Easter Island Itinerary: How to Spend 3-6 Days

Easter Island (Rapa Nui), with its hundreds of mysterious Moai statues, is one of the world’s most remote, evocative, and bucket-list worthy destinations.

My father had wanted to go to Easter Island for over five decades, even since he first read about the Moai in Reader’s Digest as a teenager. So after he retired, we finally made it happen with a father-son trip of a lifetime, which would also include stops in San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile and a tour to Uyuni in Bolivia.

As the travel planner in our duo, I quickly realized that four days is the ideal amount of time to visit Easter Island for most travelers. However, we actually went for six days, taking things at a slower pace.

In this article, I’ll provide a detailed base itinerary for four days on Easter Island, with options to shorten it to three days, or lengthen it to 5-6 days, as we did.

Quick Summary: How Many Days Do You Need for Easter Island?

Most travelers will need 3–6 days to visit Easter Island, with 4 days being the ideal amount of time.

I’m not counting your day of departure from the island, so “4 days” here means arrival day + three full days of exploration (in other words, book four nights in a hotel).

Here’s what your itinerary may look like:

• 3 days – Doable, but a little rushed. You’ll need to combine major sights into two full-day tours and skip extras like beaches or activities.
• 4 days – Ideal for most travelers. Two full-day tours cover all the main archaeological sites, plus one extra day for a beach visit or activity.
• 5–6 days – Best for a slower pace. You can split the tours into three half-days, sleep in each day, and add activities like snorkeling, horseback riding, or a full day for exploring the main town, Hanga Roa.

Key Things to Know Before Visiting Easter Island

Here are a few important things I wish I’d known before visiting Easter Island:

• Book flights early. Prices from Santiago rise quickly. See here on LATAM airlines.
• Essential forms: Besides the Chile arrival form, you’ll need to complete an Easter Island arrival form (which requires a confirmation document from your hotel) and purchase an Easter Island National Park ticket (valid for 10 days upon arrival).
• There’s only a phone signal in Hanga Roa (the main town). I was using a Holafly Latin America eSIM (since we’d be traveling to Chile and Bolivia). It had unlimited data, Always On benefit (1 GB/month of backup data), and worked extremely well throughout our trip, including when crossing borders, and I could even share the data with my dad’s phone (use my code NICKKEMBEL for 5% off on any Holafly eSIM and 10% off Holafly Plans subscription for 12 months). But on Easter Island, it only works in town (and much better than the hotel’s WiFi). For outside of town, I downloaded offline maps before my trip so my GoogleMaps would still work.
• Most major sites require a guide. Almost all Moai are inside the national park, except a few in Hanga Roa. You are only allowed to visit the most famous sites (Tongariki, Rano Raraku, and Orongo) once.

• Avoid February if possible. Tapati Festival in February = busiest and most expensive time – we went a month after it.
• The sun and UV are stronger than you expect. It felt much hotter than the temperature suggested and I got sunburned on our first day.
• Air conditioning is rare. Most hotels and restaurants don’t have it. Most people have dinner after the sun goes down (8:30 PM during our visit).
• You may not need much cash. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. We only used cash to pay our guide and a few other small things.

Where We Stayed (Great Option)
We stayed at Apartmentos Tupuna Lodge (see on Booking / Agoda / Expedia), about a 15-minute walk south of Hanga Roa. It had a quiet location with sea views, a large balcony and kitchen, and was just a short walk from a Moai we could visit on our own (Ahu Riata). The owners were also incredibly friendly and helpful, but spoke little English (we mostly communicated by WhatsApp).

Our Guide (Highly Recommended)
We hired Ata Cristino for our tours, and he was fantastic – fluent English, deep knowledge, and a great storyteller. His family is closely connected to the island’s archaeology (his parents helped rebuild Tongariki after the 1960 tsunami). He drove us around, so we didn’t need a car rental (and don’t recommend getting one). Contact: website, WhatsApp +56 9 6667 7563, email [email protected]. He also runs Vaihunui, a remote guesthouse with glamping.

Best Food and Restaurants
The most common food on the island is raw fish in various forms (ceviche, carpaccio, tartare, sushi, etc). My dad didn’t like this, but I sure did! Our favorite restaurants were Neptuno Sunset Restaurant (near our hotel) and Le Frits (huge empanadas, including one stuffed with cheese and ceviche). The restaurants also have international dishes like pizza, pasta, burgers, and so on. Henua Supermarket is the main grocery store, while there are also many smaller local mercados.

The Ideal 4-Day Easter Island Itinerary

Now I’ll cover my most recommended itinerary for Easter Island, spanning four full days. To make your itinerary shorter (3 days) or longer (5-6 days, like we did), I’ll cover that in separate sections below.

Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Hanga Roa

With only two flights per day from Santiago to Easter Island, you’ll either be arriving in the early (around 1 PM) or mid-afternoon (we landed on the later flight at 2:40 PM).

Most hotels on Easter Island offer free pick-up from the airport. The driver from our hotel was waiting with our names on a sign and welcomed us by placing Polynesian leis of fresh flowers around our necks.

Since our hotel was at the southern end of town, it was only a five-minute drive from the airport.

You’ll likely have several hours before sunset on your arrival day. Most travelers can use this time to explore the main sights in Hanga Roa, as I’ll describe them below. None of these sights require a guide.

We actually did this the next day at a slower pace (see the 5 to 6-day itinerary at the end), but if you’re following this four-day itinerary, it will fit perfectly on your arrival day – especially if you take the earlier flight.

From our hotel, a 10-minute walk to the south brought us to Ahu Riata, a Moai next to Caleta Hanga Piko, a small harbor for fishing boats and vaka (Polynesian outrigger canoes).

This less-visited Moai that was one of our favorites because we could even see it from our hotel balcony. If you’re staying somewhere in the center or north end of town, this Moai may be quite far from your hotel.

Going north (the opposite direction) from our hotel, it was a 15-minute walk along the coast to Hanga Roa.

Along the way, we passed many statues and one Moai, Ahu Mata Ote Vaikava, which has a great view looking up the coast of Hanga Roa.

We then reached Playa Pea and Caleta Hanga Roa (the main beach and harbor in town). We would come back to this beach to swim several times during our trip, usually in the evenings after our tour (but before dinner).

At Caleta Hanga Roa, we found two more original Moai on their stone platforms (Ahu Tautira and Ahu Hotake), plus a third, sea-facing one on on a platform labeled Plaza Hotumatua, which was brought in from somewhere else.

Directly opposite Caleta Hanga Roa and the three Moai is a large football (soccer) field where locals play, especially in the evening.

Continuing a few minutes north from the main beach and harbor, we reached another swimming beach, Playa Poko Poko, which seemed to be a favorite among locals (and quickly became our favorite, too).

After our swim, we continued north, passing Moai of Peace, a modern Moai with painted carvings on its back, as many of them originally had.

Then we explored the Hanga Roa Cemetery, which has some mixed Christian and Polynesian elements, including some Moai. We also made a quick stop to see the artworks at Mana Gallery.

The Rapa Nui Museum, also nearby, was unfortunately still closed at the time of our visit, but it is supposed to reopen sometime in 2026.

Our day naturally ended at Ahu Tahai, the “sunset Moai” (total walking time from our hotel about 45 minutes). The site actually has three ahus (platforms), from south to north:

• Ahu Vai Ure (a platform with six Moai, one fallen)
• Ahu Tahai (a single Moai, but sometimes the whole site is called this)
• Ahu Ko Te Riku (another single Moai, with top-hat and eyes re-added – rare, but hard to see at sunset)

The complex also has some fallen Moai, round fort-like stone complexes, caves, and foundations of traditional boat houses.

We had dinner at Te Moai Sunset just before the sun went down, which we had reserved because it usually fills up. Despite its popularity, this ended up being our least favorite meal on the island.

Yes, my meal was quite fancy-looking (see image below), but it was quite small (I wasn’t full after, and that almost never happens for me), expensive (even by island standards, which are already high), the service was poor, and the restaurant was uncomfortably hot inside – the single fan in the restaurant just wasn’t cutting it, and I was sweating throughout the meal.

The sunset at Ahu Tahai attracts hundreds of tourists, but it was truly breathtaking. Next time I’d just c0me for the sunset and save dinner for somewhere else in town.

Day 2: East Coast Highlights + Anakena Beach (Full-Day Tour)

For your first full day, I recommend taking a full-day tour (or hiring a private guide) to explore the island’s most iconic Moai sites at the eastern end of the island.

Whether you join an organized tour or hire your own guide, this is a typical and logical route to some of the top sights. While my father and I did this as a half-day afternoon tour and stuck to the main ones, I’ve added some additional smaller sights to round this out into a full day trip.

Start your day at Tongariki, the island’s most iconic Ahu, with 15 Moai lined up along the coast, including the tallest standing statue on Easter Island.

Hundreds of tourists flock to Tongariki every day for sunrise. If you prefer to avoid crowds, visit later in the morning or afternoon. We arrived in the afternoon and had the site almost entirely to ourselves.

Note that you are only allowed to visit Tongariki once. If you visit in the afternoon like we did, but want to come back again for sunrise, you can watch the sunrise over Tongariki from the main road, without actually entering the site.

At the entrance to Tongariki, also watch for Moai A Vere, the “traveling Moai”, which has been to Japan.

Next, you’ll logically move on to Rano Raraku nearby, the quarry where virtually all of the island’s Moai were carved out from the sides of a volcanic crater.

Along with Tongariki, this is the other most iconic attraction on the island, and you’ll probably recognize a few Moai here from postcards and images of Easter Island.

Upon arrival, we followed a 1.5 kilometer path along the slope of the volcano, spotting dozens of Moai at varying stages of completion.

Some, including El Gigante (the largest Moai) were only half carved out from the slope. Others had toppled while being carried off in different directions towards the many Ahus around the island.

After visiting these two top attractions, most day tours venture to some more remote and lesser known spots on the north coast.

Always included is a stop at Ahu Te Pito Kura to see the largest Moai ever transported (but now toppled). Optional inclusions are Pu o Hiro (the “Potato Rock”) and the petroglyphs at Papa Vaka. My father and I never made it to these.

Finally, this day tour will almost always end at Anakena Beach. There are two Ahus at the beach – without a guide, you can’t visit them up close.

My father and I would come to Anakena on a later day to enjoy the beach for several hours, but without a guide, we weren’t able to look at the Moai up close. We’d only see their backsides from the beach.

Ahu Nau Nau is a row of seven Moai at the top of the beach, with beautiful restored top knots. Just past them, Ahu Ature Huki is a single Moai that was the first on the island to be re-erected by Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl on his 1956 expedition.

Time depending, some tours will give you a little time on the beach itself. But for a more proper beach day, I’ll recommend coming back here as an option on the final day of your trip, like we did (see below).

Day 3: Southwest Highlights + Inland Sites (Full-Day Tour)

For your second full day, I recommend another guided tour covering a variety of archaeological attractions, inland Moai, and caves.

We actually did this as two half-day tours, but most travelers will find it easy to combine everything below into a single full-day itinerary.

We started our day by driving up Rano Kau (one of three volcanoes that forms Easter Island), at the southwestern corner of the island.

At the Orongo visitor’s center, our guide explained the island’s post-Moai period Birdman cult which was centered here.

Each year, competitors would climb down the cliffs, swim to nearby Moto Nui, retrieve a bird’s egg, and return it to gain power for their clan. Walking around Orongo, we saw structures and petroglyphs tied to the event.

We then peered into the stunning crater of Rano Kau from various viewpoints. Before leaving, we also got an amazing view of Hanga Roa and down the island’s coast.

Next, we visited Ahu Vinapu at the base of the volcano. The site features toppled Moai from an Ahu known for its precise stonework, which has led some to speculate about possible Inca influences (which are guide said is extremely unlikely).

The above three sites completed our half-day tour (3.5 hours). And the following sites we did on another half day tour, but you can easily combine them into one full day tour.

Continue on to Puna Pau, which is where all the Moai’s red top hats were quarried. While it requires a bit of imagination, as most of the hill is now covered in grass, there are several top hats on site and an excellent view of Hanga Roa.

Next, we continued north to Ahu Akivi, an inland Ahu with seven sea-facing Moai (very rare, as most Moai face inland).

I found this location particularly serene, surrounded by beautiful countryside scenery, not to mention we had it all to ourselves. It was a nice addition to the usual seaside Moai.

After that, we had the choice of two caves to round out our day. Because Easter Island is volcanic, it has a vast network of caves formed by lava tubes and vents.

We went for Ana Te Pahu, which is just past Ahu Akivi, and is the easier of the two to visit. From the parking lot, we walked about 20 minutes past a lava flow and farmers’ fields to the cave entrance.

We explored deep into the cave, learning about how the islanders once used it. We also found a cool spot where a tree was growing out from a lava vent.

Our second cave option would have been the more famous, sea facing Ana Kakenga, but according to our guide, this one is a longer and more challenging walk.

Last but not least, on our drive back into Hanga Roa, I asked our guide to make a final stop at Iglesia de la Santa Cruz. This Catholic Church has a variety of Polynesian and Rapa Nui motifs, including images of the Birdman, and we were able to explore inside.

Overall, this loop covers many of the island’s lesser-visited but highly rewarding sites and provides a nice contrast to the more famous east coast attractions from Day 2.

Day 4: Beach Day or Optional Activities

I recommend saving your last full day on Easter Island for one of the following activities, depending on your interests and energy level. Here are the most popular options:

• Beach Day at Anakena: Spend a relaxing afternoon swimming and sunbathing at the island’s only major sandy beach. There are a few food and souvenir stalls, plus two restaurants with outdoor seating – perfect for lunch or day drinking. The Moai here require a guide to visit up close, but you can see their back sides from the beach.

• Snorkelling or scuba diving: Most tours depart from Caleta Hanga Roa and go to Moto Nui, the small island visible from Orongo.
• Souvenir shopping in Hanga Roa: Pick up your Moai statues, t-shirts, magnets, and more at the various shops and hit any town attractions that you may have missed on your arrival day.

• Take a guided trek or horseback ride past remote ruins on the island’s north coast or up Terevaka, the island’s highest point.
• Try a traditional dinner performance such as Kari Kari Ballet Cultural (the most famous one), Mana Ma’ohi (in Te Moana Restaurant), or Te Ra’ai (featuring foods cooked with hot stones underground). Book in advance.

If you only have three days in Easter Island, simply skip this day and focus on the two full-day tours above.

How to Adjust This Itinerary for 3, 5, or 6 Days

If you only have three days on Easter Island, follow Days 1-3 of the above itinerary and skip the activity day. This means using your arrival day to explore Hanga Roa and then completing the two full-day tours.

To slow down this itinerary, consider spending five or even six days on Easter Island like we did.

For us, my father prefers to sleep in, while I enjoy having quiet mornings to explore on my own. We also find full-day tours to be too much, especially in the heat.

Therefore, we decided to do three half-day tours (3.5 hours each) instead instead of the two full-day tours I described in the itinerary above.

We started these at 2:30 PM each day, with better sunlight for photos in the late afternoon, and we got back to town in time for happy hour. This gave my dad time to sleep in, me time to explore on my own, and we’d have lunch before the tour started.

You could also do your half-day tours in the morning if you’re an early riser or prefer to beat the heat.

With five days, and splitting the two full-day tours into three half-day tours, this is what your itinerary could look like:

• Day 1: Arrive and explore Hanga Roa
• Day 2 (guided half-day tour): Tongariki, Rano Raraku, and Ahu Akahanga
• Day 3 (guided half-day tour): Orongo, Rano Kau, Ahu Vinapu, and Hanga Te’e Vai Hu
• Day 4 (guided half-day tour): Puna Pau, Ahu Akivi, Ana Te Pahu or Ana Kakenga (caves) and Iglesia de la Santa Cruz
• Day 5: Beach Day or Optional Activities

With six days, you can do exactly as above, but add a full day for exploring Hanga Roa. This is exactly what we did. This allowed us to ease into island life on the arrival day, settling into our guesthouse, recovering from the flight, and going to some local supermarkets to buy groceries for our stay.

If you are traveling with elderly, kids, or prefer slow travel, then I recommend planning your Easter Island itinerary like this.

• Day 1: Arrive, settle in, buy groceries
• Day 2: Exploring Hanga Roa, including Moai south and north of town
• Day 3 (guided half-day tour): Tongariki, Rano Raraku, and Ahu Akahanga
• Day 4 (guided half-day tour): Orongo, Rano Kau, Ahu Vinapu, and Hanga Te’e Vai Hu
• Day 5 (guided half-day tour): Puna Pau, Ahu Akivi, Ana Te Pahu or Ana Kakenga (caves) and Iglesia de la Santa Cruz
• Day 6: Beach Day or Optional Activities

Note: These slower 5 and 6 day itineraries make a few small adjustments compared to the 4-day itinerary. They skip some of the minor north coast stops (such as Ahu Te Pito Kura and Papa Vaka) in favor of adding some less-visited sites like Ahu Akahanga and Hanga Te’e Vai Hu (see image above) on the south coast, which fit more naturally into those half-day tours.

These itineraries also treat Anakena as a separate beach day without a guide, meaning you won’t be able to approach the Moai up close – but this will allow for a more relaxed experience.

Overall, the slower approach of the 5-6 day itineraries means that you will enjoy the island at a more relaxed pace while still covering all the main highlights.