Page 23 - Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest

TYNW`OTYR =L[L 9`TLY^ _SP ;ZWdYP^TLY erected on an ahu 1TYLWWd bPɪWW Pc[WZ]P
people whose ancestors were responsible for
NL]aTYR _SP XLRYTʭNPY_ moai—giant stone
sculptures that grace the island’s tropical
WLYO^NL[P ?SP^P ^_]TVTYR ^N`W[_`]P^ɨLYO
the isolated culture that created them—have
earned Rapa Nui a place in the imaginations
of people the world over, as well as its
OP^TRYL_TZY L^ L @90>.: BZ]WO 3P]T_LRP >T_P
This afternoon, we’ll set out for one of the
most scenic spots on the island. At Rano Kao
AZWNLYZ bPɪWW aTPb _SP Q]P^SbL_P] WLVP _SL_
SL^ QZ]XPO TY _SP N]L_P]ɪ^ OP[_S^ LYO Pc[WZ]P
Orongo’s ceremonial center on the crater’s
edge. This place was one of the principal sites
ZQ _SP MT]OXLY N`W_ bSTNS T^ TXXZ]_LWTePO Md
_SP ^_ZYP NL]aTYR^ ZQ MT]OXPY TY_Z ]ZNV 1]ZX
Rano Kao, we’ll return to our hotel, where
we’ll enjoy dinner this evening.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 Discover moai at Ahu Tongariki, Te
Pito Kura & Anakena Beach
,Q_P] M]PLVQL^_ bPɪWW ^P_ Z`_ _Z OT^NZaP]
the island’s famed moai, whose origin and
XPLYTYR SLaP ^[L]VPO R]PL_ ^[PN`WL_TZY ZaP]
_SP NPY_`]TP^ 9PL]Wd $ ZQ _SP^P XZYZWT_STN
statues have been found on the island, and
T_ T^ P^_TXL_PO _SL_ PLNS ZYP _ZZV ʭaP Z] ^Tc
men one year to carve with hand-held tools.
We’ll follow the footsteps of an ancient
NTaTWTeL_TZY _Z aL]TZ`^ ahus—sacred
sites where several moai stand. At Ahu
Vaihu, we get a chance to view moai in an
unrestored state, before we continue to
,S` ?ZYRL]TVTɪ^ TX[]P^^TaP NZWWPN_TZY ZQ
restored moai carved from the quarries of
YPL]Md =LYZ =L]LV` AZWNLYZ ,Q_P] L MZcPO
lunch, we’ll discover Te Pito Kura, which
today lies on the ground, but—at 32 feet in
length—is considered the largest moai ever
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
23
[]T^_TYP ,YLVPYL -PLNS bSP]P _SP ʭ]^_
Polynesian settlers are believed to have landed
LYO bSP]P bPɪWW ʭYO ^Tc XZ]P moai.
?SPY LQ_P] Z`] Q`WW OLd ZQ Pc[WZ]L_TZY bPɪWW
return to our hotel. Dinner tonight is on your
own. Perhaps you’ll head into Hanga Roa, the
main town, to sample the day’s catch at one
of the many lively seafood restaurants.
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 Morning at leisure • Visit Ahu Akivi
• Sunset at Tahai Beach
?ST^ XZ]YTYR T^ Q]PP _Z ]PWLc Md _SP
^PL^TOPɨ;WLdL OP ,YLVPYL T^ L [L]_TN`WL]Wd
ʭYP ^_]P_NS ZQ ^LYOɨZ] XLVP dZ`] ZbY
OT^NZaP]TP^ 4Q dZ`ɪO WTVP _Z OPWaP OPP[P] TY_Z
the mysterious history of the island’s ancient
inhabitants, you may want to visit the Father
Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum.
?SP X`^P`X YLXPO QZ] _SP .L_SZWTN
missionary who devoted his life to studying
archaeology on the island, houses a small but
impressive collection of artifacts, including
ʭ^STYR SZZV^ LYO ^_ZYP NL]aTYR _ZZW^ `^PO Md
the Rapa Nui.
In the afternoon, we’ll reconvene for an
TYNW`OPO W`YNS LYO _SPY aT^T_ ,S` ,VTaT ZYP
of the only inland ahus on the island, whose
seven moai stand in a line facing the ocean
and (during spring and autumn) the sunset.
This evening, we’ll enjoy watching the sunset
ourselves, over the moai at Tahai Beach,
bidding a fond farewell to Easter Island before
returning to our hotel. Dinner is on your
own tonight.
Breakfast, Lunch