Rapa Nui (Easter Island): the practical guide
Updated July 2026 · Written from Puerto Varas by Patagonia SimRacing
Rapa Nui, Easter Island, is one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth: a volcanic triangle barely 24 by 12 km, adrift in the Pacific 3,700 km from mainland Chile. It's home to the moai, the world's most famous stone statues, spread across ceremonial platforms, a centuries-old quarry, and a white-sand beach lined with palms. This guide sorts out what to see, what the national park entrance fee costs, and how to get there — because on Rapa Nui almost everything gets decided before you board the plane.
Book tours in Rapa Nui
Archaeological tours, diving, and excursions on Easter Island, most with flexible cancellation:
What to see on Rapa Nui
1. Ahu Tongariki: the fifteen restored moai
Ahu Tongariki is the island's largest ceremonial platform and the image everyone recognizes: fifteen moai in a row, backs to the sea, facing inland. A 1960 tsunami (triggered by the Valdivia earthquake, the strongest ever recorded) knocked them down and dragged them inland; it wasn't until 1992-1996 that a Chilean-Japanese team rebuilt them piece by piece, using a crane donated for the project. It's the go-to spot for sunrise, when the light hits the whole row of statues head-on.
2. Rano Raraku: the quarry where the moai were born
Rano Raraku is an extinct volcano whose soft, easy-to-carve volcanic tuff was used to sculpt roughly 95% of the island's 900-plus moai. Its slopes are littered with hundreds of statues left half-finished or abandoned mid-transport, many buried up to the shoulders under centuries of sediment — which is why people mistakenly call them just "heads." It's also home to the only known kneeling moai, nicknamed Tukuturi, unlike any other in posture and style.
3. Orongo: the birdman ceremonial village
On the rim of the Rano Kau volcano's crater, overlooking the islets of Motu Nui, Motu Iti, and Motu Kau Kau, sits Orongo: a village of low stone houses that served as the center of the tangata manu (birdman) cult, the ritual that replaced moai-building around the 17th century. Each year, competitors swam to Motu Nui to fetch the season's first manutara (a migratory bird) egg; the winner brought his clan a year of prestige. Orongo's rocks are covered in dozens of petroglyphs depicting the birdman figure and the god Make-Make.
4. Anakena: the white-sand beach and moai with pukao
Anakena is the island's most photographed beach: white coral sand, palm trees, and turquoise water, with two archaeological sites right behind the shore. Oral tradition holds that this is where Hotu Matu'a, Rapa Nui's legendary first settler, came ashore. Ahu Nau Nau still has moai wearing their pukao — the red-stone "topknot" carved separately and fitted onto the statue's head, a mark of the status of the chief it represents.
How many days do you need
4 days are enough to cover Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku, Orongo, and Anakena without rushing, plus the town of Hanga Roa. With 5-6 days you can slow down, catch sunrise or sunset at different ahu more than once, add a hike up the Rano Kau crater, or go diving in the island's clear water. Since flights are limited and pricey, it's worth not cutting your time too short.
How to get there
- The only practical way is by air. LATAM is the sole airline with regular flights, from Santiago (SCL airport) to Mataveri Airport (IPC), taking roughly 5 to 5.5 hours. No other Chilean city has direct flights to the island.
- No sea option: there's no ferry or passenger boat connection; even cargo and supplies arrive almost exclusively by plane or infrequent cargo ships.
- Book ahead: flight frequency is low and seats sell out in high season (January-February, plus Tapati Rapa Nui festival week in late January/early February).
- Getting around the island: rental car or quad bike, bicycle, or guided tours; the island is small, but several roads to remote sites are unpaved.
Approximate prices (2026, per person)
| Item | Ballpark |
|---|---|
| Flight Santiago–Easter Island (round trip) | CLP 350,000–650,000 (≈USD 370–685) |
| Rapa Nui National Park entrance fee (foreigners) | USD 70–80 |
| Rental car (per day) | CLP 40,000–70,000 (≈USD 42–74) |
| Half-day guided tour (Tongariki + Rano Raraku) | CLP 35,000–55,000 (≈USD 37–58) |
| Bicycle (per day) | CLP 15,000–25,000 (≈USD 16–26) |
Book tours in Rapa Nui
Archaeological tours, diving, and excursions on Easter Island, most with flexible cancellation:
Essential logistics
- National park entrance fee: bought online or on arrival, valid for 10 days, and must be shown at the first ranger-staffed site (usually Rano Raraku or Orongo).
- Hanga Roa is the island's only town: nearly all lodging, restaurants, and services are there.
- Cash and cards: ATMs are limited, so bring cash (Chilean pesos or US dollars) along with a card.
- Weather: subtropical year-round, with rain possible any month; May-September is the quietest and cheapest season to fly.
- Respect the sites: you cannot touch or climb on the moai or the ahu — they're active archaeological sites, sacred to the Rapa Nui community.
FAQ
Do you have to pay an entrance fee to visit Rapa Nui?
Yes, Rapa Nui National Park's entrance fee is a single ticket, valid for 10 days, shown at the first ranger-staffed site you visit.
How do you get to Rapa Nui?
Only by air: LATAM flies from Santiago (SCL) to Mataveri Airport (IPC) in roughly 5 to 5.5 hours. There's no ferry or passenger sea connection.
How many days should you stay?
4 days cover the essentials; 5-6 days let you slow down and add a hike or a dive.
Nearby guides
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