Discover Easter Island

Today, take your flight to Easter Island (the natives call their island Rapa Nui or Te Pito o Te Henua, "the navel of the earth") from Santiago, Chile. Easter Island has captivated the attention of navigators, historians, scientists, and travelers from all around the globe ever since its "discovery" on Easter Sunday in 1722. This remote island in the Pacific Ocean is considered "the most island-like island," and it's easy to see why. The gigantic stone statues, known as moai, are awe-inspiring, and the still-undeciphered writing of the Rongo Rongo symbols only adds to the island's mystery. The story of inhabitants who were on the brink of disappearing only adds to the island's allure.

After a warm welcome, you will be transported to your hotel in Hanga Roa to get settled in. 

In the evening, head out for your first taste of what Easter Island has to show off, a sunset excursion to Tahai. Watching the sunset at Tahai is a beautiful and serene experience to relax into after a busy day of travel. Tahai's west-facing location provides an ideal vantage point for watching the sun dip below the horizon of the Pacific Ocean. On a clear evening the setting sun will paint the sky with vibrant colors, creating a stunning natural spectacle. The combination of the moai statues and the setting sun create a unique and memorable experience you will want to remember long after your return home.

Explore the wonder of Easter Island's ancient megalithic past with a tour of four incredible sites on today's full day adventure. Your day will include a visit to Ahus Vaihu, Akahanga, Rano Raraku, Ahu Tongariki, Ahu Te Pito Kura, and Anakena.  Starting with Ahu Vaihu, you’ll stand before fallen moai—massive stone figures carved by the Rapa Nui centuries ago—still lying face down where they collapsed long ago. This quiet site offers a raw, powerful glimpse into the island’s past without the crowds.

Next, uncover the mysteries of Akahanga, also known as "The King's Platform." Here, you'll find four platforms with 12 Moai of various sizes and eight Pukao headdresses. The site is believed to be the final resting place of Hotu Matu'a, the island's first king, with a cave in the Akahanga sector possibly holding his tomb. You'll also be fascinated by the aligned stones made of red scoria, a type of iron-rich volcanic stone used to create headdresses, tombstones, boarding stones, and more. While exploring the site, take a moment to admire the petroglyphs along the front of the main Ahu platform, and note how the ancient culture was skilled at recycling and reusing materials, as evidenced by the head of an old statue incorporated into the back wall.

Continue your day traveling to Rano Raraku, where, on its volcanic slopes, ancient Rapa Nui sculptors carved moai from volcanic stone before moving about a third of them to various ahu throughout the island. Many of the island's more than 800 moai remain in the quarry and scattered nearby. As you walk with your guide to the stone pit, you'll see peeking out from the grassy ground hundreds of moai heads and partially buried torsos. Situated in front of the Rano Raraku volcano, approximately 2 km away, Tongariki is a testament to the island's ancient inhabitants' incredible megalithic culture. Here, learn about the largest reconstruction on the island and in all of Polynesia. The site boasts 15 restored Moai, which were swept away by a massive tsunami before being restored between 1992 and 1995.

After a lunch break to refuel, the tour culminates with a visit to Anakena Beach, where white sand meets turquoise water and moai watch over the coast. Ahu Nau Nau features seven restored statues, known for their detailed carvings and ceremonial significance. At this site, archaeologists located a nearly complete coral eye, encrusted with red volcanic scoria stone. Your sightseeing for the day complete, opt to swim or stroll along Anakena, one of the few white sand beaches on the island, and reflect on the island’s unique history and heritage. 

*Please note, order of sites visited may vary in order to best enjoy each location. 

Rapa Nui National Park, a wildlife sanctuary that spans most of Easter Island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains about 900 moai sculptures, as well as 300 ahu, or ceremonial platforms, on which the carved figures stand. Carved from solidified volcanic ash, these statues are believed to represent the spirits of ancestors and high-ranking members of each tribe. Today you will have two half day private tours to explore within the park.

This morning, start your day by heading to the extinct volcano Rano Kau. Rano Kau is not only a geological wonder but also an important cultural and historical site on Easter Island. The crater was created by volcanic activity and erosion over time. Next stop is the village of Orongo, where you’ll learn more about the birdman competitions held from 1600 to 1866, with village structures adorned with petroglyphs depicting the birdman. Explore Ana Kai Tangata, a coastal cave and the only one on the island that contains ancient paintings of the fabled birdman competitions. Many believe this cave was the starting point for the annual Tangata Manu (Birdman) ritual, practiced until around 1800. As you listen to the rhythmic crashing of waves against the cliffs and hear ancient legends, imagine selected men from each tribe leaping from the cave to swim to the islet of Motu Nui, aiming to retrieve the first egg laid by a sooty tern. Many perished in the attempt, either drowning or falling victim to sharks. The first man to return with the egg was rewarded with honors and riches by his tribe for the rest of the year. From the cave, you can see the distant Rano Kau volcano and its crater lake. Continue on to the Vinapu Ceremonial Center, home to the largest ahu on Rapa Nui and an architectural structure resembling the Incan construction techniques seen in Cusco and other Peruvian ruins. The last stop this morning is the Hanga Piko fishing harbor, a small cove and coastal bay, where you will visit the restored Ahu Riata before heading back to your hotel for lunch independently before your afternoon excursion.

Start your afternoon guided excursion with a drive to Ahu Akivi, where you will see the famous line of seven moai facing the ocean. The moai here are 16 feet (5 meters) tall and weigh approximately 18 tons each.  It is an unusual sight to see Moai facing out to the sea instead of inward on the island and the reasoning for their positioning remains a mystery today. One theory behind their unusual position is these moai symbolize the seven explorers from the Polynesian homeland of Hiva sent by the chief to find the island of Rapa Nui. According to this hypothesis, these statues face the ocean in the direction from which they came. Next, proceed to the Ahu Hanga Poukura, and Puna Pau to see variations of the moai designs. Here the moai feature pukao or topknots made of red scoria on their heads. It is believed that the volcanic rock was used to impress rival tribes. Approximately 30 pukao are found in or near the Puna Pau quarry, the source of the red slag. Your afternoon continues with a visit to the Ahu Huri a Urenga, a solitary moai with two sets of hands, found in the interior of the island, overlooking an agricultural area and human settlement. 

The evening is yours to relax or explore as you please. 

 

We’ve timed your itinerary to give you the best possible experience for the season you are visiting Rapa Nui. Early this morning you will be picked up about 90 minutes before sunrise, so you can catch the island waking up in the most unforgettable way—at Ahu Tongariki. There, you’ll watch the sun rise behind the towering Moai, casting dramatic silhouettes over the Bay of Hanga Nui. After taking in this breathtaking moment, we’ll head back to your hotel for a well-earned breakfast. 

After resting up from your early morning and enjoying lunch independently, gather your hiking gear for an unforgettable adventure with your guide as you hike to the highest points on Easter Island—Rano Aroi and Maunga Terevaka. After a rewarding two-hour climb, you’ll find yourself over 500 meters above sea level (1,660 ft), surrounded by sweeping views of the entire island and the vast Pacific Ocean stretching out in every direction. As you trek, you’ll dive into fascinating history about a rumored ancient dam hidden in this very area, built by the Rapa Nui inhabitants. Explore the historic Vaitea Farm, once the central base for the Williamson Balfour Company during the island’s sheep-farming era. This immersive experience brings together breathtaking nature, stunning views, and powerful stories from the island’s past—giving you a deeper connection to Easter Island’s history and culture.

Head back to your hotel this evening to pack up and get read for your travel day tomorrow. 
 

Today after breakfast, your transfer will pick you up to take you to Mataveri airport for your flight back to Santiago, Chile.