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Shrouded in mystery and one of the most isolated places on earth, Easter Island boasts a fascinating history and stunningly scenic landscapes. There are a few Easter Island treks that showcase the amazing scenery, but none that connect as many landmarks as the trail along the southwestern coastline from the Ahu Tahai Moai to the clifftop Orongo Village.
Hiking in Easter Island along the southern cliffs takes trekkers to 4 fascinating historic Rapa Nui sights: Ahu Tahai, Ana Kai Tangata, Rano Kau and Orongo. These points of interest can easily be seen via a car or Easter Island Tour, but to hike on Easter Island offers a unique and unforgettable experience!
Easter Island Hike: What To Expect
The Easter Island trail that we recommend connects four of the top attractions in the UNESCO-listed Rapa Nui National Park. The trek stretches from the Ahu Tahai Moai platforms in Hanga Roa to Orongo Village atop 1000-foot-tall cliffs. Following the shoreline south, the route passes by several other restored Moai platforms, the Hanga Piko fisherman’s village and the Ana Kai Tangata cave.
From the cave, the trail winds through a forest, gradually climbing to Rano Kau crater and then to the final stop, Orongo Village, which sits atop 1000-foot-tall cliffs and offers astounding sea views.
We rate this as an easy-to-moderate hike. The incline is mostly gradual and it’s fairly simple to find your way; we took the same route out and back. The total round-trip length is about 9 miles, with some sections along the road.
Save, Bookmark or Pin our Easter Island Hiking Guide for your trip to Rapa Nui!
Hike Easter Island: Highlights and Details
Hiking Easter Island is a great opportunity for travelers to see prime attractions – while getting some exercise. This Easter Island Hike proved to be a highlight of our Rapa Nui Itinerary!
Note that new regulations require foreign visitors to be accompanied by a certified guide or authorized local while touring any part of the Rapa Nui National Park. Make the necessary arrangements – or adjustments – to this hike to comply with the new rules.
Start the Hike at Ahu Tahai
Ahu Tahai is one of the most spectacular sights on Easter Island and the perfect place to start any trek! There are three Moai platforms at Tahai: Ahu Vai Uri, Ahu Tahai and Ahu Ko Te Riku (listed south to north).
Ahu Vai Uri is the most impressive platform with five standing Moai. While Ahu Tahai features one standing Moai, without a topknot. Ahu Ko Te Riku is also a solo Moai, but with both a topknot and eyeballs.
In addition to the Moai platforms, other sights at Tahai include the remains of boat houses, chicken coop caves and the grave of archaeologist Mulloy, who is credited for much of the restoration on Easter Island.
Top Tip: We often started – and always ended – our days at Ahu Tahai. It is the place to watch the sunset on Easter Island…and we highly recommend circling back to it at the end of your hike to enjoy the scene.
Hike to Ana Kai Tangata
Follow the shoreline path to the south. You will pass Playa Poko Poko and walk through the fishermen’s village of Hanga Piko (seeing Moai Ahu Riata along the way), then reaching Ana Kai Tanata on the coast.
Ana Kai Tangata was a gathering cave, but we enjoyed solitude during our hike, as we were the sole visitors! The cave entrance is located at sea level, which is accessible via a marked path and steps down the cliff.
There are two other caves in the area that we could see from the clifftop, but neither have paths to them. We were told both could be viewed from sea level on a Rapa Nui Boat Tour.
Top Tip: Use common sense and caution; exploring the rocks, cliffs and caves on Easter Island is at your own risk.
Easter Island Forest Hike
Past Ana Kai Tanata, look for the trailhead that clearly marks that path that leads directly to the Rano Kau crater. The trail passes by the CONAF Headquarters (National Forest Corporation), a botanical garden and through a wonderfully shaded forest of Eucalyptus trees.
The last stretch of inclined trail required some extra energy, but we often took breaks to stop and look back over Hanga Roa. As the town grew smaller, a clearer outline of the island took shape – and it is truly a stunning sight.
Pro Tip: Kris (being the aviation geek that he is) timed our hike perfectly so that we were in an optimal position to watch the daily LATAM Chile flight from Santiago landing at the Easter Island Airport.
Trek Up to Rano Kau Crater
The trail flattens out and takes trekkers right up to the Rano Kau crater edge – and it’s an absolutely awe-inspiring sight. The extinct volcanic crater – over half a mile wide – is filled with fresh water and reeds. The vibrant colors are so intense that the scene is almost surreal.
The southwestern wall of the Rano Kau Crater takes the brunt of the harsh elements (wind, rain, and salt) and is crumbling under the pressure. Nicknamed ‘the bite’, this missing section is a window to the vast Pacific Ocean. A striking contrast between containment and freedom and a stark reminder of how isolated Easter Island really is!
Complete the Trek in Orongo Village
From Rano Kau, it’s a 15-minute walk to Orongo, mostly along the road. The historic village contains stone dwellings that date to the 18th century. The windowless houses cling to the side of the cliff overlooking the ocean on the southwestern tip of Rapa Nui. The historic location was the site of the island’s tribes Birdman Competition.
Note that to enter Orongo, visitors will need a valid Rapa Nui National Park Pass, as well as a local guide to accompany them.
Easter Island Birdman Competition
The era of the Birdman Competition on Easter Island occurred post-Moai. For one and a half centuries, tribes participated in the games, with the last race taking place in 1866.
The Birdman Competition was a test of strength. It took place in the spring when the Sooty Tern (a seabird) migrated to Motu Nui, the furthest of the three islets beyond the cliff walls, to lay its eggs. The competitors, young men representing their tribe, were tasked with scaling down the walls, swimming out to Motu Nui and capturing an egg. The first to bring an egg safely to Orongo was the winner.
It is difficult to imagine the month long competition and the festivities that took place. They, as so much of the island, seem mythical. However, unlike much of the Rapa Nui history, the Birdman Competition is actually a recorded fact.
Return Hike to Hanga Roa Easter Island
The hike up to Rano Kau and Orongo from Hanga Roa is an out-and-back trek. After touring Orongo and taking in the views, hikers need to retrace their steps and make their way back down to Hanga Roa Town. For the most part, the hike is a breeze, mostly because it was downhill, but we did encounter one incident of a bovine roadblock!
Once back in Hanga Roa, we recommend enjoying a little bite to eat and/or a celebratory post-hike beer. Hitu 7 was our go-to spot for an empanada and cerveza before heading back to Tahai to enjoy an Easter Island sunset. Saludos!
Easter Island Hiking Map
What You Need To Hike Easter Island
Hiking from Hanga Roa to Orongo is not a difficult trail, but you should be prepared with the right trekking gear.
Comfortable Shoes
You won’t necessarily need hiking boots for this Easter Island trek along the southwestern coastline, but you will want a good pair of lightweight and comfortable travel shoes. I like to wear these everyday trainers for casual hikes, and Kris prefers Merrell trail shoes.
Plenty of Water
Be certain to carry enough water with you, as there is no place to refill once leaving Hanga Roa. We travel with these collapsible water bottles that are durable and easy to pack.
Travel Camera
One of the best things about this Rapa Nui hike is the stunning scenery and panoramic views. If you want to truly capture that beauty for timeless memories, we recommend upgrading to an actual travel camera for high quality photos.
We travel with a Canon Rebel (which takes amazing photos) and a Canon PowerShot ELPH (which takes beautiful pictures and is a slim and lightweight budget camera)
South America Travel Insurance
Trips don’t always go as planned. Luggage can get lost, flights can be delayed and there is always a chance of getting sick or injured while abroad. If you haven’t already obtained insurance for your trip to Chile, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.
Organize Your Trip to Easter Island, Chile
Planning a trip to a remote island takes a bit of effort – but we help make it as simple as possible with our outlined Easter Island Itinerary.
As you make plans for your Easter Island Vacation, staying organized is key! Our 26-page Travel Planner Printable will help you stay on top of all the details of your trip.
Start planning your trip to Chile! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips – and for country-specific information, hop onto our Travel Guides Page!
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