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Easter Island is the most isolated inhabited island in the world. It’s also one of the most mysterious.
Here are three things you must not miss on Easter Island:
EASTER ISLAND SUNRISE AND SUNSET
You’ll want to be at Ahu Tongariki for sunrise, where you can watch the sun emerge from the horizon behind a jagged row of rocky peaks.
The sunrise is the most important event on Easter Island. It’s a sacred time when people come together to pray and meditate, giving thanks for another day and reflecting on the past.
Equally, sunset is pretty special too – make sure you head to Ahu Tahai for a couple of drinks as you watch the sun retreat. It’s worth being aware that it gets dark pretty quickly once the sun is below the horizon, so be sure to get there in plenty of time to avoid missing it
AHU TONGARIKI MONOLITHS
The Ahu Tongariki Monoliths are a place of worship, and one of the largest monoliths on Easter Island. The site is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.
The statues at Ahu Tongariki were carved from volcanic basalt between 1250 and 1500 AD by people living on Rapa Nui. There are 4 moai (large stone statues) here: three facing northward with their backs to each other; one facing southward between them, and another lying face down near its base.
It’s believed these Moai represent ancestors who were buried beneath them before they were moved onto this site in later years by villagers who lived nearby.
THE STATUES
Anakena beach is a treasure trove for monoliths – statues that were carved by ancient Polynesians to represent their ancestors. They stand up to 6 feet tall and weigh around 8 tonnes each!
Equally, Ahu Tongariki is the perfect destination for you to take in moai on Easter Island. The statues are arranged in an astronomical alignment that helps track seasons, phases of the moon and sunrises/sunsets throughout the year.
Easter Island is a beautiful place to visit, a world away from Western culture and fully deserving of a place on your bucket list – just don’t miss the sunset!
When you book your adventure through the Bucket List Company, you can be sure that we’ll tick all of these highlights off, making your trip as fulfilling as possible.
