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Ahu Tahai is one of the most photographed places of the island, it lies close to the town of Hanga Roa. Here you find 5 moai's with their back to the ocean. Next to Tahai is de moai Ko Te Riku, this one has eyes...
There are two beaches on Easter Island. Ovahe Beach is supposed to be the most beautiful, but we went to Anakena Beach. This is bigger and has some moai's near the beach. It certainly is a nice swimming spot!There are some small places where you can get drinks and food.
Ahu Akivi is found at a great location away from the coast. It is situated near a difficult road. You can get there by mountainbike or car, but the roads are difficult. If you like walking, you can make a long trip from Hanga Roa to this place, where you can found a big ahu with seven restored Moai's.We went by mountainbike and had a rainy day, so we arrived there wet and dirty, but still found the place amazing!
Whatever your time on Easter Island, however restricted your budget and however inclined you are to do your own thing, this is one place where it really is worthwhile taking at least one tour with a local guide. Yes, the island's tiny, and there is plenty of literature for you to read for yourself, and there are guidebooks, but time spent with a Rapa Nui local will give you a far better insight into the mysteries and wonders of this place than anything you can do on your own.Our island hostess recommended Patricio Ballerino to us - advice we were so glad we took as we made our way around the island with this charming and knowledgeable man. Not only was he a fund of knowledge (delivered in excellent English), his timing was impeccable so that everywhere we went we found larger groups were either just leaving as we arrived or they behind us and we were almost always the only people around...
Ahu Vinapu was the first site that we visited on one of our half day tours. The site is located close to the end of the Mataveri Airport runway. The site consists of two Ahu that are not restored. The Moai on the Ahu have all been pulled down. The site is most well known for the construction of the Ahu which has smooth rocks similar in style to Inca constructions in Peru.It is said that the Moai were constructed on the Ahu in front of the village looking into the village to protect the people. The Moai represent their ancestors. When there was warfare amongst the different tribes of Rapa Nui people the biggest way to insult each other was by destroying the Moai and Ahu.
After visiting Ahu Akivi we made our way to Ana Te Pahu which is an interesting area of cave dwellings. You will go down into some caves which have gardens of bananas and taro in the entrance. The caves are actually lava tube which were formed when the rock solidified in a tube around a flowing stream of molten lava.
Ahu Akivi is the site of an Ahu with 7 Moai that was restored in 1960. Most of the Moai on the island look inland, except the Moai at Ahu Akivi which are facing out to sea. The location of the village in this instance is between the Ahu and the sea. The Ahu is further inland than most of the other Ahu and village locations which could be the reason that they look that way. Another theory is that the site has astronomical significance with the Ahu facing the setting sun during the equinoxes.
Puna Pau is a small volcanic crater which is the site of the quarry for the topknots Pukao . The topknots are made of scoria rock which is a reddish colour, quite different to the rock from Rano Raraku that was used for the bodies of the Moai.There are about 60 topknots around the island and another 25 are still in the quarry.There is a great view of Hanga Roa from Puna Pau.
Next to the harbour at Hanga Roa is a tiny little beach called Pea Beach. It is a very apt name for the beach as it is really small! On our first day on Easter Island we went for a big coastal walk and rested for a little while in the sunshine on Pea Beach. There were lots of local children bathing and a few tourists too.
After visiting Rano Kau and Orongo we made our way to Ahu Tahai which is the Moai Ahu closest to Hanga Roa village. The area has been restored and it is the only place where you will see a Moai with its eyes intact. The restoration in the area was done in 1968 and includes the Moai, Ahu, houses and ceremonial altars.There are three Ahu to be seen here: Ahu Tahai (a large Moai on its own with no topknot), Ahu Vai Uri (a group of five Moai on an Ahu) and Ahu Ko Te Riku (solitary Moai with its eyes intact and a topknot in place).Ahu Tahai is said to be most spectacular at sunset for taking pictures.
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Reviews and photos of Easter Island attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Easter Island sightseeing.
Q: Hi All, I live in Macau PRC and am thinking of visiting Easter Island which is always one of my dream places. But travelling to...
A: Hi! Was on that amazing island a few years ago. And then the only flights from South America was from Santiago, Chile. But there were also possible to fly there from...
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