Jim Schroder's Travel

Home
Trips

Select Page

Chile and Easter Island

This moai is referred to as the "Traveling Moai". No idea why.

Fallen Moai heads

Outer slopes of Rano Raraku with many moai, some half-buried, some left still "under construction" near the mountain. Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated volcanic ash, or tuff, and located on the lower slopes of Terevaka in the Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Island in Chile. It was a quarry for about 500 years until the early eighteenth century, and supplied the stone from which about 95% of the island's known monolithic sculptures (moai) were carved. Rano Raraku is a visual record of moai design vocabulary and technological innovation, where 397 moai remain. Rano Raraku is in the World Heritage Site of Rapa Nui National Park and gives its name to one of the seven sections of the park.

There are approximately 400 statues left at Rano Raraku. Of these, around half are finished and the rest never reached a completed state.

Spending years in the restaurant business I am always interested in the kitchen area for the restaurants. The kitchen with family working at Vaiuri was very simple. The food excellent.

The island measures about 14 miles by 7 miles at its furthest points and it is often said that it can be traversed by foot in a single day. After landing we took off for one of the most scenic spots on the island, the former ceremonial village of Orongo. at Rano Kau. Volcano.

Seeing Motu Kau Kau the Birdman swam around this pointed island or rock.

Coming back to shore.

Ironically our guide is named after this famous Ahu. Tongariki

Looking out from the inside of the cave

I am proud to stand among these warriors of Easter Island.

Our hosts, the mother and the sister also lost their homes to the fire and have just recently returned after re building. This concludes a wonderful trip visiting Chile from the Atacama Desert to the Fjords to the wine country, and to Easter Island. A spectacular 3 weeks of travel. So many wonderful experiences in a country with great hard working and freindly people.

Street Musicians making some extra money

Hotel Iorana

Backside of a Moai

In this ceremonial center is the Ahu or Paro, whose only moai named Paro, remains in the same position it was when it was demolished almost two centuries ago. The Paro Moai represents a milestone from the period when the statues were built, as it is the largest moai statue transported from the Rano Raraku volcano quarry and erected successfully on an ahu or platform.

[Show slideshow]

1 2 ... 30 ►

© 2025 Jim Schroder