Easter Island Travelers Recommend

The iconic moai statues that guard the island’s coastline are famous around the world and the focal point of one of the most fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The colossal stone figures are the work of the native Rapa Nui people. Here are a few statue sites you shouldn’t miss.

Rano Raraku Rano Raraku is where it all began. This stone quarry is where most of the island’s statues were created from solidified volcanic ash before being placed around the island. The remains of nearly 400 incomplete moai still litter the site, which is also home to El Gigante, the largest known moai at 71 feet (21 meters) tall.

Anakena Beach This white-sand, palm-lined beach was where King Ariki Hotu Matu’a first landed on Easter Island. It soon became a spiritual center for the Rapa Nui people, and seven of their moai can be seen overlooking the beach.

Ahu Akivi The seven moai standing guard at Ahu Akivi are unique in that they’re the only statues on the island that face the ocean, even though their location is toward the island’s interior. Restored in the 1960s, these are also some of the most visited statues on the island.

Ahu Tongariki Situated on the southeastern coast, Ahu Tongariki is the island’s largest and most striking site, with 15 moai positioned on a 200-foot-long ceremonial platform set between Rano Raraku Volcano and the sea. Each statue is unique, and the largest stands more than 46 feet (14 meters) tall.

Tahai The Tahai ceremonial site includes a single moai with unique painted eyes and a pukao headdress, alongside a "family" of five moai. American archaeologist William Mulloy helped restore the site in 1974, and he’s now interred here. Visit at dusk when the moai are silhouetted in front of the setting sun.

At less than 20 miles (30 km) long, getting around the sights of Rapa Nui couldn’t be easier, but with so many sights and so much history to unravel, you’d regret rushing your visit. Three days in Easter Island is ideal, giving you ample opportunity to check out all the main attractions and time left over to explore off the beaten path. 

Day 1: Discover the Cult of the Birdman

Once you’ve settled into your accommodation in Hanga Roa, the island’s only substantial town, get your bearings with a wander around the town center and soak up the scenery around the fishing harbor before heading south to Ana Kai Tangata cave. The imposing black-rock cavern is best known for its colorful Manutara bird paintings, and this will be your first introduction to the bizarre Birdman ceremony once celebrated by the native Polynesian islanders. Next up is the coastal village of Orongo, the ceremonial home of the Cult of the Birdman, perched on the edge of the magnificent Ranu Kau volcano and offering spectacular views out to sea. 

Day 2: Meet the Moai

There are 887 gigantic statues, or moai, dotted around the island, some reaching up to 46 feet (14 meters) tall and weighing over 30 tons. Viewing the enigmatic artworks will likely be the highlight of your trip. Check out some of the most unique sites–the Tahai complex, where you’ll see the only statue on the island with painted eyes; the red stone quarry of Puna Pau, where the moai’s “pukao” headdresses were sculpted; and the seven moai of Ahu Akivi, the only moai that face the ocean—then spend the afternoon swimming and snorkeling on the idyllic beach of Anakena.

Day 3: The Star Attraction

Make an early start and arrive at the famous Ahu Tongariki in time to watch the sunrise—a dramatic photo opportunity with its 15 gigantic moai silhouetted against the rising sun. This is the biggest and most renowned of all Easter Island’s moai sites, with the ceremonial platform stretching 650 feet (200 meters) along the seafront. Next pay a visit to the vast quarry of Rano Raraku, where the huge moai stones were carved and hundreds still remain, including the largest moai ever made. Then head to the nearby temple of Akahanga, the burial site of the island’s founder, King Hotu Matu’a.

Travelers come from around the globe to see the mysterious stone moai of Easter Island. After marveling at the stone giants, don’t miss the opportunity to sample some traditional Rapa Nui cuisine. Here are some of Easter Island’s most characteristic dishes and must-have food experiences.

Must-Try Dishes

With a location 2,182 miles (3,512 kilometers) off the coast of Chile, it should come as no surprise that seafood features prominently in the culinary landscape of Easter Island, especially mahi mahi, tuna, swordfish, lobster, and shrimp. Among the most traditional dishes is umu rapa nui, a preparation where fish, chicken, and meat are wrapped in plantain leaves and cooked in a covered hole in the ground filled with hot stones. The dish is served with typical vegetables from the island, including sweet potatoes, taro, and tapioca.

Seafood lovers shouldn’t miss tunu ahí, fresh fish cooked on hot stones next to the sea, or ceviche, an island staple made with raw fish and coconut milk. For a quick meal on the go, grab a couple of tuna patties, Easter Island–style empanadas stuffed with fresh tuna, cheese, and tomato. Many meals come with a side of po’e, a sweet and spongy cake made with pumpkin flour and plantain.

Must-Do Experiences

• Sample regional specialties and learn about Rapa Nui culture during a Polynesian dinner and show.

• Sit down for a barbecue lunch on the grasslands of Easter Island as you fuel up for an exploration of the island’s stone sculptures.

• Eat like the Rapa Nui people with food cooked umu -style underground.

• Grab a few fried pastries to take along on a hike through the island’s varied landscapes.

Polynesian explorers likely settled on Easter Island between AD 300 and 1200, and the people of Rapa Nui have a cultural and spiritual heritage that extends beyond the enigmatic moai that keep watch over the island. Here’s what you need to know about experiencing Rapa Nui culture on Easter Island.

• Tour some of the island’s many ceremonial sites, including Ahu Akahanga, with an archaeologist guide.
• To learn more about the significance of the moai to the Rapa Nui people, visit the rock quarry near Rano Raraku Volcano where the monolithic sculptures were created.
• Experience traditional Rapa Nui chanting, music, and dance—including a dance lesson—during an evening folkloric performance and umu pae firepit dinner.
• Gaze at the stars from traditional observatory sites to see stars and constellations that were of interest to Polynesian navigators.
• See the sights of Hanga Roa, the island’s capital, during a sightseeing tour, with a stop at the Father Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum.
• Shop for indigenous crafts at the open-air artisan market, where around 40 vendors sell goods from grass-hut stalls.