Visiting the Easter Island: in the middle of nowhere
Visiting the Easter Island: in the middle of nowhere
A visit to the Easter Island is a special experience. It deserves a place among the seven wonders of the world and exceeds Christ the Redeemer and probably different
I start with a bold statement: visiting the Easter Island deserves a place in the middle of the seven wonders of the world, the Christ, the Redeemer, and probably also one or two others.
The bottom line was Kia and I visited all seven wonders of the world and believe that visiting Easter Island deserves a place under the largest buildings in humanity. Out there in the middle of nowhere, it is often forgotten compared to mainstream monuments and structures.
But it should not be forgotten and it really shouldn't be missed. For so many reasons we left our hearts on the Easter Island in the middle of the Pacific.
Our visit was eagerly awaited, especially since it took place five months after our first planned trip. We originally planned to fly from Tahiti to Chile in December, but due to blackmail flight prices, an improvised cruise, an unplanned road trip through the USA and a cheap ticket to Colombia, we came to Chile instead in May.
Our budget shrank quickly, but it was no question of not going to the Easter Island. It was a point on the Bucket list that so many people could never do-how could we give up the opportunity?
and so after a long scanning we booked a few inexpensive tickets to Hanga Roa, the "capital" of the Easter Island.
When arriving grinned Kia and I grown up again and again. "Can you believe that we are on the Easter Island?" We continued to ask. For a boy from Norwich and a girl from Tower Hamlets, it was hard to believe that we had ended up in one of the most remote and exclusive travel destinations in the world.
We got into a taxi to Chez Maria Goretti, a charming guest house that we had booked for six nights. In Santiago, a backpack tourist named Ruth told us that five days were too much because the island was so small, but we wanted to be sure that we saw everything. Finally, the distance and the budget meant that we would probably never return to this special anywhere.
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After we settled in the Chez Maria Goretti, we decided to pay a short visit to the nearby Ko Te Riku. Instead of the modest place we expected, we came across several impressive statues (or "Moai") with wild horses that roamed the fields underneath. It was our first taste of the upcoming miracles.
At 30 km it is possible to circle the island by bike, but since Kia had only recently learned to drive, we decided to rent a car instead to get around. The next day we drove clockwise on the outer island road and first stopped at the most important attraction of Rano Raraku.
Surprisingly, the terrain was almost empty because no more than 20 tourists roamed on the site. Compared to Machu Picchu or even Christ the Redeemer it was an oasis of calm.
alt = “Visit-Easter Island-Big-Dude”> “The Big Dude” at Rano Raraku
Visitors are welcomed by the "Big Dude", a huge and impressive Moai that keeps guard at the entrance to the site.
Next are dozens of iconic Moai and the famous Tukuturi, the most human -like of the Moai. We baptized the ugly duckling of the Easter Island.
alt = “Visit-Easter-uglichen-Entlein”> Tukuturi at Rano Raraku
One thing that we noticed was that very few people visited the second section of the quarry itself (the left path on the fork). Although it was no longer possible to get the Moai close here, it was deeply humiliating to see so many about her birthplace.
alt = “Visit-Easter Steibruch”> Moai scattered about Rano Raraku
to Rano Raraku we drove to Ahu Tongariki and his 15 imposing statues, which are tight in front of a bright blue sky. Here was the admission of National Geographic covers and Discovery Channel documentaries.
When we were in the shadow of the Moai, we wondered how people created such creatures without modern tools and equipment and then almost destroy themselves.
alt = “Visit-Easter Island-AHU-Tongariki”> The iconic Ahu Tongariki
We used the rest of our stay to visit the most important sights of Anakena Beach, Maunga Terevaka and Ahu Tepeu as well as the smaller sights of Rano Kau and Orongo Ceremonial Village.
In addition, we could not help but visit the two major sights Rano Raraku and Ahu Tongariki a second time. It is worth noting that Rano Raraku was much more employed on our second visit (at noon instead of in the early morning), so it is worth planning two different visits to get the best out of the almost spiritual experience.
Secondly, it is worth taking the time to visit some of the smaller sights of the island (e.g. Ahu Teepeu). Many of them are not named as a must-lake, but we have reluctantly missed them.
In short, Ruth was wrong. There is more than enough to employ them for five days. After you have traveled so long to get there, why should you want to go so quickly? Even if you forget the open -air museum, the stormy history or the sheer isolation and seclusion of the Easter Island for a moment, the breathtaking beauty of the place always remains.
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When we drove across the island, I turned to Kia and said that it was so beautiful that it was difficult for me. Deforestation of the island has an unusual effect. Sometimes it almost feels like traveling through idyllic English landscapes.
But then they look into the clear blue sky, discover a white sandy beach, a turquoise lagoon or pending palm trees and find that this may be exactly the island paradise that you have always dreamed of.
Visit to the Easter Island: The essentials
Was: five days, six nights on the Easter Island, one of the most remote communities in the world. The island houses the Moai statues-one of the greatest mysteries of the planet.
Where: We stayed in the Hotel Chez Maria Goretti, a delightful guest house in the middle of lush gardens in the only settlement of the Easter Island, Hanga Roa. The hotel has simple but comfortable rooms and a charming common area in which guests can relax and relax after an eventful day.
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The breakfast (included in the price) is a great matter with fresh and delicious cakes that are served in addition to strong coffee and ripe fruits. Contact the hotel directly for the best prices: email info@chezmariagoretti.com or phone 56-32-2100459.
When: The Easter Island has a warm tropical climate all year round. All year round, there are cool seawings that help to keep the climate pleasant. However, if you visit the Easter Island in summer (December to February), the temperatures above 27 ° C (81 ° F) can rise.
From January to March, this is high season, which means higher prices and more visitors. In February there was the Tatati Rapa Nui Festival, which also attracts the masses. July to August can be a little cooler with average temperatures of 22 ° C (72 ° F), although lively winds often make it appear even cooler.
The low season, April to June and October to December, are great times for a visit because the climate is moderate and prices are cheaper.
like: As I mentioned, the island is remote. This is one of the reasons why it is such a coveted travel destination. However, visiting the Easter Island makes it a small challenge. The only direct flights are available from Tahiti in French-Polynesia or Santiago on the Chilean mainland.
Basically, you have a long connecting flight in front of you if you are not already at these goals. LAN is the only airline that flies the Easter Island. Her state -of -the -art fleet leaves Tahiti (5.5 hours) or daily (except Tuesdays) from Santiago (6 hours). Book via skyscanner.net. Otherwise, access to this remote island is only possible via a private yacht or a cruise ship. But be warned, the island is haunted by strong winds all year round, especially in summer.The island itself is easy to navigate. The best way to see it is a rental car from AKU AKU AKU Turismo from $ 50 a day. You have a reliable armada of all -wheel drive vehicles, assembly limousines, scooters and quads to choose from
There is only one city, Hanga Roa, on the island, so most accommodations, including the Chez Maria Goretti hotel, are there. There are two main routes to drive: the southeastern and the western one. The majority of the “postcards” television lines line the longer southeastern circuit, but you should not miss the smaller western sights.
At the time of the visit of the Easter Island (May 2015), due to a restructuring of the park finances, no entrance fee was to be paid. In the past, the entrance fee for the Rapa Nui National Park was $ 60 for all non-Chileans. So if you visit the Easter Island, you should expect something similar to pay.
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Lonely Planet Chile & Osterinsel contains a comprehensive travel guide for the Easter Island, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take the less busy street.
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