Rano Kau Crater Rim Hike: Wild Cliffs and Majestic Views

Hike along dramatic cliffs around Easter Island’s largest volcanic crater and reach the breathtaking ocean viewpoint of Vai a Tare, overlooking the legendary islets of the Birdman competition.
Follow the crater rim on foot into one of the wildest landscapes on Easter Island. With the immense volcanic crater on one side and dramatic Pacific cliffs on the other, the trail takes you toward the remote viewpoint of Vai a Tare, a place reached by very few visitors.

Rano Kau is Easter Island’s largest volcanic crater, measuring nearly 1.6 kilometers across. Far below, its freshwater lake is covered in patches of totora reeds and forms a striking contrast with the steep crater walls surrounding it. Fresh water has always been an important resource on this isolated island, making Rano Kau much more than just an impressive geological formation.

As you continue around the rim, the scenery constantly changes. There are no roads or crowded viewpoints here — just open landscapes, wind, ocean and increasingly dramatic perspectives across the volcano. From the higher sections of the trail, you can look deep into the crater while the Pacific drops away beyond the cliffs on the opposite side.

Eventually, reach Vai a Tare, where one of the most spectacular views of the hike opens before you. Look across the crater toward Orongo and the great opening in the crater wall known as Kari Kari, while offshore the small islets of Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao rise from the ocean. These legendary islets played an important role in Rapa Nui’s Birdman tradition.

After taking time to enjoy the views and isolation of Vai a Tare, follow the rim back toward the starting point. The changing direction reveals new perspectives across both the crater and the Pacific, completing a hike that shows you a side of Rano Kau most visitors never experience.

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