For those seeking to tap into the rich culture of Easter Island and balance explorations with blissful coastal relaxation, there is no better base than Nayara Hangaroa. The low-built grass-roofed rooms at the resort echo the design of houses where the indigenous inhabitants of Easter Island – the Rapa Nui - once lived. Cypress wood pillars are employed inside and out to support curved grey and whitewashed stone walls, while the main lounge has been consciously designed to reflect the shape of an ancestral boat house. This sense of history and place has been married with all modern comforts. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto private terraces, vast lounges overlook the ocean and free-standing stone bathtubs crafted from local clay characterise the generously appointed bathrooms.