Join one of our amazing Ponant Easter Island Cruises and journey to a faraway place that is symbolic for its statues.
It is one of the most isolated islands in the world. Yet it is there, far from all the continents, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that Rapa Nui, or Easter Island , has seen one of the most fascinating civilizations in history flourish. The nearly 900 moai , these emblematic monumental statues, which populate it are the most striking heritage. In the 21st century , going to Easter Island is still one of the most surprising trips there is.
The Moia of Ahu Akivi, facing the ocean
They are seven. Seven guardian stone statues scanning the horizon. A unique fact on Easter Island since Ahu Akivi, located inland, is the only site whose moai face the ocean. Lined up next to each other, they watch over the island from a height of 4 meters. Each of them weighs about 12 tons. These huge statues represent their ancestors or the most important kings. They were supposed to bring protection and prosperity to the inhabitants.
Visit peaceful Hanga Roa - Easter Islands
Hanga Roa is the capital of Easter Island. The only urban center of Rapa Nui, located south of its western part, this village contains the majority of the island's population, ie 7,000 inhabitants. It is pleasant to walk along the small fishing port Hanga Roa Otai or to visit the Church of Santa Cruz, the only Catholic building on the island. Founded in 1937, it is adorned with superb wood carvings. Nearby, the craft market is the place to find a typical souvenir made by one of the island's craftsmen. In the middle of the city, facing the ocean, the Vare Vare park offers a green space conducive to relaxation.
Visit the Ahu Tahai site
During a stopover in Hanga Roa, it is impossible to miss one of the most impressive archaeological sites on Easter Island: Ahu Tahai. There are indeed three ahu, these ceremonial platforms made from the volcanic stones of the island. Ahu Ko Te Riku is remarkable for its statue with white stone eyes. Ahu Vai Ure stands out thanks to the five aligned moai , with their backs to the shore. The solitary moai Ahu Tahai rises to 4.5 meters in height. An essential stop to combine historical discovery and exceptional landscape!
Visit the ceremonial village of Orongo
You have to imagine the places to realize the aura they give off. On one side, the slopes of the Ranu Kao volcano, on the other, a vertiginous cliff falling steeply into the Pacific Ocean. Between the two, the ceremonial village of Orongo. Camped on the southern tip of Easter Island, the 53 stone houses that made up this hamlet bear witness to the time when the clan leaders of Rapa Nui gathered to elect their religious leader.
Explore the site of Ahu Tongariki
It is in the east of Rapa Nui that you have to go to admire the largest ceremonial platform on the island: Ahu Tongariki. There are 15 moai placed side by side, including the heaviest on Easter Island, which weighs no less than 86 tons. Partly destroyed during a tsunami in 1960, the ahu was rebuilt identically in 1990. With its 15 giants, it is one of the emblematic sites for which travelers often come from the other side of the world. Not far away is the extinct volcano of Rano Raraku. The place represents an exceptional and legendary natural landscape. Not only does its crater protected by walls 200 meters high shelter a natural reservoir, but it also served as a quarry for the construction of moai.. It is estimated that 95% of them were carved here. We can also admire 394 of them, at different stages of manufacture.
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