Best Time to Visit
October to April (warmer); early February for the Tapati Rapa Nui festival
Language
Spanish, Rapa Nui
Currency
Chilean Peso (CLP)
Time Zone
EAST (UTC-6), EASST (UTC-5) in summer
Airport
Mataveri International Airport (IPC), served by LATAM from Santiago
Population
Approx. 7,750 (island total, most in Hanga Roa)
Climate
Subtropical — mild year-round, avg 18-28°C, with rain possible in any month
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1)
Remoteness
Over 3,500 km from mainland Chile — one of the most isolated islands on Earth
The island's grandest platform, with 15 restored moai standing shoulder to shoulder against the ocean. Spectacular at sunrise, when the statues silhouette against the dawn. Covered by the national park ticket; ~20 minutes' drive from Hanga Roa.
The volcanic 'nursery' where nearly all moai were carved, with hundreds of statues half-buried on the slopes. Entry requires the national park ticket; a marked loop trail takes about 1.5 hours. Each site can be visited only once, so time it well.
A ceremonial village of stone houses perched on the rim of a vast, lake-filled volcanic crater, center of the Birdman (Tangata Manu) cult. Part of the park ticket; allow 1-2 hours. Petroglyphs and dramatic clifftop views over the sea.
The island's only true white-sand beach, backed by coconut palms and the moai of Ahu Nau Nau. Free to swim; the ahu is inside the park. About 20 km north of town — combine with a swim and a picnic, allowing a half day.
A trio of restored ceremonial platforms just outside Hanga Roa, including a rare moai with restored coral-and-obsidian eyes. Free and walkable from town; the best-loved sunset spot on the island. Allow an hour around dusk.
A rare inland platform of seven moai that famously face the ocean, aligned with the equinox sunset. Covered by the park ticket; a quick roadside stop of 30-45 minutes. Said to represent the island's seven original explorers.
The red scoria quarry where the moai's distinctive 'pukao' topknots were carved, with several finished cylinders scattered nearby. Part of the park ticket; a short 30-minute visit with a panoramic hilltop view over Hanga Roa.
Land at Mataveri International (IPC) after the ~5.5-hour LATAM flight from Santiago. The runway sits right inside Hanga Roa, so hotel transfers are barely 5 minutes. Buy your park ticket, settle in, and ease into island time with a first sunset.
Buy the Rapa Nui National Park ticket at the airport CONAF desk(20 minutes)
Around USD 80 (~76,000 CLP), cash or card; valid 10 days. Guard it — you show it at nearly every site, and Rano Raraku and Orongo can each be entered only once.
Transfer & check-in in Hanga Roa(30 minutes)
Stay near Tahai for sunset walks — Altiplanico Rapa Nui or Nayara Hangaroa sit on the ocean edge; town-center guesthouses on Atamu Tekena are cheaper.
Orientation stroll along Atamu Tekena & Caleta Hanga Roa(1.5 hours)
Walk the main street, then the little fishing harbor with the solitary Ahu Tautira moai and turtles in the shallows.
Sunset at Ahu Tahai(1.5 hours)
Free and a 10-minute walk from town. Ahu Ko Te Riku here is the island's only moai with restored coral-and-obsidian eyes — it glows at dusk.
Dinner at Te Moana(1.5 hours)
Oceanfront on Atamu Tekena; grilled local tuna or ceviche around CLP 15,000.
Devote the day to the southwest corner and the towering Rano Kau volcano. Because Orongo can be entered only once on your ticket, do it properly today with time to linger on the crater rim.
Ascend to the Rano Kau crater rim(1 hour)
Drive the 7 km road or hike up from town; the reward is a mile-wide caldera cradling a reed-covered lake.
Explore Orongo ceremonial village(1.5 hours)
Restored stone houses and Birdman (Tangata Manu) petroglyphs perched on the cliff above the Motu Nui islet. One-time entry — take it slow.
Ana Kai Tangata sea cave(45 minutes)
On the south coast near the airport; red-and-white birdman paintings survive on the cave ceiling above the surf.
Lunch at La Kaleta(1 hour)
Harborside at Caleta Hanga Roa; ceviche and tuna poke around CLP 12,000 with the best water view in town.
Museo Antropológico Sebastián Englert(1 hour)
Near Tahai; the female moai, a real rongorongo replica, and the only original moai eye ever found. Entry ~CLP 1,000.
The island's signature day. A pre-dawn drive east (~20 min) delivers sunrise behind the fifteen moai of Tongariki, then the moai 'nursery' at Rano Raraku (one-time entry), looping home along the south coast.
Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki(1.5 hours)
The grandest platform — 15 restored moai silhouetted against the dawn. Arrive by 6:30am in summer; bring a fleece, it's cold before the sun.
Rano Raraku quarry loop trail(1.5 hours)
The volcanic quarry where nearly every moai was carved; hundreds stand half-buried on the slope. One-time entry, so walk the full marked loop.
Ahu Akahanga & Ahu Vaihu(45 minutes)
Toppled moai left face-down exactly where they fell — a stark contrast to the restored sites.
Vinapu(30 minutes)
The precisely fitted stone wall behind the ahu looks uncannily Inca — a favorite puzzle for archaeologists.
Dinner at Haka Honu(1.5 hours)
Oceanfront near Tahai; fish of the day or a burger around CLP 14,000, catch the sunset from the terrace.
Your rest half-day. Sleep in, drift through town, then drive ~20 km north to Anakena, the island's only true white-sand beach and the legendary landing place of the first king, Hotu Matu'a.
Slow morning in Hanga Roa(2 hours)
Coffee and famously good gelato at Mikafe by the harbor, then browse the Feria Artesanal craft market.
Swim at Anakena Beach(2 hours)
Drive ~30 min north; turquoise water backed by coconut palms. Free to swim — pack a picnic and sunscreen.
Ahu Nau Nau(45 minutes)
The exquisitely preserved moai behind the beach, several with topknots and carved back detailing, protected by the sand for centuries.
Te Pito Kura on the return(30 minutes)
The round magnetic 'navel of the world' stone and Paro, the largest moai ever raised (now fallen, ~10 m).
Dinner at Kaloa(1.5 hours)
Grill house in town; well-priced meats and fish, mains around CLP 13,000.
Explore the green inland heart of the island, west of center, linking two more highlight platforms with a pair of lava-tube caves.
Ahu Akivi(45 minutes)
A rare inland ahu of seven moai that face the ocean, aligned to the equinox sunset; said to be the island's seven original explorers.
Puna Pau red scoria quarry(45 minutes)
Where the reddish pukao topknots were carved; finished cylinders lie scattered, and the hilltop gives a panorama over Hanga Roa.
Ana Te Pahu (Banana Cave)(45 minutes)
A collapsed lava tube with taro and banana still growing in the sunlit sinkhole — bring a torch to go deeper.
Ana Kakenga (Two Windows Cave)(1 hour)
Crawl through a low lava tube that opens onto twin windows in the sea cliff. Torch and careful footing essential.
Dinner at Tataku Vave(1.5 hours)
Seafood at Hanga Piko harbor on the southern edge of town; superb fresh fish, mains around CLP 18,000.
A day on and in the water — Rapa Nui has some of the clearest water on Earth — capped by a traditional umu earth-oven dinner and dance.
Two-tank dive with Mike Rapu or Orca Diving Center(4 hours)
Based at Caleta Hanga Roa; 40-60 m visibility over coral pinnacles and a submerged moai replica set for divers. Around CLP 60,000.
Snorkel at Poko Poko (Pea) beach(1.5 hours)
The sheltered town swimming spot if you'd rather stay on the surface; gear rents for a few thousand pesos nearby.
Afternoon rest(2 hours)
Spa time or a hammock — you've earned it before the evening feast.
Te Ra'ai cultural evening(3 hours)
Umu pae (hot-stone earth-oven) dinner and a Rapa Nui music-and-dance show just outside town, ~CLP 60,000 pp; book a day ahead.
A gentle final morning for photos and souvenirs before the LATAM flight back to Santiago. The airport is a 5-minute drive, so no rush.
Farewell walk at Ahu Tahai & Caleta Hanga Roa(1 hour)
One last look at the sunset moai and the harbor in the calm morning light.
Last souvenirs at the Feria Artesanal(1 hour)
Hand-carved moai, obsidian and shell jewelry, rongorongo tablets — haggle gently, and carry cash.
Tuna empanadas at Ariki o Te Pana (Tia Berta)(30 minutes)
The island's famous huge empanadas de atún near the football field, about CLP 5,000 each.
Checkout & transfer to Mataveri Airport (IPC)(45 minutes)
5-minute drive; LATAM to Santiago takes ~5.5 hours. Reconfirm your seat the day before.
Almost every major site is inside Rapa Nui National Park, which charges foreigners around USD 80 (payable in cash or card at the airport or CONAF office). It's valid for 10 days, but note that Rano Raraku and Orongo can each be entered only once — plan your route accordingly.
The statues and their platforms (ahu) are sacred and legally protected; walking on an ahu or touching a moai can bring heavy fines and deeply offends the Rapa Nui people. Stay behind the marked stone borders and hire a local guide to understand the sites' significance.
Easter Island is Chilean territory, so nationals who enter mainland Chile visa-free do the same here. Since 2018 visitors must complete a PDI entry form declaring a stay of up to 30 days and show a return ticket and proof of lodging — fill it in before boarding in Santiago.
Only LATAM flies here, mostly from Santiago (about 5.5 hours), so book months ahead and confirm the return leg. On the island there's no public transport; renting a 4x4, ATV, or bike is the way to reach distant ahu. Note that rental insurance often isn't offered, so drive cautiously.
Because nearly all goods are shipped or flown in, food and fuel cost far more than the mainland. Some smaller vendors are cash-only and ATMs occasionally run dry, so carry Chilean pesos. Self-catering from the Hanga Roa market helps stretch a budget.
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