Easter Island

Oct 4-10, 2007
AC92 YYZ-SCL, LA841 SCL-IPC, LA842 IPC-SCL, AC93 SCL-YYZ

Since our first trip to Chile in 2005, we had wanted to go back and make the extra trek to Easter Island to see the famous moai statues.  Although it is incredible to imagine how much effort went into carving and transporting these statues over 600 years ago, there is not actually that much mystery to them.  The sad thing is that the locals toppled and beheaded most of the statues, and more sadly, most of the Polynesian residents died, leaving few remaining descendants.  Our trip was relatively short, but afforded us enough time on what is basically a pretty small island to see all that we were interested in seeing without too much rush.  On the way in and out, we also had two good days in Santiago enjoying the spring weather and sunshine, and sampling the great food and wine.  Air Canada treated us well on the flight to Santiago, and the LAN flights onward to Easter Island were very comfortable.  On the island, our hotel in Hanga Roa was rustic, but very nice and full of fellow Canadians.  We rented a somewhat dated 4x4 for two days on the island, but it did the trick with little drama.  Our biggest excitement was a total power outage on the island on Saturday night, causing that night’s flight from Santiago to abort its landing, with a diversion to Tahiti for some lucky passengers.  Easter Island was definitely a once in a lifetime experience, but we’ll be back to Chile.

Oct 6
Arrived on Friday morning and had the day in Santiago before our Saturday Easter Island flight

After a late lunch in town we find our first moai statue along the Hanga Roa waterfront

The pool outside our hotel room (Hotel Gomero)

Hotu Matua, mythical founder of the island, and Policarpo Toro, Chilean largely responsible for Chilean annexation

Oct 7
Our rental vehicle is delivered to the hotel and we headout to circle the island

Some of the toppled moai at Akanhanga; unlike many others these have not been restored

More toppled statues near Ahu Hanga Tetanga

Ahu Tongariki from the distance with Poike Peninsula in the background

Some of the many statues carved but not moved from Ranu Raraku (volcano)

Inside the volcano you can walk up close to numerous partially carved moai 

My best moai impression

All the moai were carved out of this volcan.  This one was never finished, likely too big to move.

Ahu Tongariki; scattered by a 1960 tsunami, restored in 1995 by a Japanese-funded program using cranes

Large fallen statue with Ranu Raraku in the background 

Moai at Ahu Nau Nau, near a large sandy beach 

Later in the afternoon, we go to the west coast and the Rano Kau (volcano) 

Three islands off the west coast, home for many birds and the bird man ceremony

Part of historical settlement of Orongo on the edge of Rano Kau 

Lit up statue in Hanga Roa village before that night’s power outage 

Oct 8
Day two with rental car.  Started with a long hike in which we were completely lost

Gord standing at the top of the highest point on the island at Terevaka, ocean in all directions

Puna Pau, the location on the opposite side of the island where all the hats were carved

Ahu Akivi, the only inland statues and the only that look to the sea 

Horses grazing outside of Te Pahu Caves 

Northern coast near Ahu Te Peu

Oct 9
Our last day on the island

Sunrise just outside of Hanga Roa at Tahai

One of the view statues with the corals eyes in place, most statues originally had

The rugged North West coast towards Orongo

Our LAN 767 greets us at the open air airport for our 5 hour flight back to the mainland

Oct 10
Back in Santiago for a relatively relaxed day before the flight home

Fountain at the foot of Santa Lucia park in city centre

Making my way down from the peak of Santa Lucia

An overnight flight home and back to work on the morning of the 11th