Easter Island wasn’t even on my radar until Alyssa added it on as an extension to our Antarctica trip. And like most South American travel stories, it was a journey: Ushuaia → Buenos Aires → Santiago → Easter Island. Nearly 22 hours in total.

We crashed at the Holiday Inn by the airport and I immediately started separating bags so I could travel with just one carry-on. Easter Island, Patagonia, and Mendoza were each organized into their own packable category. It barely zipped, but I made it. (Someday I’ll add up how much I spent on baggage fees—emotionally, I’m not ready yet.)

We landed at a tiny airport, passed through some odd security, and were instantly greeted with a flower lei and a beer. Not what I expected—but I was definitely not complaining. I haven’t been to Hawaii yet, but it had that same island energy. The weather was warm, the sun was shining, and I was in a dress with a flower in my curly hair. Life was good.

As we were driving to the hotel in the SUV I was sooo excited to pull up to some little off the beach bungalow. Well…. bungalow was accurate – but no beach, off in the middle of nowhere, and barely running water or electricity… a bit underwhelming. BUT, I was just along for the ride on this one, so, it’ll do.

There wasn’t really a beachfront like I had pictured. One rocky area had some swimmers and surfers, and a massive sea turtle casually swimming among them. People were literally giving it little shoves like “Hey buddy, make room.”

We had a guide drive us around the island for the week, and seeing the Moai for the first time was everything. All we could think about was Night at the Museum and the line: “Dum dum want gum gum.” They’re just as huge and surreal in person as you’d expect. Actually – probably even more so!

We explored different sites, including the quarry where the Moai were carved. You can still see several statues “in progress”, partially formed in the stone. It was majestic and eerie all at once. They would carve them from the mountainside, then somehow shimmy them across hills to various points across the island. Fascinatingly, all the Moai face inward toward the island—except for one set that faces the sea.

We also spent time exploring underground lava tubes that served as shelter and hiding spots. Pitch black and creepy, but so cool.

And of course, the traditional dancer show. Naturally, I got pulled on stage. Kill me. But you know what? I actually looked good up there—I had the perfect skirt for it.

It was a quick stop, but absolutely worth it to see the Moai in real life. Unexpected, unforgettable.

Read the full trip: South America & Antarctica in Six Weeks →