Whilst it is located thousands of miles away from mainland Chile, Easter Island remains one of the top destinations for a cruise around South America.
That’s because the island is home to a huge collection of huge moai statues that were carved from rock hundreds of years ago and have fascinated visitors ever since.
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, most of the island is protected within the Rapa Nui National Park; named after the aboriginal people who originally inhabited the island.
No matter where you go on the island, you’re sure to come across one of the near 900 statues, with the restored collection at Ahu Tongariki, the only ocean-facing statues at Ahu Akivi and the early creations at Ahu Tahai being some of the most popular.
You might also ant to explore the huge volcanic quarry at Rano Raraku where many of the statues were created and where you’ll find the unique Tukuturi moai, which is in a kneeling posture rather than standing.
Whilst exploring Easter Island, which is accessed via tender as the main cruise liners can’t dock on the island itself, you should keep your eye out for whales and dolphins in the surrounding waters.