Easter Island, one of the world’s last remaining outposts of mystique and mystery, starts 2023 with a bang with Tapati Rapa Nui Festival next month. Famous for its nearly 1,000 moai statues erected by the island’s early inhabitants, the Rapa Nui people, Easter Island has a unique heritage that is celebrated with this two-week event, which dates back more than 40 years. Family travelers in attendance will enjoy the opportunity to immerse themselves in the island’s history.
The festival includes a variety of events showcasing the island’s unique culture and history. By day, festivalgoers can watch daring locals participate in feats of brute strength, such as Haka Pei, a competition in which loin cloth-clad participants ride feet first on a toboggan fashioned from banana tree trunks down the slope of a 300-meter volcano known as Maunga Pu. This event is part of the Tapati Games, which also includes competitions like a spear-throwing event that has ties to Easter Island’s Rapa Nui heritage.
By night, the activities focus on traditional music and dance performances, giving visitors a glimpse into the history and culture of the peoples of Easter Island. These physical tests and cultural performances not only give insight into the identity of this corner of Polynesia but are also competition events for the participants, resulting in the grand finale: the crowning of the Queen of the Tapati.
This year’s festival, Feb. 3–11, mark the first time in two years tourists have been able to enjoy the celebrations since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since re-opening to tourism in the latter part of 2022, Easter Island welcomes visitors anew to discover its culture, beauty and traditions, and the Tapati Rapa Nui Festival is the perfect way to do that.
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Feb 6, 2025Major Savings at These Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Karisma Hotels & Resorts offers family travelers major savings this winter and spring at its Margaritaville Island Reserve and Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts properties.
Sponsored Content
Discover the Magic of East Crete: A Perfect Family Getaway
East Crete is a blend of stunning landscapes, history and charming towns, making it an ideal family destination. Far from the crowds of the west, the region offers pristine beaches, ancient sites and authentic Cretan villages.
Cruises
Feb 6, 2025Take the Kids on a 2025 Themed Cruise with Ambassador Cruises
This year, Ambassador Cruise Line has a stellar lineup of themed cruises for family travelers. From a 1980s-themed voyage to a trip with ORCA Ocean Conservationists, why not make your next cruise a unique one?
Slideshow
Feb 6, 20256 Bologna, Italy, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Bologna, Italy, with us.
Sponsored Content
Madrid: A Destination for All Ages
However one is traveling, what matters is having fun and creating unforgettable memories. Among many ways to travel, multigenerational trips — on which grandparents, parents and children get to spend quality time together — are gaining popularity. Setting out on this sort of adventure? Madrid has something to offer everyone!
Destinations / North America
Feb 5, 2025Four Points RV Resorts Adds Another Jellystone Park to Portfolio
Family travelers may want to hide their picnic baskets! A fifth Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort franchise has been added to Four Points RV Resorts’ portfolio. LeBleu Lakes RV Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, will be converted to a Jellystone Park Camp-Resort for 2025.
ShareThis