11. RAPA NUI NATIONAL PARK, Chile
Rapa Nui, the indigenous name of Easter Island, is peopled by some 900 figures who bear witness to the Polynesian society that founded a colony on the island and prospered, uninfluenced by the wider world, from the 10th to the 16th centuries.
The figures, moai, are spiritual beings, which the Polynesian settlers believed would be charged by the spiritual essence, called mana, once they were finished. Some moai are completed sculptures, others were abandoned as works in progress or lie askance still waiting to be placed in the holes dug for them at their final destinations, called ahu. The most famous group of figures, Ahu Tongariki, or The Fifteen, stand sentinel, silent yet filled with distant meaning. Rapa Nui remains the most remote inhabited island on the planet.
No one knows exactly why it was first colonised or the full significance of the moai, yet this spiritual and artistic flourishing remains a unique human achievement.
Rapa Nui National Park, Chile PLACE TO STAY Explora Rapa Nui, and below
WHILE YOU’RE THERE… Explora Rapa Nui
The hotel’s architecture combines the island’s particular geography and local culture. It was built in 2007 and it has a LEED certification for environmentally friendly construction and efficient energy use.
Located 8 km from Hanga Roa, in a privileged location from which to explore Easter Island, Explora Rapa Nui is surrounded by trees, prairies and views towards the Pacific Ocean. All the hotel’s itineraries include accommodation, transfers to and from the airport, meals and drinks, and a selection of more than 30 exploration routes designed by the outdoor team.
Hikes, bicycle outings, snorkelling and diving activities are the perfect choice to get to know Rapa Nui’s history, culture and landscapes, visiting both the most iconic and off the beaten track sites.
www.explora.com/easter-island-chile Architectural Traveller | Page 26
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