Things to do in Easter Island
Easter Island is a place where the word ‘remote’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. Rapa Nui (the actual name of the island) sits 2,200 miles from both Tahiti and South America, which means you get to see what a coastline looks like when it’s nowhere near any mainland. Ancient Polynesians carved giant stone monoliths known as Moai statues here, built a complex written script called Rongorongo and then sadly had to watch their society spiral in the face of deforestation and resource stress. Today, about 3,400 people inhabit this 64‑square‑mile dot that still manages to capture the attention of curious minds all around the world.
Shore excursions to explore in Easter Island
Stepping onto Easter Island is like stepping into an open‑air archive where the pages are made of basalt. Start at Orongo Village, the cliffside ceremonial site of the birdman cult, where petroglyphs stare back with big‑energy mythic gravitas. Head into the volcanic bowl of Rano Raraku, the quarry where hundreds of unfinished Moai rest mid‑creation. Wander Vinapu for stonework so precise it sparks debates about Inca connections and then make your way upward to Terevaka Mount for a summit with a full 360‑degree sweep of the Pacific. When you’re ready to calm your brain, drift toward the tropical shores of Anakena Beach.
Explore itineraries with cruises to Easter Island
Easter Island is an anchorage port, so arriving feels dramatic right from the tender drop. Once ashore you’re in Hanga Roa, which is extremely convenient because everything radiates from this one compact hub. This rare jewel is remote, mythic and often part of longer cruises or even world cruises because the island is so far from, well, everything. It’s easy to find your way around the cafés, shops and shoreline trails; it’s harder to stop staring at the Moai that seem to look up out of nowhere…
Discover Easter Island on your next cruise
This island lives in the space between archaeology and mythology, and Princess takes you right into the heart of it. Easter Island cruises give you time to breathe in the wind, climb extinct volcanoes, stumble into ceremonial sites and loop through Rapa Nui National Park with the comfort of a ship waiting offshore. It’s not crowded, not overdeveloped and not easy to reach — which is the exact formula that makes it unforgettable.
Step into the slopes of Rano Raraku where half-buried moai rise from the earth like ancient guardians.
Stand face to face with the iconic moai of Rapa Nui, carved in stone and rich in mystery.
A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.
Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.
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Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards.
No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.
Cruises to Easter Island FAQs
*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.
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