Easter Island

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is one of the most remote inhabited places on earth, a small, wind-swept Polynesian island thousands of kilometres out in the Pacific, part of Chile. It is famous the world over for its moai, the hundreds of enormous, enigmatic stone heads and figures carved from volcanic rock by the island's people centuries ago and set on ceremonial platforms gazing inland, a UNESCO wonder shrouded in mystery and the story of a lost civilisation.

What you actually see

• The moai statues - the giant stone figures on their platforms.
• Rano Raraku - the quarry where the moai were carved, dotted with statues.
• Ahu Tongariki - the great platform of fifteen restored moai.
• The island culture - the Rapa Nui Polynesian heritage and volcanoes.

When to go

Year-round, with a subtropical climate; October to April is warmer, and the Tapati festival in February is a vibrant celebration of Rapa Nui culture. It is a remote flight from Santiago, so a stay of several days is worthwhile.

Honest expectations

It is extremely remote and expensive to reach, a five-hour flight from mainland Chile, so it is a major, costly trip. The moai must be respected as sacred ancestral monuments, never climbed or touched, and access to some is restricted to protect them. Facilities are limited on the small island. Its remoteness and mystery, though, are unforgettable.

Nearby

The island stands alone in the vast Pacific; mainland Chile is a long flight east.