Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

About the Country

Lying 3700km (2294mi) west of the Chilean mainland, enigmatic Easter Island is the world's most remote inhabited island. It is actually more Polynesian than Chilean, though the presence of Pacific Islanders in this isolated part of the world is as much a mystery as how their descendants managed to design and sculpt the hundreds of colossal statues (moai) from hard volcanic basalt - let alone transport them from the inland quarries to the coast. 

This really is off the beaten track: you can sail more than 1900km (1178mi) in any direction without sighting inhabited land. Chile officially annexed the island in 1888 during the period of expansion which followed the War of the Pacific. Only about 2000 people live on the island, and nearly all of them live in the town of Hanga Roa. The population is 70% Polynesian, with most of the remainder coming from the Chilean mainland. The island is virtually an open-air national park, and boasts 300 moais and related stonework.

People & Islandlife

Hanga Roa is the tiny capital where most of the 2,000 inhabitants live. About 69% of the islanders are descendants of the original Polynesian ancestors. The remainder are mostly from Chile. The official language is Spanish, but many islanders speak Rapa Nui.

Life revolves around fishing, agriculture and archaeological research carried out by permanently stationed Chileans and foreigners.

History
Rapa Nui was settled around 300AD by Polynesians. Chile annexed Easter Island in 1888 and in the 1960's the island received its own municipal constitution within the province of Valparaiso.

Nature
There are no indigenous land mammals and even marine mammals are rare. White tropic birds nest on the offshore pinnacle of Motu Kao Kao.

Sights
In the stone quarry near Rano Raraku volcano, you can see where the stone moais were quarried. There are also monuments in different stages of construction. Other major attractions are the magnificent beaches of Anakena with moai silhouetted in the background and Ovahe with its pink sand. 

The ceremonial centre of Orongo perched on the rim of crater Rano Kau is the best place to view the three islets or motu which figured in the birdman ritual. Petroglyphs (engraved symbols) feature at most of the ahu or sacred sites. At Tahai, a short walk from the village, locals can often be found selling local artefacts such as carved replicas of the moai.

Visitors to the island can choose accommodation from among ten hotels and 27 boarding houses, or stay with a family. Camping is allowed.

Sightseeing is done by car, van, motorcycle, on horseback or on foot. If hiring a car, be aware that there is no insurance on the island.