Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) · January 30 to February 12, 2027
Tapati Rapa Nui Festival
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Tapati Rapa Nui Festival
When is Tapati Rapa Nui Festival 2027?
Tapati Rapa Nui Festival 2027 runs January 30 to February 12, 2027.
2027January 30 to February 12, 2027Confirmed
How the dates are set: Celebrated every year in the first half of February; the organizers announce the exact dates.
See every event in January 2027
Source: easterisland.travel
Tapati Rapa Nui Festival schedule
- January 30 to February 12, 2027: The 59th edition of Tapati Rapa Nui runs for two weeks.
- During the festival: Two alliances from different clans compete in cultural, sporting and artistic events to see their candidate crowned Tapati Queen.
- Final day: The festival ends with a parade and the crowning of the queen from the winning alliance.
Sources: easterisland.travel, imaginarapanui.com, adventure-life.com
Getting to Tapati Rapa Nui Festival
- Book flights to Easter Island well in advance, because demand for the festival dates is very high and prices rise.
- Connectivity on the island is very limited or absent in many places, so an offline program app is useful.
Source: imaginarapanui.com
Where to stay in Hanga Roa
- Room supply on the island is small, and availability during Tapati is even lower, at very high prices, so book accommodation early.
Source: imaginarapanui.com
Tickets and cost
Most Tapati performances, competitions, concerts and cultural events are free and open to the public. Archaeological sites like Rano Raraku, Orongo and Ahu Tongariki require a valid Rapa Nui National Park ticket.
Source: easterisland.travel
History of Tapati Rapa Nui Festival
Tapati's origins date back to the late 1960s, and its aim is to preserve and share the ancestral traditions of the Rapa Nui people. The 2027 edition is the 59th.
Source: imaginarapanui.com
Tapati Rapa Nui Festival: questions people ask
When is Tapati Rapa Nui 2027?
Tapati Rapa Nui 2027 runs from Saturday, January 30 to Friday, February 12, 2027.
What is Tapati Rapa Nui?
It is the most important cultural celebration on Easter Island. Two clan alliances compete in dance, sport, crafts and food to crown the Tapati Queen.
Is Tapati Rapa Nui free?
Yes, most performances and competitions are free. Archaeological sites need a Rapa Nui National Park ticket.
When is the Tapati program released?
The full program is typically released about three months before the festival begins.
What is Haka Pei?
It is a Tapati sport where participants slide down steep slopes on banana trunks.
Sources: easterisland.travel, imaginarapanui.com, adventure-life.com
About Tapati Rapa Nui Festival
Two weeks of clan rivalry on Easter Island: body paint, banana-trunk sliding, dance and a crowned queen.
Tapati Rapa Nui is the island's biggest cultural celebration. Two family alliances compete in dance, song, sport, crafts and food to win the crown for their queen candidate. Events include Haka Pei, sliding down steep slopes on banana trunks. The catch: it lands in the island's busiest month, so flights and rooms fill months ahead.
Know before you go
- February is the island's busiest travel season, and flights and rooms often sell out months ahead.
- Most events are free, but archaeological sites like Rano Raraku, Orongo and Ahu Tongariki need a Rapa Nui National Park ticket.
- Mataveri airport (IPC) sits at the edge of Hanga Roa, about 5 minutes by car, and flights to the island come from Santiago (SCL).
Planning the trip
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