Papa Vaka Petroglyphs
Papa Vaka
A large group of petroglyphs on a basalt platform on the north coast, depicting canoes, tuna, sharks and octopus, all images of the sea.
Papa Vaka means 'canoe rock.' It is a flat basalt platform beside the road on the north coast, carved with one of the island's largest groups of petroglyphs. The images include canoes more than ten meters long, tuna, sharks, sea turtles, octopus and fishhooks, reflecting the close bond between the Rapa Nui people and the ocean. The carvings are shallow and easiest to make out in raking sunlight. You can view them from a wooden boardwalk, but do not step on the stone surface. The site is in the national park fee zone, and entry requires a national park ticket and a licensed guide (subject to current regulations). It lies beside the north coast road from Hanga Roa to Anakena, and a stop of 20-30 minutes is enough.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–18:00 (per park rules)
Nearby sights
- Te Pito Kura (Navel of the World)
- Ovahe Beach
- Anakena Beach
- Rano Raraku
- Ahu Tongariki
- Poike Peninsula
- Ahu Akahanga
- Maunga Terevaka