Heritage Route: Kainga O Te Miru and the Path of Kings
LANDSCAPES:
ISLANDS
Updated on 11 de September, 2026
The Royalty of Rapa Nui
1 DAY
Undertake the path of the ancient kings of Rapa Nui with the Kainga O Te Miru circuit. Here, you’ll discover the traces of the Miru, the island’s royal lineage, traversing cliffs, caves, and archaeological remains. Thanks to its unique isolation due to lack of vehicular access, the area preserves one of the highest concentrations of archaeological heritage in the entire territory. For this reason, it is mandatory to do the tour with a guide.
This journey is part of the Te Ara O Rapa Nui Heritage Route: World Heritage, from the Ministry of National Assets, which you can learn more about here.
SEASON
ATTRACTIONS
Inicio del itinerario
Attractions included on this day
Day 1
From Ahu Te Peu to Anakena
First, you should note that this is a medium-to-high difficulty hike of about 15 km, which will take approximately 7 hours to complete. Second, it is mandatory to hire an accredited guide, with whom you must coordinate your vehicle transfer to the Ahu Te Peu access point and your return transport. You will also need to purchase your Rapa Nui National Park entrance ticket.
Along the trail, the first landmark you’ll encounter is Ahu Te Niu, a ceremonial platform located next to the cliffs with five fallen moai. You’ll then continue to Ma’itaki Te Moa, where you’ll discover ancient boat-houses and a large ahu that holds a small basalt moai among its stones.
The next landmark is Vai Mata, an archaeological site with ahu, moai, boat-houses, manavai, and other structures that allow you to imagine the lives of its ancient inhabitants. From there, you’ll continue towards Omohi and Ana Nga Eu, to find petroglyphs and small caves with representations linked to ancestral Rapanui beliefs.
Further on, you’ll find the monumental Ahu Atanga, 8 meters high and 30 meters long, which houses ancient burial sites. We recommend taking a break at Hanga O’teo before embarking on the final stretch to Anakena. There, enjoy its white sand and turquoise waters alongside Ahu Ature Huki and Ahu Nau Nau, the perfect culmination to this adventure.
Photography: imaginarapanui.com
From Ahu Te Peu to Anakena
Attractions included on this day
Day 1
From Ahu Te Peu to Anakena
First, you should note that this is a medium-to-high difficulty hike of about 15 km, which will take approximately 7 hours to complete. Second, it is mandatory to hire an accredited guide, with whom you must coordinate your vehicle transfer to the Ahu Te Peu access point and your return transport. You will also need to purchase your Rapa Nui National Park entrance ticket.
Along the trail, the first landmark you’ll encounter is Ahu Te Niu, a ceremonial platform located next to the cliffs with five fallen moai. You’ll then continue to Ma’itaki Te Moa, where you’ll discover ancient boat-houses and a large ahu that holds a small basalt moai among its stones.
The next landmark is Vai Mata, an archaeological site with ahu, moai, boat-houses, manavai, and other structures that allow you to imagine the lives of its ancient inhabitants. From there, you’ll continue towards Omohi and Ana Nga Eu, to find petroglyphs and small caves with representations linked to ancestral Rapanui beliefs.
Further on, you’ll find the monumental Ahu Atanga, 8 meters high and 30 meters long, which houses ancient burial sites. We recommend taking a break at Hanga O’teo before embarking on the final stretch to Anakena. There, enjoy its white sand and turquoise waters alongside Ahu Ature Huki and Ahu Nau Nau, the perfect culmination to this adventure.
Photography: imaginarapanui.com
From Ahu Te Peu to Anakena
What you should know
How to get there by air
If you are traveling from abroad, you will first arrive at Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in Santiago and from there take a flight to Mataveri International Airport in Rapa Nui. The only regular air access to the island is from Santiago.
How to get there by land
The tour begins at Ahu Te Peu and ends at Anakena. Travel to the starting and return points is from Hanga Roa. To access the main sites of Rapa Nui National Park, accompaniment by a local guide is required.
Climate and clothing
Rapa Nui has a subtropical climate, with pleasant temperatures year-round and possible rainfall. For this hike, bring light, breathable clothing, a waterproof layer, trekking footwear with good grip, sun protection, and sufficient water.
Must-Know Tips
Please note that the Kaiŋa O Te Miru Circuit requires a Rapanui guide and an entrance ticket to Rapa Nui National Park. Respect the trails and archaeological zones: you cannot climb, walk on, or touch the ahu, moai, or petroglyphs, nor collect stones or heritage objects. Bring enough water for a 7 to 8-hour hike and plan your route in advance.
