Visit Virtually Anakena, Eastern Island

Have your ever been in a paradise beach in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?

Anakena

Enjoy the warm, calm and turquoise waters of this beach, with white coral sand and palm trees, set in the foreground of the two Ahus and their Moai. A unique landscape you can’t miss (Chile.travel).

Enjoy the sun and swim by the shore, as this is the only beach on the island officially open for bathing. Relax by the seaside kiosks, where you can try tuna empanadas and the traditional poe, a sweet pudding prepared with pumpkin and flour.

Anakena is also known as Haŋa rau o te ‘ariki (source: https://www.easterisland.travel), named after how the first Rapa Nui king Hotu Matu’a disembarked here a thousand years ago when the island was first populated. This was where king Hotu Matu’a built his first house, and forevermore Anakena remained the sacred land of the royal family.

Anakena has two ahu. One of them is Ahu Nau-Nau which has seven moai statues, two of which are broken. The other one is called Ahu Ature Huke and has only 1 moai statue. The moai of Ahu Ature Huke is the first moai statue ever to be restored and raised. This was done by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl in 1956. The moai was raised by using only rocks, logs and rope. The logs were used as levers to lift the statue and rocks were put underneath, raising the statue little by little.

Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl and his archaeological expedition team had their camp here in 1955-1956 and in 1986.

Interesting, no? What are you waiting to visit this amazing place?

360° Video: Marcachile & Photo, credits to Tim Waters

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