Private Tour: Tongariki Sunrise Experience

We loved the Sunrise at Tongariki experience very much. Isabel is an expert, suggesting many different places to observe the beautiful changing light. The colors were amazing as the hit the cliffs of the nearby crater, hillsides, sea and -of course- the Moai! We greatly appreciated her enthusiasm and stories. Highly recommend!

This tour offers you cool opportunity to see the sunrise. There is a coffee station working as of early morning (we’ve bought their coffee at 6:40am!) - tea, basic coffee, hot chocolate and chicken sandwich are available in the menu (don’t expect too much). Bring blankets or pillows for seating with you

Arrangements for this tour were well coordinated by Magdelena. My guide, Toto, was prompt and very well informed about all aspects of Rapi Nui. He positioned us well for excellent sunrise photos and recorded a fabulous time-lapse video of the sunrise. I also had a full day tour arranged with Kava Kava and Toto, but he took me back to the hotel and gave me an opportunity to grab breakfast between tours.

I highly recommend this tour - it was sensational. Having the private guide meant we could adjust as I wanted without worrying about anyone else. This meant I could see things that the other tours didnt. My guide, Isabel was very good - friendly, warm and knowledgable. Altogether, I thought the private tour was worth the premium of the mass tours.

Sunrise in Tongariki was unique and breathtaking. We were lucky to have a clear sky to enjoy the spectacular moment. Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained us everything from the history of Rapa Nui to the evolution of Moai. It was a perfect experience.

Our tour was canceled because Ahu Tongariki was closed. The travel agency offered to have the tour a day earlier for us. We understood it was the last-minute arrangement, and the guide spoke very little English. What bothered us was we were picked up by a picked up truck, and the guide or more accurately, the driver was very unprofessional. He brought a huge boom box with him, which my husband had to hold on his lap the whole trip as there was no room for it. He kept using his cell phone to select songs from the boom box while driving in the pretty tricky road full of potholes. On our way back, my husband had to hold his boom box and his backpack! He also sang while he was driving. He was the worst tour driver I had ever seen.

Alberto was a phenomenal guide! He was incerdibly personable and knowledgable interlacing history with personal stories. When he learned that we had my father's ashes that we wanted to scatter somewhere on the coast, he took a little extra time to take us to a small area where we could access the beach within the view of a Mo'ai. It made the trip so meaningful and magical.

Guide was very kind and to support all traveling matters, I believe it depends on weather if it’s nice tour.

Our driver’s car would not start so it didn’t take place. We got up early, met our driver/guide in front of our hotel, got in her car and her car would not start so it was canceled.

Alberto was an amazing guide. Our stargazing tour was cancelled due to the weather but upon hearing this, Alberto stopped so we were able to see sometime seeing the stars. It was amazing and we were in awe of seeing the night sky. Alberto told us some great places to take pictures at Tongariki and gave us as much time as we wanted to walk around a photograph the site after most people left. He also helped take photographs for us as additional moais. He even went out of his way to help us try to purchase some things we were having trouble finding. Seeing the sunrise at this site speaks to the soul.

My guide never showed up for my private sunrise tour and did not send me any messages until later in the day. I ended up waiting in the dark for awhile until I decided to leave to try and catch the sunrise on my own in the public park area. He informed me that he would refund me but I have not received anything and it has been over a week. The company name is Kava Kava Tour and I highly do not recommend them. Viator should consider removing them from this platform.

Sebastian was an amazing guide! He was so informative and really made the experience special. He sat up chairs and brought coffee for us to sip as the sun rose. Watching the Moai appear as the sun slowly rose was magical. When the time and lighting was right he offered to take pictures of us with the Moai in the background. He answered all our questions and made us want learn more!

Amazing experience. Arrived well before dawn and the stars were spectacular. then as the dawn approached the moai slowly came into view. the sunrise silhouetting the moai is not to be missed.

Our tour guide Sebastian Paoa has enormous knowledge about this island, probably from his own heritage and also he was in charge of tourist business of Easter island before. He gave me many updated information of the history, the findings and current theory of moais on Easter island. He went above and beyond to show us the whole picture of East Island. In addition, I enjoy the intellectual conversation with him. I highly recommend him as a private tour guide to learn the history of Easter island.

Sebastián is the best guide ever! He is incredibly knowledgeable and so enthusiastic about imparting the spiritual side of and facts about Rapa Nui history. He was sure to pack in a lot of information while showing us the moai and imparting the importance of their various aspects. Even though we had rain off and on, we did not mind because we were receiving valuable lessons.

This experience is just mind blowing. Guides are the absolute best and explained so much about the history of the island and the culture which is so interesting and amazing.

You probably will never see a sky so clear as this, unless you visit the Atacama desert. Unfortunately if you don't have a professional camera you won't be able to capture the beauty of so many stars. The sunset is also amazing.

My wife and I took the full-day plus two half day tours with Kava Kava and were amazed! Kava Kava offered us a personalized experience, comfortably getting us to the best sites at the optimal times. Our guide, Sebastian, offered an insider’s perspective on the sites, and an expert’s view on historical developments on the island and it’s people. The experience exceeded all our expectations! My wife and I highly recommend the tours!

I am glad I booked this tour. Our guide was absolutely wonderful and informative. Picked us up from our hotel and brought chairs and set up in front of the moai. He goes over their history and current significance to the island. Tea and coffee to sip on while you wait for the amazing sunrise. He went out of his way to help us see the best parts of the island and organized taxis for us despite the impossibly scarce cell service on the island. I encourage anyone who visits Rapa Nui to book at least one tour with Kava Kava Tours. Well worth your money and time.

The guide is amazing! I read a book about rapa nui before i came and had another full day tour with another guide. And with comparison, he is really the best! He's a rapa nui who really knows about the history and more importantly the current state of rapa nui. He kindly answered every questions I asked with honest answers. I really enjoy the time talking with him and the whole experience as well. 100% recommend this experience and this guide!

I originally booked this tour in 2019. It was rescheduled twice due to Covid. But it finally happened 2 and a half months after the Island finally reopened to tourists. Alejandra at Kava Kava kept in touch with me over the 3 years we waited. And I am so grateful. I couldn’t be more pleased with the welcome and the tours. Sebastian led us for two days of tours in which we saw the major sites in the Island. He is so knowledgeable. He explained everything so thoroughly and helped us understand fact vs fiction in the history of the giant Moai. We joked that we felt we had a university level course in Rapa Nui history and culture. It was fascinating. He is passionate about his Island, its culture, its history and its current situation. We had so much fun. He went the extra mile for us and I highly, highly recommend Kava Kava if you have the privilege and opportunity to visit this magical place.

En mi opinión todo amanecer es bello a pesar, a veces , de la adversidad del clima, la existencia de los Moais y la simpatía de mi súper guía Thais hicieron la magia del momento!!!…Gracias Viator, gracias Thais.

Excellent trip and very well attended at Hotel Altiplanico Rapa Nui, very good tours and an excellent guide. Very delicious meals and wonderful landscapes.