Rapa Nui (Easter Island) may be a remote speck in the vast Pacific Ocean, but this volcanic island has much to offer travelers. From the iconic moai statues that dot the landscape to natural swimming pools and volcanic craters, this island offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty.
Due to its remote location, Easter Island has a reputation for being an expensive place to visit. While roundtrip flights to reach Rapa Nui will likely be your most significant expense, you can explore on a tight budget once you get there.
Based on my one-week stay on Easter Island, I can attest to the many free things to do in and around the main town of Hanga Roa on the southwest coast. Join me as we explore the best free activities on Easter Island, ensuring your visit can be memorable and budget-friendly.
Table of Contents
Moai Statues
The hundreds of mysterious moai statues around Easter Island are the primary draw for visitors. Most are located within Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Access to the park requires a ticket (72,000 Chilean pesos, or about $75), and you'll need a local guide to visit the most impressive sites. However, Kel and I were surprised to find moai in and around the town of Hanga Roa that were accessible on foot and did not require a guide.
1. Tahai Ceremonial Complex
To reach the Tahai Ceremonial Complex, walk about ten minutes north from the center of Hanga Roa along the coast. This area was once an ancient village, home to approximately 50 to 200 Rapa Nui people.
Here, you'll find three ahu platforms with moai statues:
- Ahu Vai Uri (5 statues, constructed around 1200 AD)
- Ahu Tahai (1 statue, built around 700 AD)
- Ahu Ko Te Riku (1 statue with eyes and hat)
What's Noteworthy
Ahu Vai Uri is notable for showing the progression of how moai statues were carved. Starting from the right, although mostly eroded, is the smallest statue on the platform. The second moai from the right is short and stout; they get taller (and therefore heavier) afterward. A sixth moai missing from Ahu Vai Ure can be seen face down on the ground nearby.
Ahu Tahai is believed to be the oldest statue at the Tahai Ceremonial Complex, and it would make sense that the Rapa Nui people began with a single statue here. It took centuries of experience for them to become more efficient at carving and transporting statues around Easter Island.
The Ahu Ko Te Riku moai is one of only a handful on the island to have been fully restored with a pukao placed on its head and eyes added. The cylindrical pukao, which is referred to as a top knot or hat in English, was carved from red scoria found at the Puna Pau volcano. Scoria is lighter in weight than the volcanic rock used to carve the moai grey bodies and, therefore, a bit easier to transport and place atop them.
Eyes were thought to be the final addition to moai statues once they were placed on the platforms. They were traditionally made from white coral with obsidian pupils; however, concrete was used to restore Ahu Ko Te Riku.
William Mulloy's Grave
American archaeologist William Mulloy (1917-1978) helped restore these ahus and moai in 1974. Four years later, he passed away in the United States. His remains were interred on Rapa Nui with a view of the Tahai Complex. A large rock with a plaque marks the spot, reading, “By restoring the past of his beloved island, he also changed its future.” In 2003, after his wife Emily passed away, she, too, was buried there.
Sunrise and Sunset
This site is especially popular with tourists at sunset, as the sun goes down behind the five statues of Ahu Vai Ure. Sunset is an incredible opportunity to watch the pretty sky change colors. However, the faces of the statues will be backlit and dark.
If you'd like photos of the moai's faces, the best time to visit is sunrise. Another benefit of sunrise is that we found fewer, if any, other tourists, whereas sunset draws more of a crowd. Due to its proximity to town and most lodging on Easter Island, it's easy to visit the moai statues at Tahai multiple times. We visited four times over five days (twice for sunrise and twice for sunset).
Note: The Tahai Ceremonial Center is part of Rapa Nui National Park, so it's best to have a park pass on hand if anyone asks. Unlike other significant moai sites on Easter Island, there's no entry gate or signage to inform visitors of this, though, and I didn't see anyone checking park passes.
2. Ahu Hotake
The first moai Kel and I encountered upon landing on Easter Island was Ahu Hotake. It's in the middle of Hanga Roa along the main coastal road, Policarpo Tarto. Like most moai, Ahu Hotake faces inland and is directly across the street from the island's soccer field. Its back faces Hanga Roa Harbor. There's another moai nearby. However, Ahu Hotake is in much better condition.
Kel and I walked by Hotake more than a dozen times during our stay on Easter Island, as our lodging was further south and most of the restaurants were in the center of town. This allowed us to see it in the sun and rain at all hours of the day and night.
3. Moai de la Paz (Moai of Peace)
The Moai de la Paz (Moai of Peace) is the second moai statue we encountered during our first walk through Hanga Roa. The carved body looked almost too perfect, making me wonder at the time whether it was real. The 9-foot-tall, 5-ton Moa de la Paz was completed in 1992 and spent over a decade on display worldwide. It returned to Hanga Roa and was placed here permanently in 2010.
Carved into the back of the Moai de la Paz are symbols of Rapa Nui societies, specifically the symbol of the Birdman cult that held ceremonies at Orongo village. These symbols carved into the backs of moai were common when the older statues were initially constructed. However, they've slowly been lost to erosion (and, in some cases, tsunamis). Moai de la Paz serves as a reminder of how most of the moai may have appeared in their heyday.
Breaking tradition, the Moai de la Paz faces neither inland nor west toward the Pacific Ocean like Ahu Akivi. Instead, it faces south, which helps it catch the eye of tourists like us looking for free things to see on Easter Island.
4. Ahu Riata
Ahu Riata is an easily overlooked moai along the coast, a short walk south of Hanga Roa. This solitary moai stands with its back to Hanga Piko Harbor, used by anglers and recreational rowers. Several more moai lie on the ground nearby, some face up and others face down. We drove past Ahu Riata a few times, but we didn't get any photos.
5. The Moai at Mataveri International Airport
While you won't see it until you're about to depart Easter Island by plane, there's a moai on display in a garden by the waiting area at Mataveri International Airport. Travelers are free to walk up to it. There's a plaque at the base, but I didn't get a photo.
The garden features a birdman sculpture, gifted by NASA in August 1987 after the U.S. space agency spent millions of dollars extending the runway to 10,885 feet (3,318 meters). This expansion enabled NASA to use Easter Island’s runway for emergency space shuttle landings, though it was never needed.
The extended runway also facilitated the arrival of wide-bodied jets, significantly boosting tourism to the island. For some perspective, the runway was lengthened when there were no paved roads on the island.
6. Rapa Nui Museum
Visiting the Father Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum (labeled as Rapa Nui Museum on Google Maps) is a must for all visitors to Easter Island, and it's completely free. The island's only museum was established in 1973 and houses a collection of more than 15,000 artifacts. It was named after a German missionary, Sebastian Englert, who spent 30 years living on Easter Island and documented the Rapa Nui's culture and language.
The entrance welcomes visitors with an ancient, multi-ton moai. Inside, exhibits trace the history and spiritual beliefs of the Rapa Nui people and delve into the various theories of how they transported their heavy sculptures around the island.
Kel and I walked to the Rapa Nui Museum after visiting nearby Ahu Tahai at sunrise. Getting there on foot was a bit confusing. It helped that I had downloaded a map of Easter Island to reference on Google Maps. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
More Points of Interest
Now that we've covered the many moai that are free to visit on Easter Island and within easy walking distance of Hanga Roa let's move on to some of the other points of interest.
Caleta Hanga Roa
Green turtles can often be seen swimming around the small central harbor in Hanga Roa. The water is lined with wooden fishing boats, and the street has several dive shops.
Playa Poko Poko
On our first walk through Hanga Roa, the day we landed on Easter Island, Kel and I stopped by Playa Poko Poko just north of the harbor. This beach lacks sand, as do all on the island except for Anakena Beach. However, it still appeared like a chill spot to hang out. A few people were swimming in the ocean, while others were hanging out on the grass under the palm trees.
Walking around the natural pool to dip my toes in the water and take photos, I almost slipped on the slick moss lining the edges. If you want to go for a swim here, I'd use the handrail to enter the water; otherwise, be careful. By the way, the water was positively frigid.
Pea Pool
Another natural swimming area on Easter Island that is free to visit is Pea Pool, just south of Hanga Roa Harbor. The Pea Restaurant looks out over it (and we dined there one evening). This pool has a stepped concrete border that makes it easier to enter and exit. In my photo above, Monte Terevaka, the tallest volcano on the island, can be seen in the distance.
Seven Archangels Hitu Merahi
Walk a few steps north of the Peace Moai, and you'll find an uplifting message of love and unity in a collection of sculptures titled the Seven Archangels Hitu Merahi.
At the center, a carved rock features a plaque in Spanish, which translates as follows:
“Love is energy
Energy is humility
Humility is peace
Peace is harmony
Harmony is beauty
Beauty is fullness
Fullness is love.”
The installation is the work of Chilean artist Paola Yancovic, sponsor Patricia Ahumada, and seven Easter Island sculptors (Pau Hereveri, Jhony Tuky, Io Araki, Ra'a Rapu, Petero Hucke, Tony Tuki, and Sandra Atamu).
Catholic Cemetery
A few more paces north along the same coastal road, and you'll reach a Catholic Cemetery. This lush burial site has the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop and features an eclectic assortment of gravestones. I even spotted a modern moai complete with a top knot, eyes, and a string of lights around its neck.
Parroquia de la Santa Cruz (church)
The Parroquia de la Santa Cruz is a Catholic church at the north end of Hanga Roa, a few short blocks west of the Hospital de Hanga Roa. The exterior features decorative stonework reflective of the Rapa Nui culture. Services at Easter Island's only church are provided in the Rapa Nui language several days a week and are free and open to the public.
Feria Artesanal Hare Umanga
Whether you want to purchase a souvenir or go window shopping, the Feria Artesanal Hare Umanga has much to offer. This craft market is located in the center of town, across the street from Cruz Verde Pharmacy (the primary pharmacy on the island).
Here, Kel and I purchased a small carved moai statue to bring home as a reminder of our adventure to Rapa Nui. If you choose to buy something, it's okay to negotiate, but please don't be too aggressive about it; your money helps support a remote island economy heavily dependent on tourism.
Watch Surfers
Every afternoon around sunset, surfers are out in force at a wave that breaks just off the coast of Hanga Roa. I have previously written about my surfing abilities (or, better, challenges), so I was content to watch others have at it. The colorful sky made for a beautiful backdrop. Pea RestoBar and Kanahau are two restaurants where Kel and I dined while watching the surfers at sunset.
Stargazing
One of the most remote islands in the world, more than 2,000 miles from the nearest population centers (Santiago and Tahiti), has incredibly dark skies. One of the most awe-inspiring free activities available to visitors is stargazing. Simply peering up at the sky on a cloudless night showcases the natural beauty of our universe.
On our second night, we were treated to a star-filled sky while walking back to our guest house from Kanahau restaurant. Constellations like Orion jumped out at us, and the Milky Way was visible to the naked eye. The clarity was reminiscent of what I saw in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile.
Easter Island’s ancient history, natural beauty, and unique cultural experiences make it an unforgettable destination. Despite its remote location in the South Pacific and initial travel costs, Easter Island has plenty of free activities. From exploring moai statues and stargazing to visiting the Rapa Nui Museum, your journey to this extraordinary place promises to be enriching and memorable.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
Philip
Friday 26th of July 2024
Great writeup of an amazing adventure. I noted the dive shops comment; but I quickly realized the water would be way too cold for us tropical divers-lol. Still high on my bucket list though. "One of these days..."