Rapa Nui, known by its ancient inhabitants as Kahu Kahu or Hera, and later as Te Pito o Te Henua, translated as "The Navel of the World," is located at one of the vertices of the Polynesian triangle in the oceanic continent.
Its culture has been transmitted orally from generation to generation, preserving stories of the first inhabitants, their customs, and traditions.
Rapa Nui is one of the largest open-air museums in the world, boasting an impressive legacy of archaeological heritage. Its most visible features include around 300 Ahu, or ceremonial platforms for ancestors, which often held one or more Moai statues. Approximately 1,000 Moai statues and over 3,000 petroglyphs can be identified around the island, which led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
It's important to remember that when visiting Rapa Nui, you should consider it a fragile territory. Therefore, you must be responsible and respectful of the environment, valuing the culture and natural heritage. Be sure to follow the rules and recommendations of local authorities, refrain from damaging archaeological sites and protected areas, and take care of the environment.
Explore here the sites you can visit during your stay on this island full of magic and be amazed by the fascinating history of a civilization that developed its own system of writing.
1) Rano Kau y la Aldea ceremonial de ꞌŌroŋo
Rano Kau is one of the three volcanoes that formed Rapa Nui. Its crater, over a kilometer in diameter, allows us to peer into its interior. Inside, a large lagoon with totora reeds and rushes forms a landscape that feels like it belongs in another realm of the cosmos.
The interior of Rano Kau collects moisture, creating a microclimate suitable for cultivation. There is a remarkable diversity of native vegetation, including bananas, tubers, coffee, guayabas, and other edible species, which evoke thoughts of the lives sustained by these products.
2) VINAPŪ
Vinapū is situated on a wide, gently sloping plain located along the southern coastal edge and west of Mataveri Airport's runway. At this site, you'll find three ahu (ceremonial platforms). Among them, Tahiri draws attention due to the similarity of its rear wall to Inca constructions identified at Sacsayhuamán, north of Cuzco in Peru. The second ahu, Ahu Vinapū, features a mōai (stone statue) that is purportedly the only one with a feminine appearance. Only a few remnants remain of the third ahu. The archaeological heritage of this site shows signs of deterioration primarily caused by natural phenomena such as saline moisture, lichens, and vegetation encroachment.
To reach Vinapū from Haŋa Roa, take Avenida Hotu Matu’a towards Vinapū and continue along the dirt road until you reach the designated site.
3) Vaihū
At this site, you will find an ancient settlement composed of a large ceremonial platform. This grand Ahu (platform) features a semicircular rear retaining wall, measuring 86 meters in length and 12 meters in width, which once supported eight statues that are now scattered around the platform, lying face down.
This location has not been restored and serves as an example of the period of toppling of the mōai (stone statues), which began in the early 18th century during wars and disputes between different clans on the island.
4) ꞌAka Haŋa
ꞌAka Hanga is an ancient village where we can understand the layout of the village in relation to the ceremonial center or Ahu. This Ahu, which is 18 meters long, holds significance for being unrestored. The mōai (statues) are on the ground, exactly as they were left after being toppled during tribal wars. Observing these colossal giants lying face down and face up on the ground is a remarkable experience. The Ahu of ꞌAka Haŋa once supported around a dozen mōai ranging in height from 5 to 7 meters.
In addition to the platform, the site contains remains of hare paeŋa, boat-shaped houses whose base was constructed from stone by the island's ancient inhabitants. These houses have a small ornamental stone plaza at their front.
To reach the site by vehicle or on foot from Haŋa Roa, take Hotu Matu’a Avenue toward ꞌAna Kena, then turn right at the junction indicating the road to Rano Raraku. The site is located at the midpoint of the island's south coast.
5) RANO RARAKU
In the quarry or factory of the mōai statues lies the volcano Rano Raraku, which in many dimensions is one of the most fascinating places on the planet. Formerly, this site was called Mauŋa ꞌeo, which means "fragrant hill" in the Rapa Nui language, due to the presence of a very aromatic plant whose scent permeated the entire area.
Rano Raraku is home to the quarry where the mōai were carved and from where they were transported to different ahu (ceremonial platforms) across the island. Approximately 1040 statues were carved in this quarry, with around 400 remaining on the volcano's slope in various stages of production and carving, including some that were abandoned during the sculpting process for various reasons.
To reach Rano Raraku by vehicle or on foot from Hanga Roa, take Hotu Matu’a Avenue toward ꞌAna Kena – Rano Raraku; then reach a junction indicating the direction toward Rano Raraku, turn right, and continue approximately 13 km until you reach the site. Alternatively, access on foot is possible exclusively from the Te Ara O Te Mōai circuit.
6) TOŊARIKI
The Ahu Toŋariki is the most imposing platform on the island. It's not easy to describe the feeling of beholding these 15 standing mōai, majestic against the intense blue backdrop of the sea and its infinite, circular horizon.
This ahu represents the pinnacle of sculptural splendor on the island. With a ceremonial platform spanning 220 meters in length, it is the largest structure of its kind in all of Polynesia. Its axis is oriented toward the summer solstice sunrise, underscoring the significance and astronomical knowledge of the Rapa Nui people.
To reach this site by vehicle or on foot, located 15 km from Hanga Roa downtown, take the road in the direction of Rano Raraku. The site is situated one kilometer from the entrance.
7) TE PITO KURA
This site features the Ahu o Paro, with its sole mōai named Paro, which has remained intact in the position it fell (it is not known for certain whether it was toppled by Europeans or by the Rapa Nui themselves). It boasts spectacular dimensions: its ears measure 2 meters, it stands 11 meters tall, and its estimated weight exceeds 80 tons. Alongside it lies its similarly massive pūkao, nearly 2 meters in height and weighing around 10 tons.
Adjacent to the ahu, about 6 meters away, is a large spherical stone measuring 80 centimeters in diameter, identified as the Navel of the World. According to oral tradition, this stone was brought by Hotu Matu’a on his vessel. It is a smooth spherical stone said to possess a magnetic and supernatural energy called "mana."
At the site, you'll find parking, a stone wall preventing vehicle access, signs, and pedestrian access markings.
From Haŋa Roa, you can reach it by vehicle or on foot, taking the road toward Anakena and turning right at the intersection toward Pōike along the north coast of the island, just before reaching near Caleta La Pérouse.
8) ꞌANA KENA
Located in Haŋa Rau o te Ariki Bay (Bay of Kings), you'll find the beach of ꞌAna Kena, named after the nearby cave of the same name.
This is the largest sandy beach on the island, featuring turquoise waters, white coral sands, and coconut palms imported from Tahiti. However, ꞌAna Kena is much more than just a beach; it's a complex where you'll find the restored ahu Ature Huki and Nau Nau, renovated in 1954.
The area is situated 18 kilometers northeast of Hanga Roa, about a 30-minute drive away. You can also reach it by boat or bicycle. If you have the time and a secure vehicle for the return journey, consider staying there until nightfall to enjoy the appearance of the stars.
