Hanga Roa, Chile

Hurrah! Felt much better today and set out on a quad bike. A bike that clearly stated no passengers, not to go on roads and no insurance (none on the island). With a bit of a splutter we went towards the airport to pick up our National park permit (about £60 for 5 days), we then set off hunting Moai. We found our first on the south west tip at Vinapu, where he had fallen but face up for us to smile at! We screamed through town to the dramatic north coast and up to Hanga Kio’e which is a single upright Moai. The heavens opened as we searched for site of Ana Kakenga, we knew it was a cave but it was only the park ranger whistling at us and pointing that made us re-evaluate the foot wide gap in the earth to our left. It took some scrambling and crouching to get into a dark tunnel that opened out to standing. In front of us was a vista of the Pacific sea as we were stood in the cliff face. The caves were made thousands of years ago as lava erupted from a volcano. We emerged wet and filthy to a sunny sky. Back on the quad we took a long route to Ahu Akivi. These Maoi are the only ones mounted to face the sea rather inland. It is said that they are navigators or represent the first explorers and thus look out rather than facing/protecting a village. Fortunately we got lost on our way and ended up back in Hanga Roa, fortuitous because another driver spotted our flat tyre and we could change the quad for another one. We set off on the main road to cross the island up to the north east. Anakena is said to be the site where first islanders landed, there are two Moai sites here. A solo man and then a group on a mount in front of the beach. The group are in relatively good condition as they spent many years covered in sand before their discovery. What I cannot do justice to in words is the whole picture, the palm trees led us down to the Moai where they stood under a perfect blue sky, in front of a white sandy beach. A few photos and then we dived into the ocean to wash off our bike grime- bliss, cool crystal waters. After a couple of hours dozing under the palm trees we headed back to Hanga Roa, where we ate on the seafront watching surfers riding the waves as the sunset. Blew the budget on a great day!