Enigmatic maoi, iconic statues carved from compressed volcanic ash, scatter the remote island of Rapa Nui, better known as Easter Island. The monumental stone heads were carved, moved and erected around AD1000, but the circumstances of their creators remain shrouded in mystery. Far off the coast of mainland Chile, the Polynesian island is not the cheapest destination, especially considering that you can see all its sights within a few days. However, this World Heritage site more than justifies the expense.
