Begin with pickup from your hotel and journey to the wild north coast of Rapa Nui, one of the island’s most remote and untouched landscapes. Over 7 hours, hike 21 kilometers across rugged, open terrain where few visitors ever go.
With your local guide, follow ancient paths between hidden caves, abandoned settlements and lonely ceremonial platforms, listening to stories of the people who once lived along this isolated coast.
Crawl through the tiny entrance of Ana Kakenga, the famous “two windows cave.” A short passage through complete darkness opens into a chamber high above the sea, where two natural windows frame the endless Pacific.
Explore Ana Te Pora, an ancient dwelling with stone beds and a central table, before reaching Te Peu. Its isolation has preserved an extraordinary collection of hare paenga, the traditional “boat houses” of Rapa Nui, still surrounding two great ahu platforms.
Continue through Ma'itaki Te Moa, where massive stonework hides a remarkable secret: an entire moai, still in excellent condition, was used as part of the monument itself rather than standing proudly on top.
At Vai Matā, discover the largest moai of the north coast beside an ahu built with enormous, precisely fitted stones. Nearby lies Ana O Haro, an unusual underground dwelling built from recycled foundations of ancient boat houses.
Walk onward to Omohi and Ana o Heu, the “Make-Make cave,” where the ceiling is covered with rare carvings of Make-Make, the creator god of Rapa Nui.
Along the route, encounter one of the island’s rare moai carved from hard local basalt instead of the softer volcanic tuff of Rano Raraku.
Reach Ahu Atanga at the northernmost tip of the island. This impressive 25-meter-long ramp-shaped ahu is aligned almost perfectly with astronomical north, missing it by only 0.2°.
Continue to the secluded bay of Hanga O Teo, once an important settlement thanks to its access to the ocean, before finishing at Ana Papa Tekena, a mysterious tunnel-like cave opening beside the sea.
This demanding hike rewards you with something increasingly rare: hours of wild coastline, ancient ruins and hidden places far beyond the usual tourist routes. For a day, Rapa Nui feels almost entirely your own.