Wednesday 8 August 2012

Sightseeing around Easter Island

DAY 19 - Sightseeing around Easter Island

After a failed attempt to reach Totegegie, we returned to Easter Island and enquired at the general aviation terminal as to any chances of hiring an aircraft to allow some sightseeing of the island.  The objective was to view some of the famous stone heads located around the island.  These Moai statues are over 500 years old and were constructed to honour ancestors and were transported around the island using tree trunks as the island was forested around the time of construction of the statues.  It is thought that the fierce race to construct the statues ultimately led to the island losing almost all its trees and the indigenous population decreasing as a result.  The Rapanui culture still thrives on the island today.

Our aircraft for the sightseeing tour of the island.  It will drop us off in the bay at Hanga Roa where we will be picked up and driven back to the hotel.

The second takeoff of the day.

Cruising over Easter Island looking out for Moai statues.

Descending for a closer look at the Moai statues near Hotu-iti Bay.

Another view of the Moai statues.

A view of the island on the way back to Hanga Roa.

An oil tanker moored up in the bay.

Approach into the bay for a water landing.

Splashdown!

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