ATTRACTIONS

-Hanga Roa (Wide Bay), is the capital and only city on the island, absorbing almost all the natives, who live in one-storey houses, all different in design.
This exceptional urban environment is located in the western sector of the island, and its main spots are Policarpo Toro and Te Pito o Te Henúa streets, where the government buildings are located together with the shops. Once there, do not forget to have a look at the following places:

- Padre Sebastián Englert Anthropological Museum, is named after a German priest who arrived in the island in 1935. Aside from his religious duties, he was interested in the Rapa Nui culture, and studied the language, oral traditions and archaeological ruins. The museum contains an interesting archaeological and bibliographic collection about the local culture. The main exhibits are paintings, religious items and carved figures like the only feminine Moai. It is found in the Tahai area, very close to Hanga Roa.

- Hanga Roa or Tai Harbor, this is a small sheltered harbor where fishing ships unload their catch and tourist ships unload their passengers Here you can go sailing, canoeing or scuba diving. This area has local crafts shops and restaurants. It was built between 1966 y 1967, with stones that had been used for the construction of the ancient ceremonial centres.

Archaeological Monuments: Moai and Ahu

-Tahai Archaeological Complex, formed by three Ahu , These were the ancient ceremonial altars on which ancestors were venerated as gods. They are symbols of the high point of Rapa Nui culture, and now are those which are best preserved.
It is about one km from Hanga Roa.

-Orongo Village, meaning "the messenger's place", is the ancient ritual center where the Tangata Manu (bird-man) or warrior king was chosen. This was achieved by a competition between the chiefs of the island's royal dynasties, the Hopu, or their representatives.
The winner of the contest had to bring back the first egg of the manutara (Easter Island miniature seagull or terna fuscata) or the "slate-colored seagull" Sterna lunata) egg. These migrant birds arrived to the island in spring between the tonga (winter) and the hora (summer).
After the game, the new king lived alone in Rano Raraku, from which he issued his edicts. His reign lasted one year, but he was considered a demigod for life.
The village is at the edge of the Rano Kau crater, and some 4 kms northwest of Hanga Roa.

-Ahu Akivi, formed by seven Moai that seam to be looking to the sea. It is considered that they represent the seven explorers sent away by King Hotu Matu'a, and is one of the few located in the interior of the island.
Ahu Akivi was scientifically restored in 1960 and 1961. The memorial is located 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 biggest ritual center. It is 200 ms long and is based on a platform almost 100 meters long supporting 15 Moai, that are mostly 14 meters tall.
In 1960 a tsunami destroyed this ceremonial center, but it was rebuilt between 1992 and 1995 by experts from Chile's National University.
A few meters away is the little fishing harbor Hanga Hotu Iti, used when the waters are rough in Hanga Roa.
This ritual centre is 20 kms east of Hanga Roa.

-Ahu Te Pito Kura, holds the largest Moai on the isle. The titan, called Paro, is 9.80 m tall and weighs over 74 tons.
To one side of the carving is a perfectly spherical stone called Te Pito o Te Henua. It was placed there by the ancient Rapa Nui who thought it was the exact centre of the world.
It is 26 kms northwest of Hanga Roa.

-Ahu Akahanga, is also known as "the King's Platform", because king Hotu Matu'a was buried here. It is 81 m long by 3.25 wide and was built in several times.
It consists of 13 Moai that are 5 to 7 m tall - some of them fallen and broken - with their pukao (red stone headdresses or "wigs") spread around 4 platforms. A few m away there are some house-boat foundations and a boat ramp which communicates with the old bay.
It is sited 10 kms east of Hanga Roa.

-Ahu Vinapu, this is considered to be to be a historical monument and was originally formed by three Ahu, of which only two have survived. The first is called Vinapu I and has walls of perfectly laid stone blocks, whose technique seems familiar to that of the perfectly laid walls of Machu Picchu, in Peru. This Ahu is an astronomical layout, and is oriented towards the winter solstice. The six Moai that once rested on its platform now lie scattered in the ground.
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 represents a two-headed female figure .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 Count 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 tortoises are found there.
It is an ancient fishing harbor, still in use. At small distance there are some stone towers that were used by the ancient islanders as watchtowers to spot the arrival of the tupa (turtles).
It is placed 27 kilometers northeast of Hanga Roa.