Rapa Nui can be found halfway between French Polynesia and Chile. It’s the best isolated inhabited land on our planet. Should you not own a boat, Mataveri Air-port is how you’ll arrive. Make sure you buy tickets for that national park when you first get off the plane (just before passing through immigration) for any discount. Also, edinburgh airport runway crosses your whole island which is possibly the best place on Earth to check out planes come and go…even when there’s one aircraft every day.
2. Get the stamp!
Daily flights to Rapa Nui arrive from Santiago, meaning you receive a Chilean stamp on that hard-worn passport of yours. But drive to the downtown two and they’ll be gracious enough to stamp your passport using their own Rapa Nui stamp.
3. Swim the clearest waters inside South Pacific
One characteristic that protects Rapa Nui from predatory tourism is definitely the insufficient postcard-ready white-sand beaches. There’s just one, Anakena, pristine as a Pacific paradise advertisement, complete with picnic tables, a type of breathtaking Moai, carritos (shacks) selling unbelievably delicious empanadas de atun and, if you’re lucky, also a traditional marriage filled with all-white clothing, loved ones, and music (like when I was there).
The natural blue, cold, and funky waters are good for diving; sea turtles can be found when snorkeling from the beach.
4. Encounter ancient petroglyphs
I was exploring some rocks through the sea, right in front a souvenir shop. There weren’t any signs — I merely want to get nearer to the ocean and here looked competitive with any. However I saw a rock shaped like a pet — a frog, maybe? Right close to it there was clearly something carved with a rock. Then more. Plus much more.
Rapa Nui is definitely an archeologist’s heaven — without as much curious visitor walking over ancient markings, obviously. That’s why, A very short time later, the owner of the souvenir shop appeared on your way on top of the rocks yelling at me to eliminate there immediately.
5. Look at Moai
Moai translates loosely as “to whom” while in the Rapa Nui language. Makes perfect sense once you know what those enormous statues stands for — not gods or aliens, but ancestors watching within the land and sharing mana (vital energy) because of their tribes. Additionally, it explains why the Moai were torn down when tribal wars devastated the area.
The best shop to see them is…everywhere you look. I am talking about it — if not careful, you risk stepping on Moai remains near an ahu and becoming mad stares from tour guides and park rangers. Two spots are remarkable: Rano Raraku, known as he “Moai factory” because that’s in which the most figures were excavated; and Ahu Tahai, which can be likely to provide sunset a person can have and it is walkable on the island’s downtown area.
6. Eat local fish
Nearly everything consumed over the island derives from conti (continental Chile). However, this doesn’t mean they lack fresh, local ingredients, especially fish. They’re employed for such thinggs as fresh ceviche, Peruvian-style: raw tuna or kana-kana bites seasoned with lime juice, onions, peppers, sweet potatoes, and cilantro, among other tasty ingredients. Each place possesses its own recipe and Tia Berta, around the main drag of Atamu Tekena, is usually a local fave.
Insider tip: If raw fish isn’t look, select sopa marina, a fun and hearty caldo of seafood and fish.
7. Watch the world’s best sunset, drink in hand
It’s pretty sure you’ll have fantastic opinion of any stretch in the west coast. But there\’s 2 places the place that the experience will be even more rewarding. You are the top of the Terevaka peak, by using a 360-degree view (also great to determine the sunrise, if getting out of bed at 5am can be your cup of tea).
Second is a bar inside of the newly opened Hanga Roa Hotel, walking distance from the chief street. The Hanga Roa offers daily sunset drinks for visitors. Grab yours, order some snacks, and enjoy sunlight peacefully taking place the ocean.
8. Ditch your car or truck and ride a bicycle (or horse)
There are extensive places to book bikes here. I rented mine on day 1 and spent all week on two wheels. Cars are available too, but they’re much less fun.
9. Understand a few words of Rapanui
You can learn maururu (“thank you”), manuia paka-paka! (“cheers”), and ‘lorana (“hello/goodbye”) from the internet, but discover a whole lot more originating from a Rapa Nui tour guide. Our guide learned the and culture of his people from his grandma. Rapa Nui folks have a powerful sensation of belonging and tend to be quite pleased with their historical background and heritage.
