Private Easter Island Tour: North and West archaeological sites

Six and a half hours through Easter Island's moai, birdman village and volcanic craters

This private full-day tour covers Easter Island's north and west archaeological sites in chronological order, starting at Anakena Beach and ending at Orongo Ceremonial Village. A bilingual guide (English and Spanish) leads the route with hotel pickup and drop-off included. You bring your national park ticket. The itinerary is timed to catch the best light for photography and avoid crowds, and the guide adjusts the pace and stops to your questions and interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Anakena Beach35m
2. Puna Pau20m
3. Ahu Akivi20m
4. Tahai30m
5. Orongo Ceremonial Village45m

Explore North and West Easter Island Highlights

• Visit Anakena Beach and moai statues
• See tallest moai and magnetic rock
• Explore Puna Pau volcano quarry
• Visit Ahu Akivi sea-facing moais
• Tour Tahai village and ahu platforms
• View crater of Rano Kau volcano
• Explore Orongo Ceremonial Village

The experience

You start at Anakena Beach, where the ancient capital stood and where the best-preserved restored moai on the island still stand in the sand. They were buried for centuries before being excavated. From there the route moves through Puna Pau, the small volcano where red scoria stone was quarried for the moai topknots called pukao, and then to Ahu Akivi, the only monument with moai facing out toward the sea. The guide walks you through what each site meant in the island's history: the arrival of the first king, the rise of the moai culture, and the forces that toppled the statues.

The second half of the day takes you to Tahai, where tribesmen raised several statues across three different ahu platforms and built a ramp down to the ocean. Then you climb to the crater of Rano Kau volcano, one of the island's most commanding views and an ancient source of drinking water, before finishing at Orongo Ceremonial Village: the stone settlement dedicated to the birdman competition, perched at the volcano's ridge with views back into the crater. The private format means you set the rhythm: stop longer at a site that grabs you, ask the guide to circle back to a detail, or skip ahead if the light is turning.

Transport and a driver-guide are included. You'll need to bring your national park ticket (buy it online beforehand or in town). Bottled water is provided. The tour runs in English and Spanish with the same guide, and it works for all fitness levels, though the day involves walking between sites and some uneven ground at the archaeological areas.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transport between all sites.
• bilingual driver-guide in English and Spanish.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Paid on siteUS$ 80

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Easter Island Travel

Is this one for you?The tour runs six and a half hours with walking between sites and time spent at each stop, so it suits a full day when you're based on Easter Island and want to move at your own pace. If you're on a cruise ship or have only an afternoon free, the operator also offers a 2-Day Private Tour that covers both north-west and south-east sites, or you can book the south-east tour separately for another day.

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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 17 years); Infant (under 3).

What is Orongo Ceremonial Village and why does the tour end there?

Orongo Ceremonial Village is a stone settlement built on the ridge of Rano Kau volcano, dedicated to the birdman competition: a ritual contest that replaced moai-building in later island history. The tour ends there because it sits at the chronological endpoint of the ancient culture and offers views back into the volcano's crater, making it a natural close to the day's arc through time.

Can I swim or spend time on the beach at Anakena?

Anakena Beach is the island's most beautiful beach, but the tour focuses on the archaeological and historical aspects: the restored moai monuments and the ancient capital site. If you want to swim or relax on the sand, the guide suggests returning on your own after the tour ends.

What's the tallest moai I'll see on this tour?

At Tahai, you'll see the tallest moai ever successfully transported to its ahu. It stands 9.9 meters tall. It was toppled in ancient times and remains unrestored today, so you see it as it has been for centuries.

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

Yes, you need to bring your national park ticket with you at all times during the tour. Buy it online before your departure, or purchase it in the town center. One ticket covers all the sites and tours on Easter Island.

How does the private format change the experience compared to a group tour?

With a private guide, you control the pace and stops. Ask questions without holding up others, spend extra time at a site that interests you, or adjust the route to your preferences. The guide also times the itinerary to catch the best light for photography and avoid crowds, which is easier to manage with just your group.

Is this tour suitable if I'm visiting Easter Island for the first time?

Yes, the tour visits the sites in chronological order and covers the major events of the island's history: the arrival of the first king, the moai era, the birdman competition, and the arrival of missionaries. A bilingual guide explains each phase, so you get the full historical arc in one day.