Astrophotography tour Easter Island: Ahu Tongariki at night

Shoot the moai platform by starlight, then watch sunrise paint the stone

A nighttime photography tour on Easter Island takes you to Ahu Tongariki, the largest moai platform, to photograph stars and the ancient site together. Your English-speaking guide focuses on helping you get the best light and settings for your camera, then stays through sunrise. The tour runs three hours round-trip from your hotel, with the option to shoot Anakena instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Astrophotography at Ahu Tongariki

• Travel from hotel to Ahu Tongariki
• Photograph moai platform at sunrise or night
• Optionally visit Ahu Anakena for photos
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour starts in darkness so you can set up at Ahu Tongariki before the stars fade. Your guide helps you frame shots of the moai silhouetted against the night sky and adjust your camera for the low light: focus, aperture, ISO, whatever your equipment needs. As the sky lightens, the composition changes: the stone catches the first color, then the sun clears the horizon and the platform glows. The guide knows the island's history and shares it while you work, though the photography stays the priority.

Hotel pickup and the drive to the site take about an hour each way. You'll need to buy your National Park ticket online before the tour (80 USD per person). It is not included. Ahu Tongariki is the largest moai platform on the island, which is why it works for both night and sunrise shots. If you prefer Anakena instead, the guide can take you there: same three-hour window, different light and composition.

Bring your own camera and tripod. The guide will not provide equipment, but will help you use what you have. The tour suits all fitness levels. You're standing and walking short distances on the platform, not hiking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transportation.
• one photography location (Ahu Tongariki or Anakena).
• English-speaking guide with photography expertise.
• guidance on camera settings and composition for night sky and sunrise shots.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Friday and Saturday

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Rapa Nui Stargazing

Is this one for you?Three hours is tight enough to fit a free afternoon or a morning before other plans, but long enough to shoot stars, then stay for sunrise. If you want to photograph the moai in daylight or explore other island sites the same day, book a day photo tour instead.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Ahu Tongariki and why is it good for astrophotography?

Ahu Tongariki is the largest moai platform on Easter Island, with fifteen restored statues. Its size and open position make it ideal for framing stars above the stone, and the platform catches the first light at sunrise, giving you two distinct compositions in one night.

Do I need my own camera, or is one provided?

You need to bring your own camera and tripod. The guide will help you optimize your settings and composition, but will not provide the equipment itself.

Is the National Park entry ticket included in the tour price?

No. The National Park ticket costs 80 USD per person and must be purchased online before the tour. It is not included in the tour price.

Can I choose between Ahu Tongariki and Anakena, or is the location fixed?

You can choose either Ahu Tongariki or Anakena when you book. Both work for night and sunrise photography, though the composition and moai arrangement differ between the two sites.

How long is the tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs three hours total, including hotel pickup and the drive to the site. Start times are set to catch darkness for the astrophotography portion, then continue through sunrise.