Rapa Nui National Park
Rapa Nui National Park
5
About
The landscape of Rapa Nui, the indigenous name for Easter Island, is an eerie exhibit of ancient cultural remnants of an abandoned desert-dwelling people.
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  • Robert D
    2,718 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Must-See
    Rapa Nui is a unique spot. It is not easy to get to, but definitely worth visiting. you will need at least two full days to see the park, which has many individual sights. You will also need a guide to explain the significance of the Moai, ruins, and other sights. The history of this island is fascinating and you will marvel at these amazing sculptures.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written May 17, 2023
  • Petrus61
    Nice, France2,798 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A unique place to visit
    We spent two days and a half to visit the major historical sites in RĂ¢pa Nui. The most important sites (such as the place on the volcano where most of the Moai were made) require an hour or so to visit while others only require half an hour or less. However, it is nice to spend some time reflecting on those incredible monuments about which remain some mystery (why were most of the Moai face down after the 17th century ? ). Our guide gave us the best to date explanations, yet many questions remain.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written May 28, 2023
  • Wakhoworld
    Sydney, Australia260 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Happy Daze in the National Park
    We did one full day tour and two half-day tours. You have to pay USD80 for a National Park pass (something we were not told before we booked the tours). It's better to get the pass "on-line" than to buy it with the tour company; you might pay a lot more. Walking among the many "Moai" was very special and one of my long time bucket lists. There are a couple of sites you can go to WITH OUT a National Parks pass but you will need a car or car and driver to get around. There is no apparent public transport on the island.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written July 9, 2023
  • Ali921
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom1,502 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning
    I'm not going to tell you why you should visit here, you wouldn't have come so far if you were not interested in Moai. You need a park ticket (USD $72) paid by credit card only. The quarry (Rano Raraku) and crater (Orongo) can only be visited once, others as often as you want and always with a guide. The three places you can visit without a guide are Anakena and Ovahe beaches and Tahai in town. Don't expect to have the place to yourself, always busy.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written January 30, 2024
  • Jeffry b
    Essendon, Australia14,153 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Giant statues are mysterious
    Rapa Nui National Park harbors the Maio -- giant, mysterious statues on Easter Island. They are so huge, the way they got to their current site overlooking the Pacific is debatable. Known as Easter Island, Rapanui is located, midway between Tahiti and South America; it's part of Chile. Outsiders are fascinated by Rapanui's giant Maio statues, which have featured in several films. Conducted tours are available.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written March 8, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,346 reviews
Excellent
1,175
Very good
137
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20
Poor
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Terrible
11

Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia14,153 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Rapa Nui National Park harbors the Maio -- giant, mysterious statues on Easter Island. They are so huge, the way they got to their current site overlooking the Pacific is debatable. Known as Easter Island, Rapanui is located, midway between Tahiti and South America; it's part of Chile. Outsiders are fascinated by Rapanui's giant Maio statues, which have featured in several films. Conducted tours are available.
Written March 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christian M
Copenhagen, Denmark4,068 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Most tourists come to Rapa Nui to see (and photograph) the ancient statues, the moai. They have stood for almost 1000 years in all kinds of weather, calm and thoughtful, with their gaze fixed on eternity.

To access the national park where most of the moai are located, a very expensive entrance ticket is required (valid for 10 days!) as well as a local guide, which is also not cheap. You will not get into the park without a ticket, guide (and your passport).

If you only have a short time on the island, there are at least 3 sights in the national park that you MUST visit:

1) Ahu Tongariki - the site with the 15 moai facing away from the water
2) Rano Raraku - the site where the moai were carved out of the mountain, and where there are still many whole and half-finished moai left
3) Ahu Akivi - the site with the 7 moai standing in picturesque surroundings

The park also features a fantastic volcanic crater, stone houses, and much more. If you buy a full-day tour with a guide, you should see everything - it's all organized.

You should know that there are plenty of beautiful moai scattered around the island that do not require a ticket to see. It's completely free.

A fantastic place is Ahu Tahai, which is a 15-minute walk from the main town of Hanga Roa.
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

portochulizco
Los Angeles, CA25 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Besides the obvious fact that the place is amazing, the experience itself is horrible. There are many amazing places that have a better experience. The park employees are rude, unwelcoming and overbearing. You have to have a guide or local chaperon at all times inside the different sites and all the staff has zero common sense. They are all acting as if tourism is guaranteed and they’re making a big mistake. I would never recommend Easter Island over Iceland or Greenland or even New Zealand. If you’re hellbent over visiting all you have to do is really lower your expectations.
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ali921
Edinburgh, UK1,502 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
I'm not going to tell you why you should visit here, you wouldn't have come so far if you were not interested in Moai. You need a park ticket (USD $72) paid by credit card only. The quarry (Rano Raraku) and crater (Orongo) can only be visited once, others as often as you want and always with a guide. The three places you can visit without a guide are Anakena and Ovahe beaches and Tahai in town. Don't expect to have the place to yourself, always busy.
Written January 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mtfrequentflying
United States76 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
It takes a lot of time and money to get to the Easter Islands. Then you have to pay nearly $90 to enter this park, not wait, you can't enter it on your own. You have to hire a tour guide which will cost you at least another $100 per site to visit this overated site.
It's really not worth going to this place.

The roads going to this site was paved by NASA with US tax payer money and the airport in Easter Island was extended again with American tax payer money with no cost to Easter Island. I really don't understand why this site still charges Americans 4.5 times more than it does for Chillian.

It's really a shame.
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wakhoworld
Sydney, Australia260 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
We did one full day tour and two half-day tours. You have to pay USD80 for a National Park pass (something we were not told before we booked the tours). It's better to get the pass "on-line" than to buy it with the tour company; you might pay a lot more. Walking among the many "Moai" was very special and one of my long time bucket lists. There are a couple of sites you can go to WITH OUT a National Parks pass but you will need a car or car and driver to get around. There is no apparent public transport on the island.
Written July 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Petrus61
Nice, France2,798 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
We spent two days and a half to visit the major historical sites in RĂ¢pa Nui. The most important sites (such as the place on the volcano where most of the Moai were made) require an hour or so to visit while others only require half an hour or less. However, it is nice to spend some time reflecting on those incredible monuments about which remain some mystery (why were most of the Moai face down after the 17th century ? ). Our guide gave us the best to date explanations, yet many questions remain.
Written May 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert D
Brooklyn, New York2,718 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Solo
Rapa Nui is a unique spot. It is not easy to get to, but definitely worth visiting. you will need at least two full days to see the park, which has many individual sights. You will also need a guide to explain the significance of the Moai, ruins, and other sights. The history of this island is fascinating and you will marvel at these amazing sculptures.
Written May 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia18,466 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
We never thought we would actually get here as it is so far from anywhere, however, as it turns out a pacific cruise was the best option for us, this is definitely a must see attraction, the history is fascinating, visiting the Moai (statues) and surrounding area, gave us a feeling of peacefulness.
Written April 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lee K
Prairie Village, KS1,043 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
The location of the only statues that face the ocean. They are facing toward the original homeland. They are called the seven sailors.
Written February 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Rapa Nui National Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Rapa Nui National Park