Rano Raraku Volcano

The Rano Raraku volcano is one of the most incredible and extraordinary archaeological sites on the planet. In this magical place full of mystery, the moai were made, the giant statues that have made Easter Island famous worldwide. The enormous figures and the quarries of the volcano surpass any expectation and get the traveler to be speechless when he contemplates one of the most fascinating wonders of humanity.

The old name of this place was Maunga Eo, which means “perfumed hill”, since in the past a very aromatic plant grew and its smell permeated the whole area. In fact, an ancient legend tells how two young female spirits came to the island attracted by the intense aroma of the place.

Unlike most island volcanic cones, Rano Raraku is composed of a unique type of rock on the island known as the Lapilli tuff. The tuff is a porous rock formed by the accumulation of volcanic ash ejected during an eruption, which when cooled, in contact with the atmosphere, is compacted and hardened.

A little more than 100 meters from the entrance to Rano Raraku, there is a fork to the left that leads to the interior of the crater of the volcano. After about 300 meters, you come to a crack in the crater that connects the outer and inner slopes. It is a narrow corridor, created perhaps by the hand of man, where you can see the compact red ash that forms the northern part of the volcano and that contrasts clearly with the hardness of the volcanic tuff at the southern end.

The visit Rano Raraku, it can be done by hiring some of the excursions offered by most of the island’s tourism agencies. This archaeological site is usually included in any of the full day tours, which include a guide and transport, where other places of interest are also visited.