HomeDestinationsChileRano Kau and Orongo Hike from Hanga Roa
Easy
Hiking
🇨🇱 Chile
Satellite

This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.

ID: CL-VS-02
A Rapa Nui National Park ticket is required to enter Orongo and the island's other archaeological sites, and visitors must be accompanied by a licensed local guide at most sites. Buy the ticket before you visit sites and check the current guide rules.
https://www.chile.travel/en/

Rano Kau and Orongo Hike from Hanga Roa

Added on 16 Oct 2026
Logged by @trailx

A walk from Hanga Roa, the only town on Rapa Nui, up the flanks of the Rano Kau volcano to the rim of its huge crater lake and on to Orongo, the ceremonial village of the Birdman cult, perched between the crater and the sea cliffs. Rano Kau and Orongo are part of Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Trail Map

Initialising Map Engine...

Trail Profile

General Instructions

About 8.3 km one way with roughly 300 m of climbing, partly on the road and partly on a path up the volcano. There is no shade and the wind can be strong on the rim: carry water, sun protection and a layer. Stay on marked paths around Orongo; the cliffs are sheer.

Weather check

At Start
25m

Sampling Micro-Climate...

-27.1482, -109.4273

Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: -27.1482, -109.4273 @ 25m

Quick Stats

Distance
8.31 km
Type
Hiking Trail
Elevation Range
25m - 285m
Max Elevation
285 m
Max Gradient
14.9%
4.9%

Highlights

  • Look into the reed-filled crater lake of Rano Kau from the mirador
  • See the stone houses and Birdman petroglyphs at Orongo
  • Spot the islets of Motu Nui, goal of the Birdman race
  • Watch the sunset over the Pacific from the cliffs

Field Radio Protocol

VHF-UHF Communication

Emergency Simplex
146.520MHz
Team Coordination
446.006MHz
Scout Primary
146.400MHz

Propagation Telemetry

Ridge Line

92%

Gorge Floor

18%

Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range

Regulatory Compliance

VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.

Technical Analysis

Total Ascent

+276 m

Total Descent

-26 m

Ruggedness Index

Terrain Roughness Index

Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).

0 (Smooth)50 (Steep)100+ (Extreme)
36.3

36.3

Tortuosity Index

Route Curviness Index

Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).

1.0 (Direct)2.0 (Winding)3.0+ (Serpentine)
1.72

1.72

Gradient Distribution

Flat (0-3%)67%
Moderate (3-8%)14%
Steep (>8%)19%

Surface & Hydrology

Paved64%
Unpaved36%

Surface Spectrum Analysis

Asphalt
64%
Gravel
3%
Dirt Track
33%
Water Crossings

Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.

0

Difficulty Analysis

SCORE: 17

Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.

Resulting CategoryEasy

Bounding Box (WGS84)

MIN LAT: -27.189252
MAX LAT: -27.148159
MIN LON: -109.443752
MAX LON: -109.426050

Point Spacing: 18 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0

Reviews & Discussion0

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