About
The Moai statues are ancient monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island, a remote island that belongs to Chile and lies in the Valparaíso Region, in the South Pacific. Around one thousand of these statues are known, and they are among the most mysterious archaeological sites in the world. They are also called the Easter Island Statues or, in the Rapa Nui language, Moai.
What a visit is like
Seeing the Moai is less a matter of ticking off a single monument than of walking among many. The figures stand across the island, and each one invites a closer look at its carved form. Because so many remain, a visit tends to be unhurried, with time to take in the scale of the work and the setting in which it sits.
Things to know before you go
- Location: Easter Island, Valparaíso Region, Chile, South America.
- Contact: +56 32 2100200.
- Kind of visit: an outdoor heritage site, suited to a slow walk over the island rather than a short stop.
Because the island is far from the Chilean mainland, plan the trip as a destination in its own right. The Moai are the reason many people make the journey, and they are best approached with patience and curiosity about the people who made them.
