Valparaiso Region, Pacific Ocean · Chile
A remote Pacific island of giant stone moai statues and Polynesian culture.
Photo: Jean-Paul Corlin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rapa Nui, as locals call it, lies some 3,700 km west of Chile and is one of the most isolated inhabited places in the world. Polynesian settlers arrived here around a thousand years ago and carved nearly 900 monumental statues, called moai, from volcanic rock. Most of the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site within Rapa Nui National Park.
The big sights are the quarry at Rano Raraku, where hundreds of moai lie in various stages of completion, the fifteen restored moai of Ahu Tongariki, the white sand of Anakena beach, and Orongo, a ceremonial village on the rim of a crater, linked to the birdman cult. Hanga Roa, the only town, has restaurants, craft markets and a tiny harbour.
The island is small, about 24 km across, and easy to explore by car, scooter or bike. Most visitors fly in from Santiago, and the island is culturally Polynesian, with the Rapa Nui people and their language, music and tattoo art alive today. Flights and accommodation are expensive, so book early.
Why visit
Easter Island is a bucket-list destination of its own kind.
Hundreds of giant statues.
Living traditions.
Volcanoes and sea cliffs.
Far from everywhere.
Anakena and clear water.
Main attractions
The main sights are spread around the island.
The largest platform, with 15 moai.
Tip Come at sunrise.
The quarry where moai were carved.
Tip Allow two hours.
A ceremonial village on a crater rim.
Tip Great views of the sea.
A white sand beach with moai.
Tip Swim in the afternoon.
Moai that face the sea.
Tip Visit on the way.
The island's only town.
Tip Evening sunset at Ahu Tahai.
Things to do
There is more than moai.
Start before dawn.
Tip Bring a flashlight.
Walk among the statues.
Tip Dress for sun.
Clear Pacific water.
Tip Book with a local operator.
The highest point.
Tip Wear sturdy shoes.
Dance and music.
Tip Book a ticket.
Across the island.
Tip Join a tour.
Local food
Food is Pacific-influenced and pricey.
Grilled or ceviche.
Where to try it Restaurants in Hanga Roa.
Earth-oven feast.
Where to try it Cultural dinners.
Banana and pumpkin pudding.
Where to try it Cafes.
Tuna pastries.
Where to try it Bakeries.
Pineapples, bananas.
Where to try it Markets.
Accommodation
Hanga Roa is the only town.
Transport
Flights from Santiago are the main way.
The island is easy to explore.
When to go
Shoulder seasons are mild and less crowded.
Warm and quiet.
Mild and flowering.
Hot and busy.
Cooler and wetter.
Worth planning around: Late winter if you dislike drizzle.
Itinerary
The essential moai.
Moai trail
Ceremony
Your choice
Travel tips
Plan carefully for a remote island.
FAQ
Three to four days.
For many, yes.
No.
Required for entry to sites.
March to May or September to November.
Helpful.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Easter Island (Rapa Nui), whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile
Chile's capital and gateway: Plaza de Armas, La Moneda, Mercado Central, bohemian barrios, hill-top parks and Maipo Valley wineries within an hour.
Don't miss Looking out from Cerro San Cristobal as the Andes glow pink at dusk.
Explore Destination — SantiagoValparaiso Region, central coast, Chile
A UNESCO-listed port with 42 hills, cable-car lifts, street art, the Neruda house and the seaside resort of Vina del Mar nearby.
Don't miss Riding a century-old funicular up a hillside of painted houses.
Explore Destination — ValparaisoLos Lagos Region, southern Chile, Chile
An island archipelago with 16 UNESCO-listed wooden churches, palafito stilt houses, Chilote cuisine, penguin colonies and folklore.
Don't miss Eating curanto cooked in an earth pit, then watching penguins from a boat.
Explore Destination — ChiloeRead next
Heritage
A UNESCO listing tells you a place matters; it does not tell you whether it is worth two days and a detour. This is how to read the list usefully — and which sites reward building a trip around them.
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The most visited place in a country is rarely its best, and it is almost never its best value. This is a method for finding the destinations that do not make the postcards — and a set of examples from five of the 50 countries on this site.
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