Guide to the Easter Island

Easter Island (Rapa Nui) may belong to Chile, but as it sits over 3700km to the east on its own in the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. Surrounded by the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, it feels like a different world. It is the kind of destination that epitomises the freedom and adventure that you get with a luxury charter vacation.

It is best known for its 887 monolithic statues called Moai. These logic defying statues were carved from volcanic rock between the 11th and 14th centuries by Polynesian settlers, and stand today as iconic figures with their long, somber faces and brooding brows. They have also ensured the island UNESCO World Heritage status, and the surrounding mystery of the statues and their makers adds to the mystical feel that it holds.

The island is around 14 miles long and seven miles wide - a tiny triangle with extinct volcanoes standing protectively at its three corners. There are no trees here (another mystery) and the white expanses of sand that fringe its coast are truly spectacular. High waves crash its western shores ensuring that the surfing is fantastic. The best ways to experience its interior landscape is by foot, bicycle or horseback - this is eco-travel at its most authentic.

The size of Easter Island means that you can see its sights in a couple of days during a Polynesia superyacht charter itinerary. The most revered site to see the Maoi is Ahu Tongariki where 15 of the statues stand looking towards the hills facing inland - if you go at dawn or dusk you’ll get the best photographs. The capital Hanga Roa has a smattering of bars, restaurants and cafes though mainly tailored to tourists and the Rano Raraku, a quarry on a volcanic crater that contains one of the island’s crater lakes is well worth visiting.

If you're interested in exploring the waters surrounding this fantstic island, be sure to take a look at all of the superyachts available for charter in South America.