11 Things to Do on Easter Island

Ahu Tongariki, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile

Easter Island (Rapa Nui in the native language, or Isla de Pascua in Spanish) is a small Chilean territory located in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between mainland Chile and Tahiti. One of the most remote inhabited places on earth, the small island of only 164 square kilometers (63 square miles) is served by 1-2 daily flights from Santiago depending on the season and a weekly flight from Tahiti. It is most known for its moai, monolithic statues carved mostly at a volcanic quarry named Rano Raraku between 1100-1600 CE, then transported and installed on ahus or stone platforms around the island. While these mystical statues are the main driver behind the island's tourism economy, there's much more to do than just snap a selfie with the moai. Here are 11 of my favorite activities from my bucketlist trip to Rapa Nui:

1. Scuba dive (with a moai​!) 

Ahu Riata stands guard in front of the harbor Hanga Piko, where fishermen and many dive shops are found.

On calm days, the ocean around Easter Island has a 60 meter visibility range. There are options for both uncertified and certified divers, though for those who are licensed, there are more possibilities, including underwater caves, cliffs, rock formations, coral reefs, and an underwater moai. The latter is one of the most popular and an easy dive at only 20 meters below surface in the Hanga Roa bay. Though not an authentic statue (it was originally made for a Chilean TV show in the 90s), it is still impressive and makes for great photos! Another popular option is around Motu Nui, an uninhabited rock off the coast that's famous for being the place where local sooty terns would lay the coveted eggs for the ancient birdman competition.

If you're not licensed or need a refresher course, you can also do these with one of the many scuba diving centers. Most of them are located along Hanga Piko, the small harbor on the outskirts of the main (only) town of Hanga Roa, and will take walk-in divers depending on availability. While I wouldn't go to the island just for diving, if you have a free morning to see the underwater moai or are interested in doing some beginner courses, you should definitely take the time to do so. All of the dive center staff I talked to and interacted with were very friendly, professional, and informative. I got my scuba certification in college but haven't been diving in about 7 years, so I did a refresher course to get my feet wet again (literally). The coral wasn't the most spectacular (thanks to climate change), but my dive master helped me feel at ease and remember how to use all the equipment safely! I had planned to do a dive to the underwater moai the next morning, but unfortunately the weather wasn't cooperating. I was happy to at least get one dive in and rediscover the peace and serenity that made me fall in love with scuba diving and underwater explorations in the first place.

---

2. Hike the Te Ara O Te Ao Trail

A centuries old tradition, the ancient Rapanui would hike this southwestern trail going through forests and fields of wildflowers to reach the ceremonial stone village of Orongo, famed for the Tangata Manu competition and bird cult rituals. Te Ara O Te Ao ​is a short 2 kilometer (one way) constant uphill hike from Hanga Roa that takes you past fishing harbors, local homes, small ahus, seaside caves, an exhibition garden at the start of the trail, and through calming eucalyptus and cypress forests where cows graze freely. The trail provides incredible views of the town and island -- I found myself sometimes walking backwards just to enjoy the view more! At the top of the hill, is a breathtaking view of the Rano Kau crater, which is the most biologically diverse area on the island and one of the three main volcanoes that formed the island. The far edge of the crater sees almost a perpendicular drop into the ocean. It can get quite windy, so be careful walking around the top towards Orongo, where 54 stone houses were built for seasonal occupation by tribal chiefs.

Make sure to cover up from the sun and wear sunscreen! I got super sunburned in just a couple hours, making the rest of the trip a little painful.

---

3. Hike to the tallest point on the island, Maunga Terevaka

Maunga Terevaka is another one of the three main volcanoes that formed the island, as well as the youngest and tallest at approximately 507 meters/1,665 feet. It might not sound very high, but it's the tallest peak for 2836 kms/1763 miles, making it the 12th ranked peak in the world by isolation. From the top, you have a 360 degree view of the entire island on a clear day. It was incredibly windy, and I didn't take many pictures at the top (I was more concerned about not being blown away), but the views and solitude while hiking through open meadows were worth it. I crossed paths with only a handful of hikers and cyclists on the trail that day, but you can also go on a guided horseback tour.

There are 3 main ways to hike Terevaka:
1) Start your 4 km (one way) hike from the trailhead located at Ahu Akivi, which you can reach by car, bike, or foot from Hanga Roa;
2) Start from Hanga Roa, head north along the coast to Ahu Te Peu, explore the network of caves that lead inland, and start the trail at Ahu Akivi -- it is about 10 km one way and said to be the most scenic route;
3) Start at Vaitea where a dirt road heading into the forest will lead you to the start of the trail (~4-5 km one way).

After awhile, there's not a super defined trail so you can meander through the hills if you like. Bring water and snacks - once you leave town, they're hard to come by, and the trail from Ahu Akivi has hardly any shade so be prepared for sun again.

---

4. Explore caves & lava tunnels

A manavai in Ana Te Pahu

Easter Island has several long lava tubes -- some of which are more than 7 kilometers long -- and over 800 caverns to explore, but the three main ones are listed here.
1) To the south of Hanga Roa on the road to Rano Kau is Ana Kai Tangata ('ana' means cave), a cavern with paintings of birdmen on the ceiling. As of November 2017, direct access to the cave is prohibited due to unstable rocks, but you can still walk out to the edge of the cliffs overlooking the caves.
2) If you head north of Hanga Roa about 4 km north of Ahu Tahai and 1 km south of Ahu Te Peu, however, you'll find Ana Kakenga. Used as a refuge cave, Ana Kakenga has a small entrance that looks more like a burrow, but if you are able to carefully maneuver your way through the first narrow meters of the cave, you'll come upon 2 large windows that open up to the sea. 
3) From here, you can head inland towards Ahu Akivi and Maunga Terevaka to find the Ana Te Pahu network, which is the biggest lava tunnel in the island. Here, the cavern roofs have collapsed in some areas, creating natural nurseries called manavai, due to an abundance of sunlight and rain entering, while offering protection from wind. Some of the caves were also used as places of refuge for the island's inhabitants during times of war, or as a water reservoir for survival.

---

5. Rent some wheels & explore the island on your own time

​Most people opt to take guided half day or full day bus tours of the island, but it is entirely possible to venture out on your own. After all, the island is only 25 km (15 mi) long by 12 km (8 mi) wide! There's one main paved circular road connecting the island. It runs from Hanga Roa town to the beach at Anakena, cutting through the hilly middle of the island, and is about 16 km long. The other part of the road winds along the southern coast from Hanga Roa to Ahu Tongariki and Rano Raraku where the moai were carved. Much of the rest of the island is connected by smaller dirt roads.

Mountain bike rentals are $10-30/day. Manual car rentals can be as cheap as $35-40/day with a hotel discount, but automatic cars range from $80-140/day. The latter often get rented out quickly because there's less on the island, so you have a definite advantage if you can drive a manual. If you're traveling in a group, it's worthwhile to split the rental car (gas is also extremely cheap). If you're traveling solo, it's often possible to meet other travelers (especially if you're staying at a hostel or campground) and arrange to split a car, all while making new friends! If you have a motorcycle license back home, you can rent one in Easter Island for $40-50. Quad bike rentals are a little more at $60-80/day. Most rental companies open at 8 or 9 AM, close around 8 PM, and let you have your rental for 24 hours. Whatever you decide to rent, enjoy going through rolling hillsides and discovering the island at your own pace! Believe me, it's much nicer than being herded along in a big group.

---

6. Chase the sunrise at Tongariki

Dark versus light, storm clouds versus sunrise at Ahu Tongariki.

Ahu Tongariki is probably the most famous image of Easter Island as it has the most moai (15!) on any platform on the island. It's also the best place to watch the sunrise. To do so, it's best to rent a car the night before and drive yourself in the morning. You can also go as part of a private tour which costs $$$$. I wouldn't suggest biking unless you have a strong lamp and are pretty comfortable otherwise going in complete darkness on winding roads. It's about a 30 minute drive from town, and you'll want to allow at least 15-20 minutes to park and find a place to watch the sunrise (and play with camera settings!). ​
​NOTE: The site doesn't open to the public until 8 AM, so if the sun rises before that, you'll have to prop up on the perimeter wall. Make sure to bring your park entry ticket if you do plan on being there past 8 AM though!

On the morning I went, there was a massive storm coming but I decided to try my luck anyway. The sun was supposed to rise at 7 AM, so I left my campground around 6:15 and sped through the darkness to Tongariki. There were about 6 other cars there when I arrived, and everyone was set up at the perimeter wall hoping the rain would hold off a little longer. The rain clouds rolled in more quickly than the sun could rise over the horizon though, and everyone ended up running back to their cars for shelter. I was disappointed (and soaked) at first, but it ended up still being an epic sunrise with the clouds turning a deep dark purple against the rising light.

---

7. Watch the sunset at Tahai with a Mahina

Just a 10 minute walk north from Hanga Roa along the coast leads you to Ahu Tahai, which consists of 3 restored ahus. More often than not, you can get a fantastic view of the sun setting behind (or between) the ahus. It's incredibly popular for tourists and locals alike to watch the sunset here, so be sure to get there early for a good spot. Many people make a picnic out of it, bringing blankets or lawn chairs, snacks, and bottles of wine or Mahina beer, the only brewery on the island. Mahina makes 2 beers -- a pale ale and a stout -- that are only sold on the island and Tahiti. Crack open a cold one and enjoy the view!

---

8. Eat at Makona

I​'m going to swear by the food at Makona Restaurante. Maybe it was all the hiking and walking in the sun, but the first time I ate there was orgasmic. I'd already been eager to try the food, because I read in a few AirBnB reviews that Makona was the best (apparently the owner of the restaurant is also an AirBnB host). The owner of my campgrounds also echoed these sentiments about the food, particularly the tuna. I went on a search for the restaurant which is located on the main road in Hanga Roa, but to my disappointment, it was closed (apparently it doesn't open for dinner until 7 or 8 PM). Thankfully, the next night it was open and I sat down to feast. There are probably only 10-15 tables inside the restaurant and on the patio, which is great for people watching.

The staff were all incredibly friendly, helpful, and attentive while not rushing you. Before the main course, they bring out a bread roll and butter, both topped with oregano, and a side of some of the best bruschetta I've had in my life (and I spent six months in Italy). It was simple yet delicious with fresh ingredients and the perfect amount/combination of herbs and spices. For my main, I ended up with the chef's special -- a tuna dish cooked with coconut milk, spices, and vegetables, served with a side of rice. It was so delicious that I ended up going back to Makona to eat three more times, trying their chef's ceviche, camarones al pil pil, and fettuccini with a spicy curry cream sauce, vegetables, and shrimp. Each time, the food (both presentation and taste) and service were exceptional. The pisco sours were strong and flavorful. The restaurant was also always filled with locals eating, which is always a good sign.

All that said, if you are on Easter Island, eat at Makona.

---

9. Watch a rugby match

Rugby only came to Easter Island in 2002, but has taken the island by storm. In 2016, the Matamu'a Rugby Club, one of the three local teams, began hosting the Rapa Nui International Sevens Rugby Tournament in late November. It includes around ten teams from Easter Island, mainland Chile, and Tahiti. Some of the teams also incorporate the hoko, a traditional Polynesian warrior dance used to intimidate their opponents/enemies.

If you're lucky, you might even catch one of the teams stripping down to their skivvies and cooling off in the natural swimming pool at the tiny Pea beach, conveniently located across the road from the Hanga Roa Municipal Stadium. 

---

10. Enjoy Rapa Nui culture at a live show

Elements of Rapa Nui culture have been lost or merged with Chilean and European influences, but you can get a glimpse into the traditional music and dance by enjoying one of the many cultural shows in town. While touristy, the shows are also meant to preserve the ancient culture and help islanders know their heritage. There are many dance groups on the island with alternating performance days, so there's at least one show every evening (about $15-25). Some of the shows also offer traditional Rapa Nui and international dinners beforehand ($30+), as well as traditional face painting. Hotels will often arrange your trip to the shows and provide discounted tickets, though you'll also see most businesses in town with display signs saying they're selling tickets for a particular show.

Ballet Cultural Kari Kari is the oldest and most experienced cultural dance group on the island, and my favorite of the two shows I watched. The show is almost always sold out, so be sure to buy your ticket and get there early to grab seats. I also saw Varua Ora, which is a smaller and newer group founded in 2010. The young and enthusiastic dancers perform in an intimate back room of a restaurant on the main street. The Puku Rangi Tea Cultural Ballet is also a newer group that performs 100% Rapanui dances and songs. Te Ra'ai is a popular option due to its traditional umu pae (curanto) dinner feast before the show, while the Maori Tupuna Vai Te Mihi group fuses traditional and modern instruments. It's a good option if you're watching the sunset at Tahai beforehand, because the restaurant where the show is held is a 5 minute walk away. The shows are all about 60-90 minutes long and interactive -- I was pulled on stage to dance twice! At the end, everyone is invited to come on stage to meet the performers and take photos with them.

---

11. Get your passport stamped!

And no, it won't be at the airport. The small post office in Hanga Roa serves as both a place to mail your postcards, as well as the keeper of a cute moai stamp to add to your passport (or any mail you want to decorate).
​
​
The island offers so much to explore and discover both on land, underground, and underwater, or you can simply enjoy relaxing in relative isolation from the rest of the world. I spent 5 days there but could have easily spent a full week or more!