Easter Island

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By Natalya Getman

NOVEMBER 04, 2024

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Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is a small remote island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean and the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. There is no feeling that can compare to setting foot on Easter Island. Remote, magical, and mysterious, this island is surrounded by myths and legends. Exploring the island and visiting its sites feels like a quest: there is so much to discover. It is as if someone has prepared a scavenger hunt and is waiting for travellers to join.

Rapa Nui is most famous for its monumental statues called moai. A lesser-known but equally important part of Rapa Nui history and culture is the Birdman ritual named Tangata Manu. Easter Island is so rich in culture that about 40% of the island makes up the Rapa Nui National Park. Due to the island’s cultural significance, in 1995, UNESCO designated the Rapa Nui National Park a World Heritage Site.

Since I was little, I have been intrigued by the island and the moai statues. It was hard even to believe that Easter Island and its gigantic rock sculptures were actually real. They were this big unanswered question, much like Egyptian pyramids or Atlantis. Finding the answers was an incredibly satisfying experience.

Easter Island is a special territory of Chile. Even though the island’s traditional language is an Eastern Polynesian language called Rapa Nui, today, Spanish is the most widely spoken language on the island. The vast majority of tourists arrive at Rapa Nui via flights from Santiago, Chile. Some explorers will have the pleasure of spotting the island from the water, just like the early settlers did over 800 years ago. Polynesians navigated across the ocean to find this piece of land and make it their home. They didn’t know what they were going to find when they were setting their sails. Of course, nowadays, we know that this island exists, but we still can’t really be sure of what to expect from it until we see it with our own eyes.

Visiting Rapa Nui is like opening a whole new world. Technically, you are in Chilean territory, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. You can’t compare Easter Island to Hawaii or French Polynesia, either. For an experienced traveller who can’t be easily surprised anymore, Easter Island is a gem in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It might not be for everyone, but those who enjoy mysteries, learning and adventures will find great pleasure on this tiny island.