The Quarry of the Moai
Rano Raraku is the extinct volcano that served as the quarry and workshop for almost all of Easter Island’s moai. Standing 150 meters (490 feet) high, its slopes preserve nearly 400 statues in various stages of completion — standing, lying down, half-finished or broken on the road to platforms they never reached. It is where the greatest sculptural project in the Pacific was born, and one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world.
The name Rano Raraku means ‘furrowed hill’ in Rapanui, a reference to the marks left by centuries of stone extraction on its volcanic tuff walls. The volcano has been inactive for millennia, but the inner crater holds a freshwater lake surrounded by totora reeds — completely hidden from outside view and of an unexpected, quiet beauty.
How were the moai carved at Rano Raraku?
The stylized aesthetic of the classic moai of Rano Raraku differs from the more naturalistic, heavier features of those resting on the ceremonial platforms. The classic moai has phallic connotations and shows elongated ears with, in many cases, discs inserted in the lobes — as worn by the legendary Hanau Eepe (the ‘heavy-set men’), who, according to certain theories, formed a second wave of immigration to Te Pito o te Henua. According to other interpretations, this was a tribe that arrived together with the legendary king Hotu Matua.
The sculptors began their work by chiselling directly into a vertical rock wall, forming the complete figure with all of its characteristics. Finally, they cut the ‘keel’ connecting the statue to the bedrock — the moai slid down the slope into a pit dug below, where the back was finished and it was prepared for transport. Many unfinished moai can be seen in the quarry, including one that measures more than 20 meters (65 feet): the largest ever begun on the entire island.
The Tukuturi, the kneeling moai
On the slope of the northern side of Rano Raraku stands a statue unlike any other on Rapa Nui: the Tukuturi. Unlike all other moai, it is represented in a kneeling position, hands resting on thighs and mouth slightly open — the typical posture of Rapanui ceremonial singers.
The Tukuturi is considered the oldest moai on the island, dating to the epoch of the first settlers. Its style is completely different from the classic canon: more rounded, bearded, and with an expression that feels more human and less monumental than the rest. It is also one of the most debated statues among archaeologists, precisely because it breaks with every established pattern of what a moai is supposed to look like.
The mystery of the moai transport
The transport of the moai remains one of the great unresolved enigmas of Rapanui archaeology. Theories abound — from wooden sledges and ropes to the hypothesis that the moai ‘walked’ by being rocked upright by teams of people — but there is no scientific consensus to date. Four roads of approximately 10 meters (33 feet) in width, with an active use area of 5.5 meters (18 feet), were built to move the moai from the Rano Raraku quarry to their different destinations across the island.
Recent excavations at Rano Raraku have brought new evidence about the construction process and the cultural context in which it took place. The moai that remain buried in the volcano’s slopes have complete bodies underground, bearing inscriptions and pigments not visible from the surface.
The new excavations at Rano Raraku
How to get to and visit Rano Raraku
Rano Raraku is located in the northeastern part of Easter Island, approximately 18 kilometers from Hanga Roa. It is accessed via the main road running along the southern coast, passing by Ahu Tonariki. Most organised island tours include Rano Raraku in their route, typically combined with Ahu Tonariki and Ahu Akivi. You can also arrive by rental car, scooter or bicycle.
Access and entry
Rano Raraku is part of Rapa Nui National Park, managed by the Ma’u Henua community together with CONAF. Entry requires the Ma’u Henua access pass, which can be purchased at the airport upon arrival or at the Ma’u Henua offices in Hanga Roa. The pass allows one visit to Rano Raraku and one visit to Orongo. It is non-transferable and valid for the duration of your stay on the island.
Tips for your visit
The standard circuit around the exterior of the crater takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. If time allows, climbing to the crater rim to see the inner lake is one of the most surprising and beautiful views on the entire island. Bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes with grip, as part of the trail has a slope. Touching or climbing the moai and leaving the marked paths is strictly prohibited.
‘Rano Raraku is usually visited together with Ahu Tonariki, the island’s most spectacular restored platform with 15 moai, located just a few kilometres away. The cult of the ancestors and the moai‘
Frequently Asked Questions about Rano Raraku
What is Rano Raraku on Easter Island?
Rano Raraku is an extinct volcano 150 meters high in the northeast of Easter Island (Rapa Nui). It was the main quarry where almost all of the island’s moai were carved, and it preserves around 400 statues in various states of completion inside and around its crater. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Pacific.
How many moai are at Rano Raraku?
There are approximately 400 moai within and around the Rano Raraku crater. Some are standing, others are lying down, half-finished or broken. The largest unfinished moai measures more than 20 meters, which would make it the biggest moai ever built had it been completed.
What is the Tukuturi moai?
The Tukuturi is the only moai on Rapa Nui in a kneeling position, with hands on thighs and mouth slightly open. It is considered the oldest moai on the island, dating to the time of the first settlers. Its style is radically different from the classic canon — more rounded, bearded and with a more human expression. It is located on the northern slope of Rano Raraku.
How were the moai carved at Rano Raraku?
Rapanui sculptors began by chiselling directly into a vertical wall of volcanic tuff until the figure was completely formed. Then they cut the ‘keel’ connecting the statue to the rock face — the moai slid down the slope into a pit where the back was finished and it was prepared for transport. The tools used were toki, picks made of basalt harder than the tuff.
Does the Rano Raraku entry pass also include Orongo?
Yes. The Ma’u Henua access pass allows one visit to Rano Raraku and one visit to Orongo. It is the same pass for both sites, but each can only be used once. The pass is purchased at the airport or at the Ma’u Henua offices in Hanga Roa and is valid throughout your stay on the island.