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At 3.700 km off the South American continent and surrounded by the infinite blue Pacific Ocean, Rapa Nui has been the cradle of a unique and enigmatic culture that continues to endure today under the watchful eyes of the enormous carved stone Moai.
A UNIQUE AND ENIGMATIC CULTURE
At 3.700 km off the South American continent and surrounded by the clearest, deepest waters on the planet, Rapa Nui has been the cradle of a unique and enigmatic culture that continues to endure today. The island’s language, music, and numerous traditions are kept alive by the island’s inhabitants, while the enormous carved stone Moai are testimony to their mysterious past.
Rapa Nui would have been occupied around the year 600 AD by a group of settlers believed to have come from the Marquesas Islands in the eastern Pacific. This original colony of the island is sanctified in myth, whose protagonist is Chief Hotu Matu’a, the first king and founding figure of the Rapa Nui culture.
The milestones of this prehistoric age are the development of Rongo Rongo, an indecipherable writing system, and a devotion to ancestors symbolized by the Moai, whose construction would have started around the year 1000 AD, and would eventually total more than 900. Constructed of volcanic stone and located in large ceremonial altars, named Ahu, they allegedly possessed mana, and were a fountain of well-being, prestige, and legitimacy of the ruling class.
The overexploitation of the island’s resources in the fifteenth century sent the culture into crisis, which caused the established ruling class and ideological system to collapse. The Moai were toppled and the devotion to ancestors was abandoned.
During this time, in 1722, the expedition of a Dutchman by the name of Jacob Roggeveen arrived to the island, who later divulged the existence of Rapa Nui to Europe.
Contact with the West was catastrophic for the inhabitants of Rapa Nui. Almost a third of them were taken to Peru to be used as forced labor. A few managed to return to the island, introducing epidemics that reduced the population to 111 people.
In 1888 Rapa Nui was incorporated as a soveriegn land of Chile, and the “Compañía Explotadora de Isla de Pascua” was established, dedicated to the breeding and raising of sheep. Due to constant abuses by the Compañía, in 1953 the Chilean government left the administration of the island in the hands of the Chilean Navy.
Isla de Pascua
The power of the Birdman: Tangata Manu
The widespread crisis led to the emergence of new warrior leaders whose power and authority were not hereditary, but acquired through ritual competitions. The most important of these was the birdman ceremony, Tangata Manu, held every year at the advent of spring. In it, representatives of different lineages competed to be the first to acquire an egg of the manutara seagull.
The chosen representatives gathered in the ceremonial center Orongo, where they then had to descend the treacherous cliffs and swim to the small island of Motu Nui, obtain an egg, and return it to Orongo intact. The winner was anointed as Tangata Manu, reincarnation of the creator god Make Make, and awarded numerous privileges.
The Rapa Nui culture has evolved to the present day keeping many of its original forms, those expressed in foods, sports, dances, music, ceremonies, crafts, and most importantly the language Vananga, which is still actively used. The dances, like Sau-Sau and Tamuré, together with the traditional music, continue to add color to festivals and ceremonies. The gastronomy is a repository of ancient recipes like Tunuahi, in which fish is cooked over volcanic rocks heated by firewood.
The arrival of catholic missionaries during the nineteenth century generated some religious fusion, which can be observed during Sunday mass in the church of Hanga Roa, the principal town of Rapa Nui. The ritual is accompanied by songs in the language of Vananga, and the churchgoers come dressed in typical clothing and flowers.
Currently on the island there are several active groups of dance and music that regularly offer traditional shows which you can attend in the evenings.
For its remoteness, geographical beauty, and rich culture, Rapa Nui was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.
La Isla Grande (The Big Island)
The name given to the island in antiquity continues to remain a mystery. Today there are three variations: “Te Pito o te Henúa” meaning “The Navel of the World,” “Te Pito o te Kāinga” translated as “The Home” or “The Womb,” and “Mata ki te rangi” which means “Eyes looking to the sky.” Easter Island is the Christian name coined by Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen, as he arrived on Easter Sunday in 1722.
During the nineteenth century it was baptized by Western sailors as Rapa Nui (Big Island) due to its resemblance to Rapa Iti, an island situated 5000 km to the west.
Notable explorations of Rapa Nui
A HUGE VOLCANIC CONE
Three million years ago, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at about 3,000 meters under the sea, a huge volcanic cone began to rise. From this, Poike was born, the first of the three great extinct volcanoes and eastern boundary of the island. Five hundred thousand years later, a second eruption to the southwest gave rise to Rano Kau.
Finally, 300,000 years ago, Terevaka erupted, completing the northern tip of a triangle with 166 km2 of surface area and a maximum width of 12 km.
Eruptions ceased about 3,000 years ago, -there is currently no active volcano on Rapa Nui- after producing nearly 70 secondary volcanic cones. The flowing lava gave birth to the gentle slopes that form the current topography of the island. Only the final 511 meters of this immense mountain rise above the surface of the sea.
Rapa Nui: The East of the Polynesian Triangle
The island marks the eastern tip of the so-called Polynesian Triangle, formed by New Zealand in the western corner, with Hawaii as the apex. The approximate length of each of the edges of this almost equilateral triangle is comparable to the distance between New York (USA) and Moscow (Russia).
Rapa Nui is located on the tectonic micro plate of Easter Island, right at the intersection of the Nazca and South American plates. The subduction occurring between these plates causes the island to move in the direction of the Chilean coast at a rate of 9 cm per year.
In any case, a few million years will have to pass before the Polynesian Triangle ends up losing its current shape.
ONLY IN THIS CORNER OF PLANET EARTH
The marine wildlife is made up of 150 species belonging to more than 60 different families. One in four species is visible only in this corner of Planet Earth.
Recent studies indicate that the indigenous Rapa Nui vegetation was much more abundant than the current, containing several species particular to the island. Climatic changes and intense volcanic activity recorded 12,000 years ago resulted in heavy deterioration of the indigenous vegetation. However, the most violent impact came with the arrival of man in the fifth century AD.
As a product of the introduction of invasive species and overexploitation, tree and shrub species became extinct or were reduced to almost zero. Such was the case of the Toromiro, Rapa Nui Palm, Sandalwood, and the Toi.
The Cattail, a stemmed plant of American origin that grows along the ponds in the basins of the extinct volcanoes, has succeeded in surviving since a few thousand years ago and is utilized in many of the island’s garments.
The same applies to the Mahute, a shrub used for making cloth, and the Ti, which provides colorful pigments for dying said cloth. Highlights of the introduced vegetable species also include the sweet potato, the banana, and the pumpkin.
The presence of birds and marine wildlife has always been superior to that of landborne mammals. Distinguishing birds include the Tiuque, a falcon introduced from South America, the Perdiz Chilena, an introduced South American partridge, the Gorrión, the Makohe, and two migratory species of Tropic bird. Download the birdwatcher’s checklist available for our travelers or ask for it when you get to your destination so you can check the birds you see during your explorations.
RAPA NUI, WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Rapa Nui, the indigenous name of Easter Island, covers around 16,600 hectares in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Of this surface area, approximately 40% is the “Rapa Nui National Park”, a protected area that concentrates the legacy of the Rapa Nui culture, offering its visitors “a testimony of a unique cultural phenomenon“. This park was established in 1935 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.
Rapa Nui, exceptional and unique
Rapa Nui, a society of Polynesian origin, grew and developed without external influence from the rest of world for many, many years. For that reason and in spite of its similarities with other Polynesian islands, the cultural and artistic monuments that can be appreciated today are unique and exceptional. The famous Moai are an example of this.
Rapa Nui is also an extraordinary example of a society that has survived many different crises. The most important of all was the internal conflict that began in the 15th century between different clans on the island during which most of the Moai were destroyed by rival clans. This is why it is said that archaeology and ethnology have helped tremendously in the reconstruction of the Rapa Nui culture. This, added to urban control and development restricted to small areas, has contributed to the conservation and preservation of most of the archaeological sites that we can explore today.
An Extraordinary Archeological and Cultural Experience
Some of the most outstanding archaeological sites in Rapa Nui are the Seven Moai which stand looking out to the Ahu Akivi sea, Ahu Tongariki (the largest reconstructed platform in the island, with 15 Moai), the famous Anakena beach and its ruins, the Tepeu and Tahai archeological complexes, and the Rano Raraku quarry.
But there are also fairly unexplored areas, ones that most travelers who come to Rapa Nui rarely visit. Some of these are reached by our exploration routes. These were exclusively designed by our outdoor team and are inspired by their knowledge of the history and culture of Rapa Nui. Some examples include the Akahanga area, the Poike peninsula, the Pukao quarry, and Papa Vaka.
Rapa Nui’s Hidden Treasures
Easter Island holds different types of treasures. Some are inherent to its natural beauty while others are associated with the puzzling Rapa Nui culture which still conceals many mysteries to be revealed.
Never raised from its bedrock, Te Tokanga, also known as “the giant”, is the largest statue ever sculpted on Rapa Nui. With a length of 22 meters and weighing around 200 tons (heavier than two Boeing 737 airliners), this Moai is located in the Rano Raraku quarry, where its tremendous dimensions can be appreciated.
Ahu Te Pito Kura, another treasure of Rapa Nui, is one of the platforms that was not rebuilt after the destruction of the Moai during the island’s internal crisis. There, the Moai “Paro” can be found lying down. It is the largest of all the Moai transported from Rano Raraku. 40 meters from this Moai there is a smooth, nearly spherical rock, which is said to symbolize the navel of the world. Legend has it that it possesses magnetic properties that can even interfere with compasses. It is said that it was brought it to the island by Hotu Matua, the first king of Rapa Nui.
In the past, Hiro’s trumpet –located on the north end of Rapa Nui– was considered a fishing talisman, but this is not the only meaning it has been given. Some say it was once a war trophy while others even claim it has properties that boost fertility.
Rapa Nui below the Sea
However, the attractions at this destination are not limited to the island itself. Some are submerged under the ocean, discoverable through diving. Some of the must-see attractions of this destination are the submerged Moai, the “cathedral,” and the Nui and Iti motus, surrounded by coral and famous for the bird-man competition. Other highlights include places like Ovahe beach, perfect for snorkeling.
explora has prepared more than 30 adventures designed to explore the unique history and charm of Rapa Nui. They include hiking and biking trips among archaeological remains, volcanoes, beaches, meadows, and cliffs, as well as snorkeling and diving activities.
