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Marvel At The Moai Statues

Still to do

Fifteen stone giants silhouetted against the sunrise on one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth.

Marvel At The Moai Statues

The adventure

Easter Island is a speck of volcanic rock in the South Pacific, more than 3,500 kilometres from mainland Chile, and after five hours of flying over empty ocean it feels like landing on another planet. Rolling green hills, wild horses and extinct craters cover the island, and everywhere you look there are moai, the great stone figures carved by the Rapa Nui people centuries ago.

Stand at Ahu Tongariki before dawn and watch fifteen of them appear out of the darkness, their backs to the sea as the sun rises behind them. Then walk the slopes of Rano Raraku, the quarry where the moai were carved, where hundreds still lie half-finished or stand buried up to their shoulders. How a small island society carved and moved these giants remains one of archaeology's great puzzles.

Why it’s epic

  • Nearly 1,000 moai statues, the largest standing ones around 10 metres tall.
  • Rano Raraku, the quarry where almost all the moai were carved and hundreds still remain.
  • Ahu Tongariki, a platform of 15 restored moai and the island's classic sunrise view.
  • Orongo, the clifftop village of the birdman cult, overlooking the crater of Rano Kau.

What it is

Easter Island has nearly 1,000 moai statues carved by the Rapa Nui people.

How to do it

Fly from Santiago. A national park ticket is required and many sites must be visited with a licensed guide.

Top tip

Watch sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, with 15 moai in a row.

Need to know

  • The only flights come from Santiago (and occasionally Tahiti) with LATAM, so book early.
  • Visitors must buy a Rapa Nui National Park ticket, and some sites, including Rano Raraku and Orongo, can only be entered once.
  • Many sites now require a licensed local guide, and visitors can stay a maximum of 30 days.

Plan this trip

Rough cost
£2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
Time needed
3 to 5 days
Best time to go
All year
Fly into
IPC airport

The long flights via Santiago and the island's high prices for hotels and food are the main costs.

Sample itinerary

  1. Day 1Fly to Hanga Roa from Santiago (or Tahiti)
  2. Day 2Rano Raraku, the quarry where the moai were carved, and the 15 moai of Ahu Tongariki
  3. Day 3Sunrise at Tongariki, then Anakena beach
  4. Day 4Orongo and the Rano Kau crater, then sunset at Ahu Tahai

Make it happen

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Why it’s on my list

Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.

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