Easter Island, Chile

More about Easter Island, Chile Points of Interest

• Orongo Village

  Set on the edge of an extinct volcano, Orongo was the 16th century ceremonial site of the birdman cult. Today, the area is covered with petroglyphs carved with mythical bird-man creatures.

• Ahu Tahai

  Some of the earliest moai structures can be found in this desolate spot. Believed to date to 690 A.D., these gigantic monoliths are one of the most photographed and easily recognizable icons on the island.

• Ahu Akivi

  Unlike other moai sites around the island, the seven moai located here sit nine miles inland. Believed to represent seven young explorers, the statues are also the only ones facing the ocean.

• Rano Raraku

  The island's 900 moai were created in this volcanic quarry. Here, you'll find over 390 eyeless statues laying on the ground or half-buried in the crater wall. Nearby is the unusual "kneeling" moai.

• Rano Kau

  The lake of the 1,000-foot tall extinct volcano is one of the island's only three natural bodies of fresh water. A natural site of immense beauty, the views from the top are phenomenal.

• Vinapu

  A mysterious site that has led many experts to believe that the ruins of a monument and the precise stonework of an ancient wall found here are actually the work of South America's Incas.

• Terevaka Mount

  On Easter Island, there are three main volcanoes. Ma'unga Terevaka is the highest elevation, and its altitude is 512 meters above sea level. Dominating the center of the island, it boasts intense panoramic vistas set off by the deep blue Pacific Ocean gleaming on the horizon