🇨🇱 Easter Island · Itinerary
4 Days in Easter Island: The Perfect Itinerary
Four days is the sweet spot for Rapa Nui — enough to see the great moai sites at sunrise and sunset, hike a volcanic crater and still have downtime, without the cost of a longer stay on one of the world’s most remote islands. This plan bases you in Hanga Roa, the only town, and loops the sites logically. It flies in from Santiago, so it pairs naturally with a few days on the mainland.
Best for: bucket-list travellers pairing Rapa Nui with mainland Chile
Get this as a free, personalised Easter Island planWavvia tailors it to your dates, pace, budget and how you travel — solo, couple, family, LGBTQ+, accessibility needs and more.
Getting there: the flight from Santiago
Santiago (SCL) → Easter Island (IPC)
- Airline
- LATAM — the only airline flying the route
- Flight time
- about 5.5 hours each way
- Price (rough)
- roughly US$500–900 return per person (more in the January–February peak; occasional deals lower)
- Frequency
- usually 1–2 flights a day, fewer off-season
It’s a domestic Chilean flight, so no separate visa — but you must complete the Rapa Nui entry registration and can be asked to show a return ticket and a booking for your stay (visits are capped at 30 days). Seats are limited and fares climb steeply in peak season, so book well ahead.
Live fares for a sample date about three weeks out — adjust your dates on Kiwi.
Day 1: Hanga Roa & a first sunset
Based around Hanga Roa
Morning
Arrive from Santiago, settle into Hanga Roa and pick up your national-park ticket — you need it for every site.
Afternoon
Ease in gently: the small anthropological museum, the harbour, and the moai at Ahu Tahai just outside town.
Evening
Walk back to Ahu Tahai for sunset — the moai silhouetted against the Pacific, an easy stroll from the centre.
Day 2: The moai heartland
Based around South-east coast
Morning
Head to Rano Raraku, the quarry where nearly all the moai were carved and hundreds still stand half-buried in the hillside.
Afternoon
A short hop to Ahu Tongariki — fifteen restored moai in a row, the island’s most iconic sight.
Evening
Finish at Anakena, the palm-fringed white-sand beach with its own moai, for a swim and a sundowner.
Day 3: A volcano & the birdman village
Based around Rano Kau & Orongo
Morning
Hike or drive up to the Rano Kau crater, its vast lagoon far below, and the clifftop Orongo ceremonial village.
Afternoon
Visit the Ana Kai Tangata painted cave, then take the west-coast ahu at your own pace.
Evening
Back in Hanga Roa for dinner — try the local tuna, and catch a traditional Rapa Nui dance show.
Day 4: Sunrise at Tongariki & farewell
Based around Tongariki & Hanga Roa
Morning
Set the alarm for sunrise behind the fifteen moai at Tongariki — the island’s unforgettable moment — then breakfast back in town.
Afternoon
Anything you’ve missed: a horse ride to Ahu Akivi, the seven moai that famously look out to sea, or last souvenirs.
Evening
A final Tahai sunset before your flight back to Santiago.
Easter Island itinerary tips
- Buy the Rapa Nui National Park ticket on arrival (at the airport or in Hanga Roa) — you need it for every site, and Rano Raraku and Orongo can generally be entered only once.
- Rent a car or quad for a day or two to reach the far sites; there’s no public transport, and a guide for at least one day adds a lot.
- Never touch, climb or walk on the ahu platforms — it’s deeply disrespectful and forbidden.
- Bring cash: ATMs are limited and can run dry, and card acceptance is patchy outside the main places.
Where to stay in Easter Island
Compare Easter Island hotels in one placeBrowse and compare prices across Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, Hotels.com and more on one map.Easter Island itinerary FAQs
Is 4 days enough for Easter Island?
Yes — 4 days is a great length to see Easter Island's highlights at a comfortable pace. It's best for bucket-list travellers pairing Rapa Nui with mainland Chile The plan groups sights by area so each day flows naturally instead of criss-crossing the city.
How should I spend 4 days in Easter Island?
Spend it like this: Day 1 is Hanga Roa & a first sunset (Hanga Roa), Day 2 is The moai heartland (South-east coast), Day 3 is A volcano & the birdman village (Rano Kau & Orongo), Day 4 is Sunrise at Tongariki & farewell (Tongariki & Hanga Roa). Each day is built around one area to keep walking and transport to a minimum.
Which areas does this Easter Island itinerary cover?
It's based around Hanga Roa, South-east coast, Rano Kau & Orongo, Tongariki & Hanga Roa — chosen so you explore one part of Easter Island per day.
What should I know before visiting Easter Island?
Buy the Rapa Nui National Park ticket on arrival (at the airport or in Hanga Roa) — you need it for every site, and Rano Raraku and Orongo can generally be entered only once.
Make it yours — free
This is a great starting point. Wavvia builds a day-by-day Easter Island plan around your exact dates, pace and travel style — with real, verified places and safety built in.
Plan my Easter Island trip — freeMore travel guides
Opening hours, prices and entry rules change — always verify before you go, and check your government’s current travel advice. Some links may be affiliate links; Wavvia may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.