Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui in the local Polynesian language, is one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth. Cruise ships anchor offshore and passengers tender into Hanga Roa, the island's only town. Seas can be rough, so landings aren't always guaranteed. The moai are the reason most people come. These stone figures, some over 10 metres tall, line the coast at sites like Ahu Tongariki, where 15 of them stand in a row facing inland. The quarry at Rano Raraku has hundreds more in various stages of completion. The ceremonial village of Orongo sits on the rim of the Rano Kau crater with views into the caldera and out to sea. Anakena Beach has white sand and a row of restored moai. The Rapa Nui Museum in Hanga Roa fills in the history. Fresh tuna and coconut dishes are the local food. Chilean pesos and US dollars both work, though carry cash for market stalls.