Chile: The Trip Of A Lifetime

There is one place in the world that when I left, back in 2009, I had tears in my eyes, because I knew it would be difficult to go back, and because I had the best time of my life during my stay.

- Sonia Graupera

The place is Easter Island, located 2,300 miles from the coast, a 5 hours flight from Santiago de Chile, in the middle of the vast ocean.

I have been lucky enough to go back recently and repeat my whole experience, even with the same hotel, Explora Rapa Nui.

The island is a tiny triangle some 14 miles long on its base and about 7 miles wide, really easy to go around and visit all the interesting sites. Its permanent population is around 7,000, about half of whom are of Polynesian descent speaking Rapa Nui and Spanish.

The monolithic statues of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) called “moai” are unique, beautiful works of art. Tall figures carved out of volcanic rock between the 11th and 14th centuries by Polynesian settlers, they have long, unsmiling faces, elegant, hawk-like noses and brooding brows. They are really impressive for their height, weight and their mysterious gaze. There are around 800 moais in Easter Island and the big question continues to be how they were transported into their final positions as they weight around 80tn each. Another ongoing mystery is what their purpose was: were they shrines, conduits to heaven or …? Many such proposed theories can be read in the books sold as souvenirs on the island.

Hanga Roa is a no rush, quiet, small capital with some hostels and boutique hotels around. The most important activity to undertake in this city is to visit the Anthropological museum, shop in the craft markets where you can find local handicraft and souvenirs, or visit one of the local dance shows with beautiful dresses and eat in any tiny bar a tuna empanada, savoury as you have never tasted before!