Easter Island Warnings Or Dangers

  Indepence Protest in centrsl Hanga Roa
by pure1942
 
  • Indepence Protest in centrsl Hanga Roa
      Indepence Protest in centrsl Hanga Roa
    by pure1942
  • Rapa Nui Flag
      Rapa Nui Flag
    by pure1942
  • Cliffs
      Cliffs
    by pure1942
  • Sign at Rano Raraku
      Sign at Rano Raraku
    by pure1942
  • I used my poncho to gather rain water
      I used my poncho to gather rain water
    by melosh
 
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Independence

by pure1942

While not always immediately apparent to visitors to Easter Island there is underlying political discontent on the island. Rapa Nui independence from Chile is a controversial topic on the island and one which casual visitors would be advised to steer clear from unless you know what you are talking about. While it probably won’t affect your stay here it is important to remember that the isalnders do consider themselves very different from mainland Chileans and are fiercely proud of their unique culture, language and traditions. Be aware of political sensitivities and don’t voice your political opinions until you are sure who you are talking to and that they are comfortable talking to you about the topic. Rapa Nui culture was fiercely suppressed by the Chilean government in the past and resentment is still evident.

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Cliffs

by pure1942

While hiking along the remote north coast, you will come very close to some sheer cliff faces. Be extremely cautious along this route as crumbling cliff edges and long grass can make a stumble or trip very likely. There is little hope for anybody who falls from the edges of these cliffs with jagged rocks lurking below and strong rough seas bashing the cliff face. This is also a consideration you should bear in mind if seeking out the White Virgins Cave which is located in a cliff face and is not the easiest or safest place to locate and access. You need a good head for heights and willingness to scramble down a sheer cliff face! Not to be undertaken lightly.

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Don’t Touch

by pure1942

At many of the sites within the National Park you will see signs warning visitors not to touch the artefacts. This may seem obvious but it is amazing to see the amount of people who think its OK to touch and even climb on top of these ancient treasures. It is not only the moai themselves which can’t to touched but the ahus on which they stand are also off limits, not just due to their fragility but also because they are considered sacred places. While exploring some of the more remote sites it is easy to get up close and personal with many of the moai statues and there aren’t always signs telling you not to touch but whether there are signs or not, it is forbidden to touch any of the artefacts regardless of their size or location.

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Dogs in Hanga Roa

by mad4travel

Watch out for roaming packs of dogs in Hanga Roa. The locals just seem to let their dogs out to roam and they can be a pretty rowdy and argumentative lot.They do not seem to bother you ( maybe if you have food) and often flake out under trees in the midday sun but they can be a bit worrying if you are not used to being around packs of dogs.

Carry water

by melosh

If you decide to hike or bike or in anyway travel on your own around the island, carry some water. You will find craft vendors outside a number of the sites, but none will be selling drinks. I was told that on weekends that there are some concessionaires who sell food and drink at the beach, but on the weekday morning that I visited their stands were closed and the beach empty.

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Bring a good pair of shoes

by sswagner

The island is very rocky, so a good pair of shoes is necessary here. Whatever you do, avoid walking barefoot anywhere on the island with the exception of the two sandy beaches. The lava is sharp, especially at the coast. Also, the rocks can be slippery in spots.

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Do not walk on the ahu!

by sswagner

The island is mostly a national park. It is also described as the largest outdoor museum in the world. The vast majority of people who do their research know what the rules are visiting Easter Island. One big one is to not walk on the ahu or touch the moai. The ahu consists of a platform in addition to a ramp leading up to it. The ramp will be marked by stones distanced equally apart. In many of the locations, signs will remind the visitor not to walk on the ahu. Not only does it cause unnecessary wear and tear to this unique place, it also is disrespectful to the culture. In the photo, it is unfortunate that this guy is teaching his son a bad habit. Note that he is on the ramp while his son is about to touch the moai. I hope that the place will be around for many more generations. In order for this to occur, everyone needs to help out.

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Drive slowly!

by sswagner

The island is full of livestock, especially horses and cattle. They will be found in the road quite frequently. Because there are some blind curves, this could be a danger to some. It does not matter which part of the island the road is on, there are likely to be animals nearby. While Easter Island is an open air museum, it should also be considered a large ranch. For those who walk or ride mountain bikes, the animals are not aggressive and will largely ignore your passing.

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Watch the weather

by TheWanderingCamel

A tiny speck in the middle of the ocean, Easter Island is subject to sudden changes in the weather. Given the nature of the activities it offers, and the spread out nature of the sites you will be visiting, you need to be aware of this and be prepared, especially if you're hiking.Bright hot sunshine can change very quickly into cold, wind and rain, and an overcast morning can just as quickly turn into blazing sun. The wind can be really strong, especially when you're up on the island's high spots. Changes in the weather can be very localized.Setting off for the whole day? make sure you carry water a hat sunglasses 30+ sunblock (and use it!) some sort of wind/rain jacketand wear sturdy shoes a shirt with sleevesand, as there are some fairly nasty creepy-crawlies out there in the long grass (Black widow spiders, scorpions and mosquitos) preferably long trousers Heading for caves? Carry a...

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Watch out for Falling Coconuts!

by RawdgerDodger

This is perhaps the funniest warning signs I have ever come across. But seriously, a local explained it to me that more people die of getting hit in the head by a coconut then any other random death events on the island. And au contraire to the stories I had heard before coming here, there are palm trees on Easter Island. There are other trees too but the palm trees have the coconuts you need to watch out for. These trees are realitively new, due to a big replantation of trees that has been going on the last decade. Personally, I was surprised by the number of trees I saw on this island rumored to be devoid of all trees. So beware as you stroll under that beautiful palm tree by that beautiful picture perfect white sand beach by the sea. Because if you are not paying attention and in the wrong place at the wrong time, BONK, bad news for you.

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Questions and Answers

ANNE930 profile photo

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... 

langlanglangpelikan profile photo

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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