Truly disconnecting from the world around you is getting harder and harder, but one place that remains remote is Easter Island.
Located approximately 2,300 miles off the Chilean coast, it is a five-hour flight from Santiago, Chile-the closest major city.
Why go? The Polynesian island holds one of the greatest mysteries of the world: Its moai statues. No one has yet discovered how the Rapa Nui people moved these monolithic statues that date back as far as 1250. Many of the enormous statues remain in what's known as the "quarry" but there are still several assembled formations on stone platforms around the island.
A number of theories have tried to explain the existence of the moai, but conflict, colonization, slave trade and over-farming transformed the island and wiped its native people.
Visitors now travel from around the world to see the remaining moai, which have been reassembled over the years, beginning in the 1950s.
Highlights for visitors include the quarry as well as Ahu Tongariki, the largest platform on the island with 15 moai statues. The Rapa Nui National Park is also known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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For people looking to escape the rigors of urban life, now could be a good time to travel to Easter Island. Explora Rapa Nui, one of the island's top resorts, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Over the course of its 10-year history, more than 25,000 people have visited the resort, perched above the island's eastern shore. The remote outpost is synonymous with adventure. The experience is an inclusive one, with more than 20 daily excursions available, including activities such as hiking, biking, snorkeling and more.
Guests can choose from the adventurous to the tame. There are circular tours by van of the entire island as well as full-day treks. Guides pay attention to weather conditions and guests' desires and in the evening, create a robust list of offerings that include the best things to see and do the following day.
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For those looking for an easy, half-day hike that offers a sense of adventure, trekking to the extinct Rano Kau volcano is a great option. Guests hike along the bluffs to the volcano before exploring the edge of the massive crater. There are also prime views of Moto Nui or the legendary "Bird Island."
Meals at the resort feature locally sourced ingredients and are healthy, for guests who are looking to feel light and agile during their stays.
The hotel bar is where everyone congregates to relay their adventures of the day. For guests looking to try the local flavor, I suggest the guava Pisco sour. Be careful: This fantastic beverage could become a habit. There must be something special about Easter Island guava because the recipe is just not the same when replicated at home.
Guest rooms at Explora are spacious and private with views of the ocean and the prairie. There are no televisions or Wi-Fi access available in the rooms, allowing guests to truly disconnect and appreciate the seclusion that this remote setting provides. For those desperate for news of home, there is Wi-Fi access in the main lounge and common areas.
If you plan on hiking, bringing your own clothing and boots is best, but walking sticks and other gear can be left behind as Explora provides everything guests need. The same goes for snorkeling and mountain biking as well. Swimsuits, biking shorts and gloves are really all you will need.
The 10th-anniversary celebration includes two-for-one pricing. Book a room at Explora Rapa Nui for two people and pay the price for one. The deal is for new bookings made through February 1, 2018, and for stays through February 28, 2018, excluding Christmas holidays between December 21 and January 2 as well as stays during the Tapati Festival. There is a minimum three-night stay.
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