Mystery History Nature Travel Destinations Vertical Human Body Part Human Head Sculpture Carving - Craft Product Monument Park - Man Made Space Statue Chile Easter Blue White Color Pyramid Ancient South Famous Place National Landmark International Landmark Cultures Sky Light - Natural Phenomenon Cloud - Sky Landscape Hill Mountain Volcano Island Stone Material Rock - Object Day Sea Pacific Ocean Easter Island Rano Raraku Moai Statue Polynesia Quarry Mining Arranging Volcanic Landscape Photography Temperate Rainforest Travel Polynesian Culture The Human Body UNESCO World Heritage Site 62990
Polynesian Stone Carving at Rano Raraku Quarry in Easter Island, Chile

©takepicsforfun/Getty Images

Rano Raraku

Top choice in Rapa Nui (Easter Island)


Known as 'the nursery,' the volcano of Rano Raraku, about 18km from Hanga Roa, is the quarry for the hard tuff from which the moai were cut. You'll feel as though you're stepping back into early Polynesian times, wandering among dozens of moai in all stages of progress studded on the southern slopes of the volcano. At the top, the 360-degree view is truly awesome. Within the crater are a small, glistening lake and about 20 standing moai.

On the southeastern slope of the mountain, look for the unique, kneeling Moai Tukuturi; it has a full body squatting on its heels, with its forearms and hands resting on its thighs.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Rapa Nui (Easter Island) attractions

1. Ahu Tongariki

0.93 MILES

The monumental Ahu Tongariki has plenty to set your camera's flash popping. With 15 imposing statues, it is the largest ahu ever built. The statues gaze…

2. Península Poike

1.44 MILES

At the eastern end of the island, this high plateau is crowned by the extinct volcano Maunga Pu A Katiki (400m) and bound in by steep cliffs. There are…

3. Papa Vaka Petroglyphs

2.49 MILES

About 100m off the coastal road (look for the sign), you'll find a couple of massive basaltic slabs decorated with carvings featuring a tuna, a shark, an…

4. Ahu Te Pito Kura

2.79 MILES

Beside Bahía La Pérouse, a nearly 10m-long moai lies facedown with its neck broken; it's the largest moai moved from Rano Raraku and erected on an ahu. A…

5. Ovahe

3.88 MILES

Near Anakena, this beach offers seclusion for wannabe Robinson Crusoes but is considered dangerous because of falling rocks.

6. Anakena

4.18 MILES

Beach bums in search of a place to wallow will love this postcard-perfect, white-sand beach. It also forms a lovely backdrop for Ahu Nau Nau, which…

7. Centro de Interpretación

5 MILES

This new open-air interpretation center aims to help visitors better understand the rubble surrounding many of the island's archaeological sites by…

8. Maunga Terevaka

6.06 MILES

Maunga Terevaka is the island's highest point (507m) and the youngest of its three volcanoes. This barren hill is only accessible on foot or on horseback…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "chile/northeast-circuit/attractions/rano-raraku/a/poi-sig/454711/1337397",
      "destination": "Rapa-Nui-(Easter-Island)",
      "continent": "South-America",
      "country": "Chile",
      "region": "Rapa-Nui-(Easter-Island)",
      "position": "superzone"
    }