Rapa Nui National Park
Rapa Nui National Park
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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 D2,718 contributionsA Must-SeeRapa 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 2023Travelled soloWritten May 17, 2023
- Petrus61Nice, France2,798 contributionsA unique place to visitWe 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 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten May 28, 2023
- WakhoworldSydney, Australia260 contributionsHappy Daze in the National ParkWe 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 2023Travelled with friendsWritten July 9, 2023
- Ali921Edinburgh, United Kingdom1,502 contributionsStunningI'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 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten January 30, 2024
- Jeffry bEssendon, Australia14,153 contributionsGiant statues are mysteriousRapa 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 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 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.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,346 reviews
Excellent
1,175
Very good
137
Average
20
Poor
3
Terrible
11
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia14,153 contributions
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Isabel
7 contributions
Viajo a Isla de Pascua el 29/08.
Con las nuevas medidas post-Covi no puedo visitar los sitios arqueologicos sola. No quiero un guia que me acompañe y me explique. Prefiero ir leyendo .
Puedo "contratar" un nativo solo para que me acompañe en mis visitas? Cuanto puede costarme?
Gracias
Vanessa
Santo Andre, SP64 contributions
A Ilha de PĂ¡scoa estĂ¡ fechada para o turismo devido a pandemia?
Jairo
Sao Joao Nepomuceno, MG
Posso pagar ingresso turistico com cartĂ£o de crĂ©dito? Cartões de credito internacionais sĂ£o bem aceitos em Rapa Nui? Obrigado.
Jairo
Porque nadie hace recogida de pasajeros que llegan con cruceros. Las excursiones de los barcos cruceros son 5 veces mĂ¡s caros que los que se puede reservar aqui
Lonestarbc
Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand635 contributions
disculpe pero no comprendo la pregunta. Todo es bastante caro ayi
BrenoGalo
Belo Horizonte, MG44 contributions
Qual valor do ingresso turĂstico, tanto em pesos, quanto em dĂ³lar? Esse ingresso Ă© necessĂ¡rio para visitar quais locais? E, se nĂ£o comprar, quais lugares dĂ¡ pra visitar?
Obrigado.
roaming_kiwi58
Christchurch, New Zealand2,827 contributions
National Park entry for non-Chilean visitors is US$80 or 54000 pesos. You need the ticket to visit virtually all sites on the island. The only place we were not asked for our ticket was at the few moai at Ahu Tahai, just out of the town of Hanga Roa.
MargitandJim
Auckland, New Zealand160 contributions
Is it possible to see the attraction with a rental car on your own? Can you get privately into the parks ?
Stefanie S
San Francisco, CA31 contributions
You can totally do it by yourself in a rental car but there are no docents or signs at parks telling you what you’re seeing and significance. Also, some roads are not really passable by some vehicles so make sure you stick to where rental company directs you. Lastly, the rental agencies have pretty beater cars to rent. Don’t expect nice or new, and you should ask if they have air conditioning. At least with guide vehicles they are newer, can go over any terrain, and they have air.
JCLA2014
New York City, NY79 contributions
Is Rapa Nui National Park open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday?
dixiepeach
Kansas City, MO8,367 contributions
We were there on Christmas so I would imagine it’s open on Easter. Best to check with park management for a definitive answer.
maia
Province of Cordoba, Argentina179 contributions
Hola, como estas? Aceptan tarjetas en los lugares turisticos, restaurantes, etc, o hay que pagar con billetes? Gracias.
CaroLana
Santiago, Chile438 contributions
En casi todos los restaurantes aceptan tarjeta, algunos comercios pequeños no. En la feria artesanal casi ninguno tiene transbank. Para visitar el parque turĂstico se compra una vez, un ticket que dura 10 dĂas y te permite ir a todos los puntos turĂsticos del parque, te recomiendo comprarlo al llegar, en el aeropuerto.
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Claim your listingRapa Nui National Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Rapa Nui National Park
- Hotels near Rapa Nui National Park:
- (0.13 km) Manureva Nui Eco Lodge
- (0.18 km) Hotel Tiare Pacific
- (0.13 km) Cabanas Hinariru Nui
- (0.13 km) Hostal Marari
- (0.14 km) Hotel Oceania Rapa Nui
- Restaurants near Rapa Nui National Park:
- (0.09 km) Piroto Henua
- (0.31 km) Eiroa Burgers
- (1.10 km) Neptune´s Island
- (0.71 km) Dominican Restaurant
- (0.87 km) Restaurant Kanahau