Poike Peninsula hike on Easter Island: Rarely visited archaeology

The Poike Peninsula has no roads, no crowds, and archaeology found nowhere else on the island.

A full day hike across the Poike Peninsula on Easter Island's east side with a local guide, visiting ten archaeological and geological sites rarely seen by travelers. The route crosses eroded soils and trachyte domes to ceremonial monuments, petroglyphs and caves abandoned since the 15th century. Pickup from your hotel and a picnic meal are included. The hike takes 7 to 8 hours and requires moderate physical fitness. Children are welcome from age 12.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day hike on Poike Peninsula

• Begin hike at Maunga Parehe
• Visit Ahu Kiri Reva
• Explore Vai a Heva
• Stop at Ahu Riki Riki
• See Papa U'i Hetu'u
• Discover Kava Kava Kio'e
• Walk to Te Pipi Tau Makohe
• Visit Pū a Katiki
• Explore Oka Kava
• End at Potu te Rangi

The experience

The Poike Peninsula sits on Easter Island's east side, cut off by terrain with no roads and almost no other visitors. What makes it different from the rest of Rapa Nui is the archaeology itself. The sites here are sparse and unique, the ceremonial monuments abandoned 600 years ago still standing in isolation. A local guide leads the full day hike, stopping at ten named locations: Maunga Parehe, Ahu Kiri Reva, Vai a Heva, Ahu Riki Riki, Papa U'i Hetu'u, Kava Kava Kio'e, Te Pipi Tau Makohe, Pū a Katiki, Oka Kava and Potu te Rangi. The landscape itself is the draw: eroded soils, trachyte domes, petroglyphs carved into rock, caves that open into the hillside, and moai unlike those at the island's more famous sites.

The hike runs 7 to 8 hours, moving across terrain that demands moderate fitness and steady footing. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and handles the route. Pickup from your hotel is included, as is a picnic meal eaten somewhere on the peninsula. The isolation that makes Poike special is also what makes it rarely attempted: very few travelers make the full day commitment to reach it, which is precisely why the archaeology and the quiet remain intact.

What’s included

• Pickup from your hotel.
• a local guide in English or Spanish.
• a picnic meal during the hike.
• access to ten archaeological and geological sites across the Poike Peninsula.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 29 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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Rapanui Pioneers Society (RPS)

Is this one for you?This hike suits travelers with moderate fitness who want Easter Island's least visited archaeology and don't mind a full day of walking to reach it: the isolation and the rare sites are inseparable from the effort required to get there.

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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: Youth (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

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 makes the Poike Peninsula different from other archaeological sites on Easter Island?

The Poike Peninsula's archaeology is sparse and unique compared to elsewhere on the island, with ceremonial monuments and moai found nowhere else on Rapa Nui. The sites here were abandoned 600 years ago and remain in isolation because the peninsula has no roads and few visitors reach it.

How long does the Poike Peninsula hike take, and what is the fitness level required?

The full day hike lasts 7 to 8 hours and requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The terrain is uneven with eroded soils and hillside crossings, so steady footing and endurance matter for the day.

What stops does the hike include?

The route visits ten sites: Maunga Parehe, Ahu Kiri Reva, Vai a Heva, Ahu Riki Riki, Papa U'i Hetu'u, Kava Kava Kio'e, Te Pipi Tau Makohe, Pū a Katiki, Oka Kava and Potu te Rangi. Each combines archaeological features (petroglyphs, caves, ceremonial monuments and small moai) with geological formations like trachyte domes.

What is included in the hike, and what should I bring?

A picnic meal is included during the day. You should bring water, sun protection and sturdy hiking footwear. The terrain is uneven and exposed.