Easter Island full-day tour: 6 archaeological sites, private guide

Walk through five thousand years of Rapa Nui in a single day

A private full-day tour of Easter Island with a certified local guide visiting six major archaeological sites: Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku, Anakena Beach, Orongo Ceremonial Village, Ahu Akivi and Puna Pau, plus Akahanga and Rano Kau. Transport and a guide fluent in English, Spanish or French are included. The tour runs five to seven hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ahu Tongariki1h · entry included
2. Rano Raraku2h · entry included
3. Anakena Beach1h · entry included
4. Orongo Ceremonial Village1h · entry included
5. Ahu Akivi30m · entry included
6. Puna Pau30m · entry included

Full day tour of Rapa Nui highlights

• Visit Akahanga ancestral village
• Explore Ahu Tongariki moai platform
• Tour Rano Raraku volcanic crater
• Relax and explore Anakena beach
• See Rano Kau volcano viewpoint
• Visit Orongo ceremonial village
• Stop at Ahu Akivi moai platform
• Visit Puna Pau red quarry

The experience

The day starts at Akahanga, a ruined village on the southern coast where boat-shaped house foundations and fallen moai still rest among the remains of ceremonial platforms. Your guide shares the stories tied to this place (said to be where the first king, Hotu Matu'a, was buried) as you walk among the vestiges while the ocean sounds in the background. It sets the tone for understanding how the sea, the ancestors and the origins of Rapa Nui civilization are woven together.

From there the tour moves through the island's most emblematic sites. Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform, stands with fifteen restored moai lined up facing the ocean: a symbol of power and unity that photographs best at dawn when the sun rises behind the statues. Rano Raraku, the volcanic crater where nearly all the island's moai were carved, shows dozens of statues in different stages of work: some still embedded in rock, others emerging from the ground as if waking up. Your guide explains how these giant figures were carved and moved. Anakena Beach, with its white coral sand and turquoise water, is where legend says Hotu Matu'a landed. Here you visit Ahu Nau Nau with its uniquely detailed restored moai, and you have time to swim or walk the shore if you choose.

The afternoon takes you to Orongo Ceremonial Village, built on the rim of Rano Kau volcano with its immense crater and inner lagoon. Stone houses and petroglyphs narrate the ancient Birdman ritual, and from the cliffs you see the islands Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Kao Kao that were central to that spiritual challenge. Ahu Akivi, unique for its seven moai facing the ocean and aligned to the sun during equinoxes, represents the explorers sent by the first king. The tour ends at Puna Pau, the red scoria quarry where the pukao (the large cylindrical headdresses that crowned many moai) were carved. Unfinished pieces scattered on the ground show how they were extracted, and the hilltop offers panoramic views over the valleys and Hanga Roa village.

What’s included

• Transport in comfortable vehicles.
• a certified local guide fluent in English, Spanish or French.
• access to six major archaeological sites (Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku, Anakena Beach, Orongo Ceremonial Village, Ahu Akivi and Puna Pau) plus Akahanga and Rano Kau.
• pickup and drop-off at your accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (11 to 15 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 37 pickup points.

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Kapua Tours & Experience

Is this one for you?The five- to seven-hour span fits a full day on the island without requiring an overnight stay elsewhere, so you can spend your remaining daylight hours exploring the village of Hanga Roa or resting at your hotel. A private guide means the pace and stops adjust to your interests, and the certified local expertise covers the history, spirituality and engineering behind each site rather than a rushed overview.

Traveler reviews

4.75★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 15 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

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 Rano Raraku and why does the tour spend time there?

Rano Raraku is the volcanic crater where almost all of Rapa Nui's moai were carved. The site is an open-air museum showing dozens of statues in different stages of work (some still embedded in the rock, others emerging from the ground), so you can see the carving process and understand the engineering and spirituality behind these giant figures.

Can I swim at Anakena Beach during the tour?

Yes. Anakena Beach is included as a stop, and you have time to walk, take photographs, or swim in the sea if you wish. The beach is the most famous on the island, with white coral sand and turquoise water, and it is also where Ahu Nau Nau, a restored ceremonial platform with uniquely detailed moai, stands near the shore.

How long does this tour take and what time does it start?

The tour runs five to seven hours. Pickup is included, so your guide will collect you from your accommodation and return you at the end of the day.

What makes Ahu Tongariki special compared to other ceremonial sites on the island?

Ahu Tongariki is the largest and most majestic ceremonial platform on Easter Island, with fifteen restored moai lined up in front of the ocean. It is a symbol of power, unity and spirituality for the Rapa Nui people, and it is one of the best spots on the island for photographs, especially at dawn when the sun rises behind the statues.

Is there a stop at Orongo Ceremonial Village?

Yes. Orongo is the ancient ceremonial village of the Birdman ritual, built on the rim of Rano Kau volcano with stone houses and petroglyphs that narrate ancient rituals. From there you see the islands Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Kao Kao, which were central to the most important spiritual challenge of the island.