Americas - Visit50

Easter Island is a Chilean island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. It’s most famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai.

Why visit Easter Island? 7 reasons, via this guest post:

To throw claim to the fact that you’ve been to one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world.

Easter Island is part of Chile, but located nearly 2000 miles (3000 km) away from the mainland. It doesn’t get much more remote than this!

2. To watch the sun come up over Ahu Tongariki – breathtaking!

I recommend heading there as early as you’re able to wake up. Rent a car to make the experience truly memorable.

3. To climb a real volcano, stand at the top and take in nothing but fresh Pacific Ocean air… and this stunning view!

The photos don’t even do it justice. There are several hiking paths around the crater and a visitors center. Views of Hanga Roa town are also spectacular!

4. To wander in the footsteps of the ancient Rapa Nui people through the quarry of Rano Raraku.

Admire the unfinished moai and puzzle over just how these (sometimes huge) sculptures ended up scattered all over the island!

Quarry Easter Island — The statues, called moai, were created by the early Rapa Nui people.

5. To make new friends.

Wild horses and cows frequently appear in the road. They have the freedom to roam as they wish so be sure to move aside if you spot them ahead. Don’t be afraid to stop and snap some photographs; they’re renowned for their quiet temperament.

6. To see some incredible wildlife up close and personal.

These beautiful birds of prey were plentiful in number. They were more than happy to sit and pose for photos.

7. To watch the sunset over the statues at Tahai in Easter Island.

Arrive early to set up your spot. Everybody in Easter Island wants that perfect sunset photo. The sky changes color so quickly – enjoy every moment!

Know before you go

Easter Island is far, hard to get to, and expensive. But it’s special, and very few people get to visit.

Details below:

Getting to Easter Island:

Comprised of three (now extinct) volcanoes, Easter Island is accessible via a daily flight from Santiago (or a weekly flight from Tahiti).

map of South America, including Easter Island

Budget – Easter Island:

If you’re planning your trip, be aware that flights are expensive and hotels aren’t cheap. Only a handful of people get to visit Easter Island in their lifetime

This was a guest post by Jess, who writes the awesome travel blog Jess is a Wanderer. Join Jess’ adventures around the globe, to top tourist spots and off the beaten track.
Come wander with us!

Photo credit: featured photo and 1st photo, and the rest of the photos were from Jess’s blog.

I’ve been to many remote places, including diving in Sipadan and Mabul

I went Volcano Boarding! (and lived to tell about it…)

Volcano Boarding is #2 on CNN’s “Thrill seekers bucket list: 50 things to do before you die.” They say Cerro Negro Volcano in Nicaragua is the only place in the world that has it. Naturally I booked my flight right away. It was so much fun!

Here’s the experience, in 26 photos:

wearing orange on the top of Cerro Negro before Volcano Boarding Nicaragua! — Prison Break? Orange Is The New Black? Nope – we’re on the top of a volcano, about to sled down as fast as we can. Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua!

Volcano Jumping! - Volcan Cerro Negro — Volcano Jumping! – jumping on top of Cerro Negro volcano in Leon, Nicaragua

What is Volcano Boarding? Volcano Sledding

It’s a bit of a misnomer – Volcano Boarding is less like snowboarding, and more like sledding. You’re not standing up; instead you’re

Cerro Negro is a live volcano, which erupted as recently as 1999. They’ll have a speed gun to track you – the record is more than 80 kilometers per hour down the volcano.

right after my first time volcano boarding in Nicaragua! — this is right after my first time volcano boarding in Leon! That was awesome!

Ready to hike the volcano with our volcano boards. You can see how high tech these boards are (sarcasm...) — Ready to hike the volcano with our volcano boards. You can see how high-tech these boards are (sarcasm…)

Climbing up a volcano cerro negro in Nicaragua. Lava rocks carrying plywood sleds and uniforms that look like prison suits — Climbing up a volcano full of lava rocks carrying plywood sleds and prison suits? check.

At the top of Cerro Negro in Leon Nicaragua. You can see where the lava wiped out everything in its path — At the top of Cerro Negro. You can see where the lava wiped out everything in its path

I can hardly believe we climbed this beast

this pic almost doesn't look real. He's standing at the edge of the top of the volcano — this pic almost doesn’t look real. He’s standing at the edge of the top of the volcano

View from the top of the volcano; it almost doesn't look real. That hole behind me would be quite a drop! — View from the top of the volcano; it almost doesn’t look real. I’m one step from falling into a huge crater behind me!

Hiking Cerro Negro Volcano – the climb

The hike was just a few hours long, and isn’t as difficult of a hike as it seems. The only challenging part is that you’re awkwardly carrying your board while hiking. There’s barely a trail and no trees to hold for stability. The first third of it is challenging because of the uneven rocks, while carrying a board. The rest is challenging because of the incline, while carrying a plywood board.

hiking the Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua — there’s no ski lift – we’re about to hike this active volcano in Nicaragua (in Leon)

hiking up the edge of a volcano, before boarding down. There's no rails or trails here! — hiking up the edge of a volcano; there’s no rails or trails here!

climbing up for Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua — we’re living on the edge!

Breathtaking views from the top

Once you arrive at the top, the views are stunning! They’re also very scary once you realize you’ll be volcano boarding down this volcano.

Volcano jumping! That's the edge of the cliff of Cerro Negro Volcano below me — Volcano jumping! That’s the edge of the cliff of Cerro Negro Volcano below me

scary view down Volcan Negro — Are we really doing this?? It looks reeeeally steep. I had a little “stage-fright.” It’s a long scary way down. If there was an easy way to chicken out I might have…

Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua -view from the top — Views from the top

What’s it like to go Volcano Boarding?

You get into these (seemingly) former prisoner one-piece outfits. They’re hot so you won’t want to put them on until you need to.

You sit on the board with your hand on the rope, and feet on the board. You can go faster by leaning back; slower by sitting up. You can let your heels go to the outside of the board to apply the brakes. It surprisingly felt like I had some control. If I did it again, I’d certainly let myself go faster.

check out the world-class Volcano Boards we're about to use, wooden toboggan, made of plywood with a piece of Formica on a strip of metal — check out the world-class Volcano Boards we’re about to use, wooden toboggan, made of plywood with a piece of Formica on a strip of metal

they use a speed gun to measure how fast you go volcano boarding down — introducing…Volcano Boarding! CNN named Volcano Boarding as #2 in the world on the “Thrill seekers bucket list: 50 things to do before you die” That’s a speed gun in the guy’s hand

Is Volcano Boarding safe?

Debatable. From one standpoint, it felt fairly safe, but go at your own risk. They say it is, but then again, they’re collecting your money. You’re flying down an active volcano at crazy speeds. While we had a prison jumpsuit to protect from minor skin abrasions and goggles, there’s no helmet or armor. It feels very unsafe but lots of fun.

guide explains how to go volcano sledding — Our fearless guide shows us the ropes – he was a traveler until he went volcano boarding 6 months ago and was instantly hooked. Now he volunteers as a guide in exchange for free volcano boarding

With a straight face, the guide said “the secret to the technology is formica on the back” that helps you pick up speed even though we’re on an active volcano. “But don’t leave it out in direct sunlight , or it might peel off.” Yes he actually called it technology.

There's 1 guy with a camera, and another with a speed gun. Neither has medical training, but that's rarely needed... — There’s 1 guy with a camera, and another with a speed gun. Neither has medical training, but that’s rarely needed…

closeup photo of Volcano Boarding or Volcano sledding in Leon, Nicaragua - in the only place in the world where you can do it — Afterward they show closeups of everyone Volcano Boarding at the hostel and provided your speed.

We lived! We survived volcano boarding. Woohoo!

Where can you go Volcano Boarding?

The only place in the world where we’ve heard you can go volcano boarding is in Leon, Nicaragua, at Cerro Negro Volcano. Book it through Bigfoot Hostel.