Easter Island: Private Day Tour Moai Statues & Anakena Beach

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/6

Duration6h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Moai statues, volcanic craters and quiet time on Anakena beach

You’ll walk among ancient moai statues at Ahu Tongariki and Rano Raraku quarry, hear stories from your local guide Manu, dip your toes in warm sand at Anakena Beach and look out over Rano Kau crater—all with easy hotel pickup and private transport. Expect moments that linger long after you leave.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Easter Island main highlights

Visit Rano Raraku quarry
See Ahu Tongariki platform
Explore Orongo Ceremonial Village
View Rano Kau crater
Visit Ahu Akivi moai
Relax at Anakena Beach

The Experience

There’s this weird hush when you first see the moai at Ahu Tongariki. Not silence exactly—there’s wind, some distant birds—but it feels like even the air is holding its breath. Our guide, Manu, just let us stand there for a bit before saying anything. I kept staring at their faces and thinking about how they’re all looking inland, backs to the ocean. It’s hard to describe but you sort of feel watched—in a good way? Anyway, we’d started out early from our hotel (pickup was right on time), still a bit sleepy, and suddenly I was wide awake.

Rano Raraku was next and honestly, it’s stranger up close than in photos. The ground is rough underfoot—volcanic dust gets into your shoes—and everywhere you look there are half-finished moai lying sideways or poking out of the earth. Manu told us how this was basically the island’s old workshop. He pointed out one statue that never made it out of the quarry; apparently it’s been lying there for centuries. I tried to imagine hauling one of those things down a hill… can’t say I’d volunteer.

Lunch was simple but good—sandwiches and fruit near Anakena Beach while we watched kids splash in turquoise water. The sand there is almost white and squeaky under your feet (I didn’t expect that). Some locals were playing music nearby, which just made everything feel lighter. We wandered over to see the moai at Ahu Nau Nau after eating; their faces are softer somehow than the others. I still think about that view—statues, palm trees, ocean behind them. Kind of surreal.

We finished at Orongo village by Rano Kau crater—windier up there and honestly I had to hold onto my hat. There are old stone houses built right into the hillside and you can look down into this massive green crater lake ringed with reeds. Manu explained some of the Birdman ceremony stuff but my mind kept drifting back to those first statues in the morning. Something about them sticks with you longer than you expect.

What’s included

Your day includes private hotel pickup and drop-off in Easter Island, a professional local guide throughout all main sites like Ahu Tongariki and Anakena Beach, plus comfortable transport by private vehicle so you can focus on soaking up each moment along the way.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Kava Kava Tours