Rano Raraku is a key site on Easter Island that offers insight into the culture behind the moai. Two paths take you to different areas of Rano Raraku. One leads to the main quarry sites with numerous moai, ending at the kneeling moai and a view of the Ahu Tongariki ceremonial platform. The second path takes you to the crater lake at Rano Raraku’s interior, where you can view distant moai found along the volcano’s walls. While it’s possible to visit the site independently, many sightseeing tours include Rano Raraku in conjunction with other destinations around Easter Island.
To access Rano Raraku, visitors must pay the Rapa Nui National Park entrance fee.
Wear sturdy shoes for walking along the paths and stairs.
Stay on the path and do not touch any of the moai.
There’s a small restaurant and gift shop just outside the entrance.
Rano Raraku is along the southeast side of Easter Island. From the town of Hanga Roa, take the main island road towards Anakena Beach, then turn at the sign for Rano Raraku. There’s a path leading from the park reception to Rano Raraku. Many guided tours also stop at Rano Raraku, making it easy to visit the site.
You can visit Rano Raraku year-round. Summer is the best time for taking photos of the moai at Rano Raraku—in the winter months, the sun’s low position means that many of the moai remain in the shade of the volcano walls. Visit on a clear day for the best views and photos. Some areas and paths may be closed after rainfall. Plan to spend around two to three hours exploring the whole site.
The rock at Rano Raraku is made of tuff (or tufa), essentially volcanic ash. Since it was softer than any other rock on Easter Island, it was the ideal material for creating moai, as the ancient Rapa Nui society used only stone tools made of basalt. From around 1100 to 1650, the Rapa Nui would carve the moai straight from the rock wall of the volcano. They would then detach and slide the statues down the hill to the lower portions of the caldera before transporting them elsewhere on the island.