Hotu Matua Route Tour from Hanga Roa: 15 Moai at Ahu Tongariki

Fifteen standing Moai, a thousand more in the quarry, and the stone at the center of the world

The Route of Hotu Matua is a full-day guided tour from Hanga Roa that visits six major archaeological sites across Easter Island's north and east coast, including the largest Moai restoration of the 1990s and the volcanic quarry where the statues were carved. A bilingual guide leads the tour in Spanish and English, with hotel pickup included and a return by 6 p.m. The day runs 6 to 7 hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day guided tour of Rapa Nui

• Depart from accommodation at 9:30 a.m.
• Visit Ahu Vaihu and Ahu Akahanga
• See burial place of King Hotu Matu’a
• Explore Ahu Tongariki with 15 Moai
• Visit Ahu Te Pito Kura and round stone
• Tour Rano Raraku volcano quarry
• Appreciate Moai elaboration and transport
• Relax at Anakena beach and Ahu Nau Nau
• Return to accommodation at 6:00 p.m.

The Experience

The tour departs at 9:30 a.m. from your accommodation in Hanga Roa and moves through the island's most significant Moai sites. Ahu Vaihu and Ahu Akahanga come first—the latter the burial place of Hotu Matua, the first Polynesian king—before the route reaches Ahu Tongariki, where 15 Moai stand restored and facing inward toward the island. This is the largest archaeological restoration carried out on Rapa Nui in the 1990s, and the scale of it anchors the morning.

The afternoon takes you to Ahu Te Pito Kura, home to a round stone the Rapa Nui people call the center of the world, then into the Rano Raraku volcano quarry itself. More than 1,000 Moai were carved here, and you can see the process of their making and transport laid bare in the rock—unfinished statues still embedded in the quarry walls, the tools left behind, the routes the ancient builders used to move them. This is where the scale of the effort becomes visible.

The day closes at Anakena beach, with turquoise water, white coral sand, and a coconut palm plantation planted in the 1960s. The Ahu Nau Nau platform, restored in the 1970s, sits here too—the place where the first white coral eyes, original to the Moai, were discovered. You return to your accommodation by 6 p.m.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from your accommodation in Hanga Roa.
• bilingual guide in Spanish and English.
• visits to Ahu Vaihu, Ahu Akahanga, Ahu Tongariki, Ahu Te Pito Kura, the Rano Raraku quarry, Anakena beach and Ahu Nau Nau platform.
• return transport to your accommodation by 6 p.m.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by RipioTurismo

Is this one for you?The bilingual guide leads the tour in Spanish and English, so you can follow the full commentary in whichever language you speak. The fixed 9:30 a.m. departure and hotel pickup mean the day is arranged before you arrive—no transport to book, no timing to negotiate, just six major sites and the story of how they were built.

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Top questions

What is Ahu Tongariki and why does this tour stop there?

Ahu Tongariki is the site of the largest Moai restoration carried out on Easter Island in the 1990s, with 15 statues standing and facing inward toward the island. It is the centerpiece of the morning route and shows the scale of the restoration work done across Rapa Nui.

Can I see how the Moai were actually made on this tour?

Yes. The Rano Raraku volcano quarry is a stop on the full-day route, and you can see more than 1,000 Moai in various stages of carving, unfinished statues still in the rock, and the evidence of the ancient process of elaboration and transport.

What is the round stone at Ahu Te Pito Kura?

Ahu Te Pito Kura holds a famous round stone that the Rapa Nui people call the center of the world. It is one of the stops on the route and represents a significant cultural landmark on the island.

Does the guide speak English, or only Spanish?

The guide is bilingual and leads the tour in Spanish and/or English, so you can follow the commentary in whichever language suits you.

How long does the tour take, and what time do I return?

The tour runs 6 to 7 hours total. Departure is at 9:30 a.m. from your accommodation in Hanga Roa, and you return by 6 p.m.

Is Anakena beach part of this tour, and what is there to see?

Yes, Anakena beach is the final stop on the route. It has turquoise waters, white coral sand, and a coconut palm plantation planted in the 1960s. The Ahu Nau Nau platform, restored in the 1970s, is located here and is where the first white coral eyes original to the Moai were discovered.