these carvings depict items and animals important to the local islanders. Depictions of turtles, fish and canoes can be seen scattered around the area. The engravings can be hard to find but there is an information sign close to the track and the petroglyphs are located in the field behind...keep searching and you’ll stumble across them. Not entirely sure of the originality of some of the carvings...some of them look very fresh but then again I’m no expert on rock art!

Hanga Kio’e

by pure1942

Once one of the most important villages and ceremonial sites on the island, today Hanga Kio’e is often overlooked by visitors more anxious to make a bee line for the obvious attractions of Rano Raraku , Tongariki and Orongo. Located just north of the Anthropological Museum, Hanga Kio’e is only a short stroll outside Hanga Roa and so even if not venturing further along the western coast, Hanga Kio’e is still worth a look. At the site are the remains of various traditional houses ‘hare paenga’ and two restored Ahu dating from the 17th century. Ahu Akapu has an impressive re-erected moai but the second ahu has just a small stump of its moai remaining. According to local tradition, each new king or ‘ariki’ of the island had to live, for a time, near Ahu Akapu and attended a school nearby, where he would be taught the ancient art of reading and engraving in the ‘rongo-rongo’ script.

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Western Coast Hike

by pure1942

Apart from Hanga Roa and the aforementioned Tahai complex and Anthropological Museum very few people venture along the rugged western coast of East Island. This is a shame as apart from another couple of interesting archaeological sites, caves and rock art the area is blessed with magnificent and rugged coastal scenery which makes for a perfect hike. It is possible to hike all the way to Anakena but you will need a half day to do this hike including stops at the many sites along the way. We hiked as far as Ahu Tepeu and back in one very enjoyable afternoon stopping off to check out caves and petroglyphs along the way. The only other people you are likely to meet along the way are a few locals out checking on their horses which roam freely in the area. However be warned that you are also likely to come across the carcass of a dead horse or two as the animals are generally left to rot and...

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Ovahe Beach

by pure1942

Although not quite as picture perfect as pretty Anakena, Ovahe Beach is still worth a visit, especially for people who prefer their beach bum experience in solitude. Ovahe is close to Anakena but doesn’t receive a fraction of the visitors due to its more isolated location, lack of archaeological sites and absence of shade. Nonetheless it does warrant attention as, although small, it is a very pleasant place to relax on gorgeous sand and take a refreshing dip. It also boasts a number of small caves to poke about in. You are practically guaranteed to have the place to yourself especially outside the peak tourist season and weekends.

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Puohiro

by pure1942

Another often overlooked site on the northern coastal loop is Puohiro or ‘Hiro’s Trumpet’. This odd site is home to a rather unimpressive looking rock. What makes this site so special are the holes which have naturally formed through the rock. Local legend has it, that blowing through a certain hole in the rock produces a deep resonating sound, which echoes through the waters around the island and stirs all the fish into a frenzy making it easier to catch them. However, after trying hard to produce a sound from the rock, it appeared to me that you would need the lungs of Hotu Matua himself to get a sound resembling anything more than a rather rude burping noise from this particular rock ;)

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Papa Vaka

by pure1942

East of Anakena, just off the main round island road, is another interesting archaeological site known as Papa Vaka. The site is principally a rock art site containing a variety of engraved figures, symbols and implements which have been carved into the outcrops of volcanic rock. The petroglyphs here, show the Rapa Nui peoples deep respect and knowledge for the sea and the importance of marine resources to the islanders. Among the carvings, there are depictions of fish, octopus, fish hooks and of course the traditional Vaka or canoe. The fish hooks are interesting as they show a definite link between Rapa Nui people and other Polynesians contradicting the conspiracy theorists who claim that the Rapa Nui were in fact a South American peoples. The fish hooks depicted in the petroglyphs are very similar to examples found all across the Polynesian triangle from New Zealand to Hawaii.Although...

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Ahu Ature Huki

by pure1942

Standing on a hill overlooking the white sands of Anakena is the enigmatic Ahu Ature Huki. The solitary moai standing on this ahu has had a significant part to play in modern archaeological investigations on the Easter Island. The moai was the first statue to be re-erected on the island, having lain neglected for decades after the inter tribal unrest caused all the moai to be toppled from their ahus. Thor Heyerdahl was the man responsible for the project, which raised a moai onto an ahu and gave the island an upright moai for the first time since around 1838, when the last statue was torn down. It took Heyerdahl and his team 9 days to raise the moai onto its ahu using just wooden poles, ropes and piles of rocks using methods which, Heyerdahl claimed, would have been close to those used by the islanders at the time. Whether or not the methods were the same, Heyerdahl did prove that with...

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Ahu Nau Nau

by pure1942

Apart from the obvious scenic attractions of Anakena beach, history and archaeology buffs will still make a bee line straight for this idyllic bay for it is here that some of the best preserved moai ever erected on an ahu can be found. Ahu Nau Nau is built on a sandy hill overlooking the Anakena bay and displays seven moai. Five of these statues are stunning examples of late period moai, with long angular noses, thin lips and long ears. Delicately carved motifs can still be seen in relief on these fantastically preserved specimens and four of the moai have had their pukao (top knots) replaced. The two remaining moai haven’t been preserved as well and only their torsos can be seen, but fragments of their heads and pukao can be seen scattered in front of the ahu. The preservation of these fine moai can be attributed to the sand of Anakena which covered the fallen moai and shielded and...

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Anakena

by pure1942

Easter Island isn’t exactly blessed with the white sand beaches so abundant and typical of other South Pacific islands but nevertheless sun worshippers will be relieved to find one sliver of tropical, beachy bliss on Easter Island’s northern coast. Anakena is a beautiful sandy bay overlooked by swaying palm trees and even boasts two ahu sites right on the beach. Lazing on a beach with these ancient statues staring out over you is a surreal feeling and makes a swim here all the more memorable! Of course the swaying palm trees are imported from French Polynesia as Easter Island no longer has native trees having being stripped bare during the the construction and transportation of the moai!As demonstrated by the presence of two important ahu, Anakena isn’t just a pretty place to while away a few hours sunbathing and swimming but a place of significant historical relevance. It is also a...

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Ahu Akivi

by pure1942

One of the more unusual ahu sites, Ahu Akivi is located on the western side of the island, not far from Hanga Roa. Like all ahu, the moai overlook a village and ceremonial area but most unusually the ahu is inland and the seven moai all face out to sea rather than inland. The unusual orientation of the seven moai may have a cosmological relevance . During the equinoxes the seven moai and ahu are directly aligned with the setting sun. This has lead some archaeologists and historians to conclude that the islanders may have been aware of and had significant knowledge of lunar and solar patterns and that certain ahus had been erected and aligned with the paths of the sun and moon.The moai at Ahu Akivi have all been re-erected and is one of the more atmospheric sites on the island especially if you arrive outside the busy tour group hours, although having your own transport is a must unless...

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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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