The Magic Of The Moai At Easter Island’s Explora Resort

No one knows where Easter Island is, and that’s just the start of the island’s immutable mysticism. When I told people I was traveling to the small island this spring, people would say, “The place with the statues? But where IS that?” Most people have some idea that Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is a magical, far off place. Very few know the depth of its enchantment, its storied history that paints a mini parable for humankind, and its simple, stunning beauty amid 900 and counting Moai statues.

I’ve long had Easter Island on my list for a handful of reasons. I love any place that is difficult to get to, and Easter Island is only reached (as of this writing) by a few 5+ hour long one way flights a week from one city, Santiago, the capital of Chile. To this day, no one knows why or precisely how the Rapa Nui people chiseled, transported, and hoisted their Moai statues around the island for centuries, many of which exceed 13 feet in height and 10 metric tons in weight. The whole island has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its “outstanding universal value.” And then there’s rapamycin, a curious bacteria only found in the soil of Easter Island that apparently reverses aging. The final nudge I needed to put Easter Island at the top of my list was Explora’s resorts outpost there. I’ve been a fan of the South American resort group for many years and adored its Patagonia and Peru locations for their unbelievable settings and outdoor curriculum that transport guests to a version of luxurious, outdoor summer camp. Finally, after a two year closure due to the pandamic, I snagged a flight to the tiny 63 square mile island and was off to another Explora adventure.

When Easter Island came into view from the windows of the plane, the mood shifted. Passengers, mostly Chileans, perked up, pointed with wide eyes, and cheered at the sight of the coastline. I already knew I was landing in a special place but never had I witnessed a giddiness among people in a 737 like this before. The airport is a speck like the island itself, and we were quickly scooped up by the Explora crew who drove us to the resort, a short 15 minute drive off a dirt road that sloped into a sweeping visa of rolling grasslands and the Pacific Ocean. Like the other Explora properties I had visited, the Easter Island resort location is pristine and removed. It achieves one of the hardest aspirations of any resort: a place that gives the full feeling of being lost in time and any guest along with it.

Explora’s careful selection of locations, coupled with its impeccable design, make this feeling emerge. The Easter Island property was designed with the inspiration of a the ceremonial village of Orongo, the mountain bluff site on the other side of the island where locals would prepare for the gruesome birdman competition. Chilean Architect José Cruz Ovalle, known for his incredible application of woods and other Explora properties, crafted the warm interiors of the 30 room Easter Island property. It achieved South America’s first LEED certification, the coveted mark of sustainable

design, in 2007. In continuing its efforts to lead sustainability in the luxury resort market, Explora also secured its B Corp certification in 2021, another tangible mark of its commitment to conserve and cherish the environment and another reason to support this hotel group.

Design aside, the traveler Explora attracts is an unsung attribute of the resort group and particularly for the Easter Island location. As the hand written note in my room explained, “it’s a special kind of traveler who comes to Easter Island.” Within the 2nd day of my stay, my travel companion and I cleared off the massive communal table in the lounge area and welcomed 8 other guests to join us for dinner. Every night, we traded travel stories from the world over while recounting our favorite moments of the adventures from the day, many of which we shared with one another, thanks to the intimate size of the resort. We all agreed that the guides at Explora, mostly multi-generational locals who deeply respect their heritage, are engaging and full of mana, the energy of Polynesian people that includes Rapa Nui. That energy propelled many of us to do all the “must see” excursions on the island, from the quarry where moai statues seemingly emerge out of the mountain to the vast volcanic crater that rims the famed birdman village. Explora, particularly in Easter Island, is a dream place for me: it indulges my love of being blissfully exhausted at the day’s end and equally excited for the next day’s vivid adventure. The 30+ excursions offered at the Easter Island property allows guests to pick their level of adventure day by day, and I mixed sunrise runs (guided by myself) and 10 mile hikes with great massages and luxurious dips in the pool back at the resort.

Now I can pinpoint the speck of Easter Island on a map when someone asks. It is far flung to many, and that’s surely a reason to discover it, especially when coupled with a stay at the Explora. But for many other reasons, Easter Island is hauntingly familiar, a primal place that continues to attract and gather people from around the world. One of our guides smiled when I mentioned this. Rapa Nui is so named Te Pito Te Henua, he said. It means, “the navel of the world.”