Easter Island
Ahu Tongariki in the rain at dawn
There were close to fifty people here hoping to catch sunrise at Tongariki, the only site on the island that can be visited early in the morning. Only five of us stayed when it started to pour rain. I had little choice since I walked here from the Anakena campsite in the dark. At sunrise, the eastern sky turned into a pink glow for 30 seconds from the sun hitting the rain
I stayed here for a few hours photographing the changing conditions
Tongariki backlit from the morning sun
Rano Raraku
Rano Raraku from the Tongariki site
My favorite place on the island was Rano Raraku. The majority of the moais were carved from the rock on this crater. These buried-in-the-ground leftovers were never taken to the coast for display. The dirt from the ramps used to transport the moais eventually settled covering their bodies
An unfinished carving on the mountainside
This one was perhaps too large to move at 70 feet long and 200 tons, double the size and weight of any moai on the coast
Rano Raraku is a short distance from Tongariki, I got there around 930am as they were unlocking the gate. Most places on the island are open 9-5. If you are considering walking around the island, there is a cafe here that serves lunch and also has water/gatorade for purchase for the longer half of the walk to Hanga Roa. There are no rivers or freshwater lakes on the island, all water must be carried.
Anakena Beach
Ahu Nau-Nau
Anakena is the only place to camp outside the town of Hanga Roa. Wild camping is not possible on the island, the rangers/police checked with me several times to see where I was going when walking along the road. Bookings for the campsite here can be made through email, google "Sustainable Camping Ana Tekena" to find their facebook page.
The walk around the island took two days, with overnight stops in the town of Hanga Roa and the campground at Anakena Beach. It was close to 30 miles and mostly along the road with the exception of the northwest coast from Ahu Tepeu to Anakena. I had no trouble hitching a ride back to town from Anakena. The middle of the island would be less interesting to walk
I stopped at every site along the road on the north and east coast. Some places were more difficult to understand and required some follow up reading
Playa Ovahe is perhaps the most beautiful area, I arrived at high tide and had to climb up the hill around the beach
There were some caves to explore on the west coast and closer to town are the restored Ahu Tahai and Ahu Ko Te Riku
Crater Lake of Rano Kau on the south of the island
Example of an underground home at Orongo. These homes were only used for a few weeks during the annual bird egg race. Chiefs from the different tribes would climb up and down the sea cliffs and swim out to the small island Motu Nui where manutara (sooty terns) would lay eggs in the spring. First one to bring back an uncracked egg tied to their head was the winner
Full moon at the campground
