Five hours and 40 minutes by plane out of Santiago lays an island considered the most isolated place on Earth. Easter Island’s isolation stemmed from the fact that no matter that there are islands around it, none had any inhabitants in a long time.

The island is a triangular spot of volcanic activity with a maximum length of fewer than 30 km. During the long and tumultuous geologic history of the Pacific, three volcanoes erupted repeatedly. After a while, the area around their cones rose considerably above the sea level creating the island.

Rapa Nui, as the local call the island, is known mainly for the colossal statues called “moai,” placed on the local temple platforms, “ahu,” watching impassable inland to protect the clan that raised them. They represent the “mana” or the spiritual power of the deceased leader of the local community named in the island “ariki.” The mystery that surrounds these statues persists and you will find yourself also sucked into the enigma.