Easter Island, Chile

The Most Expensive Mistake You Will Make in South America Is Flying Over Easter Island

That is the old joke among budget travellers, but most of them admit within 48 hours of landing that it was worth every peso. Easter Island – Rapa Nui in the indigenous language – sits 3,700 kilometres from the Chilean coast and 2,075 kilometres from Pitcairn, the nearest inhabited land. One of the most remote permanently occupied places on earth, roughly triangular, formed by three shield volcanoes, covering about 163 square kilometres, with around 7,750 people living mostly in or near Hanga Roa.

The moai are the reason you are here, so start with what makes them disorienting: the 887 known figures were not carved for outsiders. They face inland, watching over the communities they were built to represent. Standing in front of the 15 re-erected statues at Ahu Tongariki and realising they have their backs to you – to the sea, to the world beyond – carries a quiet authority that photographs do not convey.

The Main Sites

Ahu Tongariki on the southeast coast is the largest ceremonial platform. The 15 moai were originally toppled during inter-clan conflict in the 17th century and then further damaged by the 1960 Chilean tsunami. A Japanese crane manufacturer funded and assisted their re-erection between 1992 and 1994. Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, with the statues silhouetted against the light coming off the ocean, is the most-photographed image from the island. Arrive before first light and bring something warm; the wind off the Pacific at 05:00 has no mercy.

Rano Raraku is the quarry where approximately 400 moai remain, some buried to their shoulders in volcanic soil that built up over centuries. Walking among them gives a clearer picture of the carving process than any coastal platform: figures at every stage from rough outline to nearly complete, some still attached to the rock face by a thin spine. The largest unfinished statue here, known as Te Tokanga, would have stood around 21 metres tall and weighed roughly 270 tonnes. Nobody has a convincing explanation for how it was ever going to be moved.

The most recent experimental archaeology suggests the completed statues were walked upright using ropes and coordinated rocking – a theory tested successfully on a replica weighing 5 tonnes. The 18-kilometre distance some statues traveled from quarry to platform remains one of the more humbling feats of pre-industrial logistics anywhere on earth.

Orongo at the rim of Rano Kau volcano in the southwest is the ceremonial village associated with the Birdman cult that replaced moai culture after the society collapsed. The stone houses face three offshore islets and the petroglyphs on the cliff face depict the birdman deity Make-Make. The views down into the volcanic crater lake and out across the Pacific justify the drive even if archaeology does not interest you.

Entry Fees and Rules

The Rapa Nui National Park entry fee covers all archaeological sites. As of 2026, foreign adult visitors pay around 95,000 Chilean pesos (roughly USD 100), valid for 10 days from first use. The fee structure now distinguishes between single-entry sites – Rano Raraku and Orongo may only be visited once per ticket – and multi-entry sites such as Ahu Tongariki, Anakena, and Ahu Akivi. An accredited Ma’u Henua guide is required for entry to the park. Do not touch or climb the moai. The fines are substantial and the enforcement is real.

Getting There and Getting Around

LATAM Airlines operates daily flights from Santiago (5.5 hours); the same service continues to Tahiti. There are no other regular flight connections. Book seats weeks ahead in peak season (December through March, July through August). The Chilean peso is the currency; cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants in Hanga Roa.

Roads are partially paved. Rent a car, 4WD, or scooter from agencies in Hanga Roa – this is the standard approach and the practical one. The island is small but the sites are spread across it. You can reach most by bicycle if you are fit and comfortable with gravel tracks, but the hills are serious.

Accommodation ranges from budget guesthouses to the Explora Rapa Nui lodge. Midrange options in Hanga Roa run around $150 to $250 per night. Book well ahead in high season; the island’s capacity is limited and fills faster than you expect.