- Hanga Roa (Wide Bay), is the capital and only city on the island, concentrating almost all the native population, who live in one-storey houses, all different in design.

This unique urban environment is located in the western sector of the island, and its main thoroughfares are Policarpo Toro and Te Pito o Te Henúa streets, where the government buildings and shops are located. The following places must be visited:

   - Padre Sebastián Englert Anthropological Museum, bears the name of a German priest who arrived in the island in 1935. Aside from his religious duties, he took an interest in the Rapa Nui culture, and studied the language, oral traditions and archaeological remains.

The museum contains an interesting archaeological and bibliographic collection, specializing in the local culture. The main exhibits are paintings, religious items and carved figures, as well as the only feminine Moai. It may be found in the Tahai area, very close to Hanga Roa.

   - Hanga Roa or Tai Harbor, this is a small sheltered harbor where fishing vessels unload their catch and tourist ships unload their human cargo. Here one can go canoeing, sailing or scuba diving. There are local crafts shops and restaurants in this area. It was built between 1966 y 1967, with stones that had been used for the construction of the Ahu (ceremonial centers).

Archaeological Monuments: Moai and Ahu

- Tahai Archaeological Complex, formed by three Ahu , the ancient ceremonial altars on which ancestors were venerated as gods by the original inhabitants. These are symbols of the high point of Rapa Nui culture, and currently are those which are best preserved.

It is about one kilometer from Hanga Roa.

- Orongo Village, meaning "the messenger's place", this is the ancient ceremonial center where the Tangata Manu (bird-man) or warrior king was chosen. This was done by a competition among the chiefs of the island's royal dynasties, the Hopu, or their representatives.

The winner of the competition had to bring back the first manutara (Easter Island miniature seagull or terna fuscata) egg or the first "slate-colored seagull" Sterna lunata) egg. These two migrant birds arrived in the island in spring between the tonga (winter) and the hora (summer).

After the contest, the new king had to live alone in Rano Raraku, from which he issued his edicts. His reign lasted one year, but he was considered a demigod for the rest of his life.

The village is at the edge of the Rano Kau crater, and of a cliff some 4 kilometers northwest of Hanga Roa.

- Ahu Akivi, formed by seven Moai that appear to be looking out to sea. It is thought that they represent the seven explorers sent by king Hotu Matu'a. This Ahu is one of the few located in the interior of the island.

Ahu Akivi was the first scientifically restored sanctuary (in 1960 and 1961). The monument is on the slopes of the Maunga Terevaka volcano.

- Ahu Tongariki, its history goes back to 900 or 1000 ad, and it is the island's largest ceremonial center. It is 200 meters long and has a central platform almost 100 meters long supporting 15 Moai, that are mostly 14 meters tall.

In 1960 a tsunami destroyed this religious center, but it was rebuilt between 1992 and 1995 by experts from Chile National University.

A few meters away is the small fishing harbor Hanga Hotu Iti, used when waters are rough in Hanga Roa.

This ceremonial center is 20 kilometers east of Hanga Roa.

- Ahu Te Pito Kura, contains the largest Moai on the island. The giant, called Paro, is 9.80 meters tall and weighs over 74 tons. To one side of the carving can be seen a perfectly spherical stone called Te Pito o Te Henua, which was placed by the ancient Rapa Nui at the point they calculated as the exact center of the world.
It is located almost 26 kilometers northwest of Hanga Roa.

- Ahu Akahanga, this is also known as "the King's Platform", because king Hotu Matu'a is supposed to be buried here. It is 81 meters long by 3.25 wide and was built in several stages.

It consists of 13 Moai that are 5 to 7 meters tall - some of them are fallen and broken - with their pukao (red stone headdresses or "wigs") scattered around 4 platforms. A few meters away there are some house-boat foundations, as well as a boat ramp communicating with the old bay.

It is located 10 kilometers east of Hanga Roa.

- Ahu Vinapu, this is considered to be a historical monument and was originally formed by three different Ahu, of which only two survive. The first is called Vinapu I and features walls of perfectly laid stone blocks, whose technique is comparable to that of the perfectly laid walls of Machu Picchu, in Peru. This Ahu has an astronomical layout, and is oriented towards the winter solstice. The six Moai that once rested on its platform now lie strewn around it.

Beside it lies the second Ahu, called Vinapu II, that also had an astronomical significance. Facing this ceremonial center there is a red sandstone carving that was put up originally to represent a two-headed female figure. The heads no longer exist. It is located to the west, on the south coast of the island.

- De la Perousse or Hanga Hoonu Bay, in 1776, the French explorer Conde de la Perousse landed here, bringing peacocks (koro-koro), pigs (onu) and ducks with him, among other animals. Its native name can be translated as "place of the sea turtles" because these creatures are found there.

It is an ancient fishing harbor, in permanent use. A small distance away there are some stone towers that were used by the ancient islanders as watchtowers to spot the arrival of the tupa (turtles).

It is located 27 kilometers northeast of Hanga Roa.