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Visit Chile > Easter Island
It's impossible to talk about Easter without mentioning the island that bears its name! Especially since it is entirely connected to this holiday: the island was discovered by Europeans on Easter Sunday, 1722 with the arrival of the Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen.
The island is also called "Rapa Nui," the great distant one, or "Te-Pito-Henua," the navel of the world. Triangular in shape and volcanic in origin, the island is located on a large underwater platform from which it emerged following three successive volcanic eruptions. It is the most distant island from the American continent, lost in the Pacific ocean; more precisely, 3700 km from the coast of Chile and 4000 km from Tahiti. Its area is 162 square kilometers and it is 23 km in length. It's a windswept land, which prevents much vegetation from growing on the otherwise fertile soil. Its relief is marked by a succession of hills bordered here and there by black stone walls. The coasts are generally edged with steep cliffs.
Easter Island bears witness to a cultural phenomenon unique in the world. Here, in about 300 CE, a society of Polynesian origin developed an innovative and original tradition of sculpture and monumental architecture, unconnected to any influence. From the 10th to the 16th century, they constructed sanctuaries and raised gigantic stone heads, or moai, creating an unequalled cultural landscape that fascinates the whole world. Imagine more than 600 of these monumental moai that can reach 10 meters in height and weigh 160 tons!
No one know exactly where the first inhabitants of Easter Island came from, why they decided to settle here, how often they had contact with strangers, nor what really motivated them to sculpt and erect their grandiose stone monuments. Neither do we know how they managed to transport these enormous blocks of stone, of considerable weight, from the sites where they were cut to their present locations.
Because of its strategic location, the island is the principal connection and point of entry to the Eastern Pacific countries, as well as an important center for climate, ocean and aerospace study.
Here myth and reality blur into one another.
January 1
New Years Day.
Late January / early February
Tapati Rapanui festival - celebration of island traditions.
March - April
Easter
May 1
Labor Day
May 21
Glorias Navales. Commemoration of the naval battle of Iquique.
Late May
Corpus Christi
June 29
Feast of San Pedro
August 15
Assumption
September 9
Policarpo Toro day. Commemoration of the island's annexation.
September 18
Independence Day (National holiday)
September 19
Armed Forces day.
October 12
Dia de Raza. Commemoration of the arrival of the first Europeans.
November 1
All Saints' Day
December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25
Christmas
On the slopes of the extinct volcano you'll find large platforms, or ahus, on which the enegmatic "moai" statues are erected. They vary in height from 1 to 20 meters. They have a blank expression and long inscrutable faces. Nearly 400 of the sculptures are strewn over the ground. The largest statue has never left its stone gangue. Called the "Giant," it measures 22 meters and weighs 160 tons.
The material used to carve the giant statues is none other than tuff, rock from the Rao Raraku volcano. Two kinds of statues can be identified on the island: those covered in symbols, and those decorated with "pukao" headgear. The latter were erected on the ahu platforms and have their back to the coast. Originally the eyes of the moai were represented with white coral and red tuff. Discovered buried in the sand in 1978, they were replaced into their orbits.
The Tongariki ahu is the most impressive archeological site on the island because it includes 15 moai alined up along the Pacific on a platform (ahu) made of lava rock. These man-trunks represent venerated ancestors. From their 4 meter or greater height, their faces turned toward the interior of the island, they protect the members of their tribe. Only one of them is wearing a pukao, or red stone headdress. This ahu did not fall victim, as did the others, to tribal wars, but to the 1960 tidal wave that threw the statues 100 meters inland. It was a Japanese company that sells cranes that stood them up again in 1992.
Language
Spanish is the official language. Rapa Nui, of Polynesian origin, is spoken by the locals. In general, people in the tourist and hotel industries speak English.
Entry requirements
For visitors from the EU, no visa is required for stays under 3 months. A passport valid for six months after the return date will suffice.
Currency
The currency is the Chilean peso. Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted in most hotels and restaurants. Also bring along some cash (dollars or pesos).
Climate and seasons
The climate is semi-tropical. The average annual temperature is around 20° C. The seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere. The hottest months are December to February (24° C) and the coolest from June until August (16° C). The rainy season begins in May and lasts until August. The best time to visit is between September and April.
Health
No vaccinations are required for travel to Chile. There is no risk of yellow fever or malaria. However, it is advisable to have hepatitis A and B and typhoid vaccinations. Out of the towns, drink only bottled water or boiled water to be on the safe side.
Transportation
The Mataveri International Airport is located 1.5 km from the center of Hanga Roa. Most hotels offer free transfers, but taxis are also available. You require an international driver's permit to rent a car. In the town, the speed limit is 20 kmh. In the rest of the island, the roads are uneven. For short distances, consider renting a motorcycle or bicycle. In Hanga Roa, the essential sites are accessible on foot (10-15 minutes walking time).
Electricity
220 V
Shopping
Stone or wooden sculptures, miniature replicas of the island's statues, are among the most sought-after souvenirs. You'll also find artisanal goods, shell necklaces and volcanic glass jewelry. The best locations for buying crafts are the central market in Hanga Roa, located on Avenida Tu'u Maheke, and the craft market beside the Catholic church. Shops are open from 9 am until noon, and from 2 to 7 pm during the week.
Hanga Roa is the only town on the village, home to about 3,000 residents. It has a pleasant ocean front and spacious streets that gently climb the hillside. The Catholic church is located at the summit. Built in a sombre architectural style, the church has an interior decorated with beautiful wooden statues. You must also visit the ceremonial Tahai area: seven statues are lined up along the shore, the only archeological vestige remaining in the town.
Photo above with 3 stone monuments: Claude Le Gall
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