Rapa Nui guided tour: Moai, beaches & archaeological sites

Walk among hundreds of unfinished moai, then stand before the largest restored platform in Polynesia

A full-day guided tour of Rapa Nui covers the island's major archaeological sites with a professional guide in English or Spanish and hotel pickup included. The tour visits Ahu Tongariki (15 upright moai on Polynesia's largest platform), Rano Raraku (a moai factory with approximately 400 unfinished specimens), Anakena Beach (where Polynesian settlement began), and several smaller sites. The national park entrance ticket is not included and must be purchased separately before the tour starts, either at Ma'u Henua offices or online.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Easter Island archaeological sites

• Visit platform with 8 moais by ancestral bay
• See old village near small bay
• Tour moai factory with 400 unfinished statues
• Explore largest platform with 15 upright moai
• Visit site with magnetic stone and longest moai
• View platform with 7 moai near Anakena beach
• Learn story at Anakena Beach

The Experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel and drives you across Rapa Nui to reach the archaeological sites spread across the island. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours and moves between five major stops, each one a different chapter of the island's settlement and moai-carving history. You'll receive route details the day before via WhatsApp so you know what to expect.

Ahu Tongariki is the centerpiece—the largest ceremonial platform in all of Polynesia, with 15 moai standing upright with their backs to the ocean. From there you move to Rano Raraku, the moai factory where approximately 400 unfinished specimens still sit in the volcanic crater where they were carved, many half-buried or tilted at angles that show the work abandoned centuries ago. You'll also visit Anakena Beach, the real name Hanga Rau o Te Ariki, where the oral tradition places the arrival of King Hotu Matu'a and the first Polynesian settlement. A smaller platform with 7 moai sits 150 meters inland from the beach. The guide takes you to other sites as well—an old village near a small bay, a platform with a representative sample of Rapa Nui customs, and a location with the magnetic stone and the longest moai on the island.

The tour operates under strict environmental limits set by Ma'u Henua, the indigenous community managing the national park. Your guide leads groups with the least possible impact on these protected archaeological sites. Children from age 1 can join, though infants must sit on an adult's lap and strollers are welcome. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular issues, or pregnancy, and moderate physical fitness helps you move comfortably between stops across uneven terrain.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup.
• guided access to Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku, Anakena Beach and smaller archaeological sites.
• route details sent via WhatsApp the day before.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by RAPA NUI DREAM

Is this one for you?Book this shared group tour if you're visiting Rapa Nui for the first time and want to see major moai sites with a guide who knows the archaeological limits of each location; choose the private option at checkout if you prefer your own vehicle and guide for the day.

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Top questions

What is Ahu Tongariki and why is it the largest stop on the tour?

Ahu Tongariki is the largest ceremonial platform in Polynesia, restored with 15 upright moai standing with their backs to the ocean. It's the centerpiece of the tour because it represents the peak of moai-building culture on Rapa Nui before the practice stopped.

Can I see moai that were never finished on this tour?

Yes—Rano Raraku is a moai factory where approximately 400 unfinished specimens remain in the volcanic crater where they were carved, many still half-buried or abandoned mid-work, showing how the carving process worked and why it stopped.

Do I need to buy the national park ticket before the tour starts?

Yes, the national park entrance ticket is not included in the tour and must be purchased separately before your first day. You can buy it in person at Ma'u Henua offices or online at rapanuinationalpark.com.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes professional guide services in English or Spanish, hotel pickup, and guided access to all the archaeological sites on the itinerary. Food and drinks are not included.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Children from age 1 are welcome; infants can sit on an adult's lap and strollers are permitted. The tour involves moving between multiple sites across uneven terrain, so moderate fitness helps, and it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.

How long does the full-day tour take?

The tour runs 8 to 9 hours and covers five major archaeological sites across Rapa Nui, with the guide coordinating the pace and timing at each stop.