Nestled in the vast expanse of the South Pacific, this isolated island spans just 163.6 square kilometers. It lies over 2000 kilometers from the nearest inhabited land and more than 3600 kilometers from the bustling capital, Santiago. The journey here is a test of endurance; flights against the wind can take upwards of 5 hours, while the return trip, with the wind at your back, is a bit quicker, around 4 hours.
During the peak season, two daily flights connect the island to the mainland, but during the off-peak months, service is reduced to just one. Air Tahiti also offers flights, though they are currently on hold, awaiting the high season’s full swing.
The island operates two hours ahead of Santiago, but the unreliable signal can be a source of confusion, as phones often toggle between the local time and Santiago’s, leaving visitors momentarily disoriented.
The island’s most striking feature is its collection of over 900 colossal Moai stone statues, scattered across the landscape with most facing inland and their backs to the sea. The Rapa Nui people, driven by an intense passion for these monumental creations, depleted the island’s resources, leading to deforestation and severe food shortages.
This ecological crisis sparked internal conflicts, and by the time Dutch explorers arrived in 1722, the population had plummeted to around 2000, a mere fraction of its former glory. The once lush island was now barren, with only sparse shrubs no taller than three meters, and the only wildlife left were rats and a small species of lizard, painting a bleak picture.
Easter Island, named so because it was discovered on Easter Day, is known to the indigenous Rapa Nui as “the navel (center) of the world.” These enigmatic statues, standing 7-10 meters tall and weighing anywhere from 20 to 90 tons, with the heaviest tipping the scales at 200 tons, were crafted between 1100 and 1600. The internal wars often involved toppling the opposing side’s statues, and by the time Western explorers arrived, few remained standing, with some even cast into the sea.
Today, the entire island is a protected national park, with an entrance fee of $80, granting access for 10 days. The attractions, mostly along the coastline, require a local guide, and each site visited is marked on the ticket, allowing entry only once. This, combined with strict visitor controls, keeps the round-trip airfare consistently high, making the journey both long and costly.
One of the most captivating spots on the island is the location of the only statue with eyes, offering a breathtaking view of the sunset. As I strolled back to my hotel along the single road, the sky blazed with red twilight, the distant lights twinkled, the waves crashed rhythmically on the shore, and the occasional car headlights and the soft music from a nearby restaurant created a serene and unforgettable scene, etching itself into my memory.
