Easter Island: Attractions and more...
The annual carnivalesque Tapati festival in February includes sporting events (like racing around a lake while balancing banana bunches on the shoulders), dance competitions, parades, floats and the crowning of a queen. It also celebrates Rapanui culture its music, dances and artwork.
A popular spot is Orongo, a village built on the rim of the Rano Kau crater, where early inhabitants practised traditional rites. Orongo has many petroglyphs, with carvings of sea birds like the makohe.
Ohave Beach, with its varied marine life, is the perfect destination for snorkeling, while the beautiful white sand of Anakena Beach is a sharp contrast to the otherwise black coast.
The unusual beauty of the island’s volcanic formations and dazzling waters is heightened by the enchanting gigantic statues (Moai) that fence its coastline. Carved centuries ago from volcanic rock, Moai are also strewn all over Rapa Nui, making the island an al fresco museum.
