“ORONGO, TANGATA MANU CEREMONIAL” TOUR.

ANA KAI TANGATA, is a sea cave that contains rock art of sternids in its interior ceiling. The cave is made of volcanic rock that has been eroded by the ocean and is 10 meters high, 5 meters wide, and 15 meters deep. Although it opens onto the ocean, the cave is above the high tide line, allowing for accessibility. The floor of the cave is covered by irregular rocks and the ceiling is vaulted, possessing good acoustic properties.

The ceremonial center of VINAPÚ includes one of the largest ahu in Rapa Nui. This ceremonial center has an extraordinary platform, which stands out and differentiates it from the other ahu built on the island, as it has an architectural structure that is composed of large basalt slabs carefully fitted, in a similar way to that of some Inca constructions in Cusco. . There are about 300 ahu on the island, among which the dimensions are variable, as well as the construction technique and the number and size of the moais. In the case of this complex, it is located in the west sector of the south coast and is made up of 3 ahu: Vinapú I, Vinapú II and Vinapú III.

RANO KAU, is a volcano located in the extreme southwest of Rapa Nui, which forms one of the three large cones that are part of the surface of the island. It has a height of 324 meters above sea level and according to geological estimates its origin dates back to an eruptive process that occurred about 2.5 million years ago. The interior depression of Rano Kau corresponds to a volcanic caldera of 1.5 km in diameter and in its interior there is a lagoon, about 250 meters deep ending a quite steep slope. In the lagoon there are small islands of reed and abundant vegetation and microfauna. In the upper part of the crater, in the extreme southwest there is a fracture known as Kari-Kari.

TANGATA MANU, (‘man-bird’) was the winner of a traditional competition on Easter Island. The ritual was an annual competition that consisted of obtaining the first egg of the shadow tern station (manu tara) on the islet of Motu Nui ('big island'), swimming back to Rapa Nui and climbing the sea cliff of Rano Kau to its top near the town of Orongo. This spring ceremony honored the creator god Make-Make: it began with the discovery of the first egg and culminated with the triumphant investiture of the tangata manu, the sacred bird-man of Easter Island.

ORONGO, place where the bird man ceremony was held, which designated together with the King who would be the spiritual and political leader for a period of one year. This sacred character with the body of a shrunken man and a large bird's beak is carved from a large number of engraved stones.

Itinerary

• Departure from our hotel in Easter Island to the cave of Ana Kai Tangata.

• Then we will visit the Vinapu sector.

• Later we will appreciate the Rano Kau Volcano, a place where there is a lagoon with small totora islands and abundant vegetation and micro fauna.

• Finally, we will arrive at the ceremonial village of Orongo.

• Return to our hotel in Easter Island.

It includes

• Guide service in Spanish, English.
• Tickets.
• Transfers.

Does not include

• Professional guide in French, German and Italian languages. If you want a guide in these languages, it is done by request and an extra charge must be paid.