The 10 Best Spots for Moai on Easter Island

You’ve seen one giant head, you’ve seen ‘em all, amiright? Not so fast.

The moai, or the heads that most picture when they think of Easter Island, are not all the same, nor are they all even that impressive. Some are crumbled versions of their former selves. Others offer fantastic backdrops of wild horses.

Archaeologists estimate that there are between 887-1,000 moai on Easter Island (or Rapa Nui, the native version), as there are some that haven’t been unearthed just yet.

You won’t live long enough to see them all, but I can point you to our personal favorites following our three days on Easter Island.

Rano Raraku Quarry

This one’s cheating, which isn’t fair, but that’s life. The quarry doesn’t just boast just one moai, but hundreds of them.

Some of them are head and shoulders above the rest.

I say that literally, as many of them are still buried.

Rano Raraku Quarry provided the stone from which all the moai of Easter Island were built. Puna Pau, another quarry on Easter Island, provided many of the decorative elements you’ll see on the moai statues, like their red headdresses.

At Rano Raraku, some of the moai are still mostly buried, some mostly exposed. What you can see is a lot of brooding faces staring down tourists who want to touch them.

Don’t do it.

Note: This is one you’ll need a park pass ticket for. You can get tickets to Rapa Nui National Park at the airport upon arrival or online. Tickets aren’t cheap, but this is why you’re here.

Ahu Tongariki

This one may rank so high because of the adorable wild horses munchin’ around on the grounds when we got there.

Perhaps it’s also because it’s the largest ahu, or ceremonial platform, on the island.

Either way, it’s an impressive place from whatever vantage point you’re looking at it from. I hear the 15 moai that stand at Ahu Tongariki are particularly awesome at sunrise. We missed that one, though, because we were sleeping.

Ahu Nau Nau

This complex features several moai wearing a pukao.

Fun fact: That’s a topknot, or little hat as I see it. Nearby, you’ll find a sad sack of a moai with a flattened head.

What’s extra fun here is that you’re within proximity to the white sand Playa de Anakena, or Anakena Beach, the main Easter Island beach. You’ll find some kiosks where you can pick up a skewer or two, alongside island beers.

We didn’t do any swimming, but you can certainly do that here in the calm waters.

What we did do is have some of those beers. If you’ve timed things right, you’ll be in a great spot for a sunset. You can do this while drinking beers.

Ahu Akivi

This is an ahu with seven moai of equal size facing the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to being inland, which you’ll notice is rare compared to all the other moai you’ve photographed by this point, they’re the only ones facing the ocean, too.

Moist of the moai face away from the ocean. According to scientists, this is deliberate, as that way, they’re watching over the villages and the people within those villages.

Following an archaeological excavation here in the 1960s, the first of its kind on the island, it was discovered that they were looking over a village that existed there. Perhaps they were making sure to catch any shenanigans before things got out of control.

Seems like they missed the bird-man cult, though.

Ahu Tahai

This one’s also cheating, because it’s actually a complex of three different ahu viewing areas.

You’ll see Ahu Ko Te Riku, a moai with painted eyeballs and a pukao, Ahu Vai Uri, a group of five moai, or what remains of them, and the actual Ahu Tahai, the long giant.

Note: This one’s great because it’s within walking distance of most lodging in town, meaning you can get your tchotchkes, your island beers, and your first moai upon landing.

Ahu Vinapu

The large, stone walls at Ahu Vinapu are a site of archaeological importance here, as they’re apparently done in an Inca style. It’s just a wall from afar until you get up close and see the stone masonry that was required to fit the rocks just so.

Actually, it’s really just a wall, then up close, but a more impressive one.

My highlight was the face in the ground, surrounded by rocks, looking up at the passerby. Is that a smile? A sneer? You’ll need to visit and decide for yourself. 

This site is also within a short drive of Rano Kau, a volcanic crater that’s also well worth your time.

READ MORE: Love things Inca style? Check out my detailed guide to hiking the Inca Trail the easier way.

Te Pito Kura

Yes, the moai named Paro at Te Pito Kura is toppled over.

He’s still huge!

Look at that thing.

He fell over one day and hasn’t gotten up since. Paro is the largest moai on the island, so he deserves your respect, despite his current state.

Te Pito Kura, which translates to “navel of light,” also boasts a magnetic stone that apparently gives off some weird energy. If you’re firmly in the camp of not wanting children, you may want to stay away, as rumor has it that this stone makes women fertile.

I returned home unscathed. 

Ahu Akahanga

You’ll find more large moai completely on their sides or their backs at Ahu Akahanga.

While it’s certainly awesome to see them perched on their ahus on Rapa Nui, some of the sites keep it real for tourists and show the results of various clan wars and invasions.

Fun fact: This site in particular is also where historians believe the first king of the Rapa Nui people was buried, although excavations haven’t come up with any proof of that.

Ahu Hanga Tetenga

You won’t see any moai erected in honor of Cory Matthews’ girlfriend at Ahu Hanga Tetenga.

You will see a failed attempt at bringing a very tall moai onto a platform, resulting in the toppling over of said moai.

Spend some time taking in the rugged coastline at this site, as you’ll probably be the only tourist there. Wind whipping through your hair, it’s a great place for glamour shots.

READ MORE: I’m kidding here. I hate that sort of thing, and will likely poke fun at those posing for such shots.

Ahu Hanga Te’e

Ahu Hanga Te’e is only on here because it was the first site we stopped for when we were all like, “Everything is so magical!”

We also got to meet an adorable dog there who showed us around the premises.

If you’re here toward the end of your tour, you may be a little bit jaded following the other spectacular sites on Rapa Nui.

Try to picture what could have been underneath the rubble and the effort it took to build these ceremonial platforms and these giant human figures made of stone.

You may still see rubble. Or you may be pregnant, from that one magnetic stone. You may just see the magic that is a part of any visit to see the moai of Rapa Nui.

Where to Stay on Easter Island

We stayed at the Tekarera Inn, a guest house part of the larger Hotel Tekarera complex, and enjoyed our stay. Most of the lodging you’ll see on the island is in Hanga Roa. There’s no camping on the island, either.

For more accommodation options, see the map below:

The largest collection of moai is on Rapa Nui.

This is where you want to be if you want to see moai. The statues on Easter Island average about 13 feet tall, but you’ll find some variation on that number.

As with all historic sites, please don’t touch the moai once you’re there. It’s because of inconsiderate people that places like this get shut down over time. I know you guys wouldn’t do that though, right? You’re all quality people.

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