A Polynesian isle in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is one of the most remote places in the world that you can visit. Although its population is small and its location places it more than 2,000 miles from the rest of Chile, Easter Island remains easily recognizable thanks to the hundreds of mysterious, larger-than-life statues, or moai, found throughout the island.
Although the indigenous Polynesian population was nearly wiped out by the time the Europeans arrived in the 18th century, we can still take a look back at the native culture through the stone moai, platforms and walls that remain. The 13-foot statues have earned Easter Island a place on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, but there’s more to the island than just ancient stonework. Easter Island is also a hotspot for diving, surfing and hiking through lush wilderness or volcano craters.
Take a look at Easter Island and its mysterious moai with this photo tour.
(Main image: Arian Zwegers)
