Chile is a country of wonders. Its long coastline allowed it to have a bountiful amount of beaches and other coastal attractions. It has historical sites where those interested in the past can indulge themselves, while for those who are interested in entertainment, the capital city of Santiago offers a lot of entertainment options.
Very few countries, however, can lay claim to having access to very obscure and mysterious destinations that only a few lucky people can visit. Chile, however, can lay claim to that. For one, there's the famed Easter Island.
Easter Island, for those who are not aware, is a Polynesian Island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean at the southeastern point of the Polynesian triangle. It was first annexed by Chile in 1888 and was held territory ever since.
The Island is particularly famous for the 887 extant statues, called the moai created by the ancient Rapanui people. Today, it is declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, with much of the island falling under the protection of the Rapa Nui National Park.
Nobody really knows why the people of Easter Island created those statues, but a lot of experts believe that each of these moai represent a former chieftain or an important person in the history of the Island.
Notably, Easter Island has a failed ecosystem characterized by the extinction of many ancient species. Overexploitation of the resources is pointed to be the cause of this failed ecosystem. Curiously, however, the inhabitants of the Island have survived it. They have survived famines, slave raids, civil war, epidemics, and the failed ecosystem. This fact alone--and add to that the fact that the island is very isolated--makes the people's continous existence a surprising one.
There is really only one way to go to Easter Island, and that is through air. Only LanChile serves flights to the island, though you can fly from two points, namely, Tahiti and Santiago. You can even go on a circular flight--Santiago to Easter Island to Tahiti and vice versa--though this may be more expensive.
