Easter Island highlights tour: Anakena, Tongariki, Rano Raraku

Walk among hundreds of moai in the quarry where they were carved, then stand before the island's largest restored platform.

A private full-day tour of Easter Island's four major archaeological sites (Anakena Beach, Rano Raraku, Ahu Tongariki, and Orongo Ceremonial Village) led by a certified local guide who connects the sites into a chronological narrative of Rapa Nui civilization. Hotel pickup is included. The tour runs 6.5 hours with stops for photography and questions at a pace you set. Entrance to Rapa Nui National Park is purchased separately, either online or on arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Anakena Beach45m
2. Ahu Tongariki40m
3. Rano Raraku1h 30m
4. Orongo Ceremonial Village45m

Explore Easter Island's key sites

• Discover Anakena white-sand beach
• Explore Ahu Nau Nau moai statues
• Visit Te Pito Kura largest moai
• See Te Pito o Te Henua stone
• Walk among Papa Vaka petroglyphs
• Visit Ahu Tongariki ceremonial platform
• Explore Rano Raraku volcanic quarry
• Visit Rano Kau volcanic crater
• Explore Orongo ceremonial village

The experience

Anakena Beach is where the tour begins, at the legendary white-sand landing site of King Hotu Matu'a and the first settlers. You'll see Ahu Nau Nau, one of the island's best-preserved moai platforms, and walk the beach where archaeology meets tropical scenery. From there the guide takes you inland to Te Pito Kura, home to the largest moai ever successfully erected, and Papa Vaka, a volcanic rock face carved with ancient petroglyphs of canoes and sea creatures that reveal how the Rapa Nui people navigated and lived.

Rano Raraku is the quarry where nearly all of the island's moai were carved, and you'll walk among hundreds of statues in various stages of completion: some still attached to the rock, others finished but never moved. The site shows the artistic and engineering achievement of the ancient civilization in a way no restored platform can. From there you move to Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform on Rapa Nui, where fifteen restored moai stand aligned along the coastline. Your guide explains the clan system and ancestral worship that shaped the island, and the restoration project that returned the statues to standing position after a tsunami.

The tour ends at Orongo Ceremonial Village, perched on dramatic sea cliffs at the edge of Rano Kau crater. You'll explore restored stone houses and petroglyphs of Birdman figures, the last major religious tradition of ancient Rapa Nui, and look out toward the offshore islets where the Birdman competition took place. The private format means you set the pace, ask as many questions as you want, and stop for photos without waiting for a group.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• bottled water.
• a certified local guide fluent in English or Spanish.
• and flexible pacing that lets you spend extra time at any site for photography or questions.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 35 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 100

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Kohau Experience

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying without a car: hotel pickup gets you to the sites, and your private guide structures the visit chronologically so you understand how each location connects to Rapa Nui's history rather than seeing them as separate stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Rano Raraku and why is it on every Easter Island tour?

Rano Raraku is the volcanic quarry where nearly all of Easter Island's moai were carved. Walking the site, you see hundreds of statues in different stages of completion, from those still attached to the rock to finished figures never transported, which gives you a direct view of how the ancient Rapa Nui people created these monumental works.

How does the guide connect these four sites into one story?

The tour follows a chronological narrative of Rapa Nui civilization, starting at Anakena Beach where settlers first arrived, moving through the quarry and ceremonial platforms that show how the society developed and flourished, and ending at Orongo, which represents the island's final major religious tradition. Each site builds on the last.

Does the tour include lunch, and can I choose when to eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but the full-day format allows time to stop at a local restaurant if you want to eat during the day. You and your guide can decide the timing together.

What do I need to know about the entrance ticket to Rapa Nui National Park?

The entrance ticket is purchased separately from the tour, either online before you arrive or at the park entrance on the day of your visit. You'll need to provide your personal information when buying the ticket.

How does hotel pickup work if I'm staying in different parts of the island?

The tour includes pickup from your hotel. Your guide will arrange the pickup time and location when you book, so you don't need to arrange separate transport to the first site.