“AHU AKIVI, THE SEVEN MOAIS” Tour

“AHU AKIVI, THE SEVEN MOAIS” Tour

The more than nine hundred known MOAIS sculpted by the ancient Rapa Nui are distributed throughout the island. Most of them were carved in the tuff of the Rano Raraku volcanic cone, where more than four hundred moai remain in different phases of construction. The historical period of the entire development of the various construction techniques lasted between 700 AD and 1600 AD Everything indicates that the quarry was suddenly abandoned and statues were left half-carved in the rock. Virtually all of the finished moai, originally located on a ceremonial platform or altar, called ahu in the Rapanui language, were later demolished by the native islanders in the period following the cessation of construction, in the 15th century. Since 1956 a few of them have been restored. At first, these giant statues also wore red stone tufts or bows of more than ten tons called pukao, which were extracted from the Puna Pau crater. Once carved, it had to be raised to the proper height to place them on the heads. With the restoration of the ahu Nau-Nau on Anakena beach in 1978, it was discovered that, in the eye sockets, coral plates were often placed as eyes. These were removed, destroyed, buried or thrown into the sea, where they have also been found. This is consistent with the theory that the villagers themselves toppled them, perhaps during tribal wars. The first European sailors who, at the beginning of the 18th century, arrived on Easter Island could not believe what they were seeing. In that small area of ​​land, they discovered hundreds of huge statues across the surface of the entire island. AHU AKIVI, one of the few existing platforms on the island where the Moais seem to face the sea. Legend has it that these structures represent the seven explorers sent by King Hotu Matu’a before his colonizing voyage.

ANA TE PAHU, located on the slopes of Maunga Terevaka, is the largest cavern on the island and the best example of these great volcanic tubes. Ana Te Pahu likely solidified thousands of years ago during the eruption of Maunga Hiva Hiva, a small crater that caused the last lava outpouring. The latest explorations, carried out by various speleologists, have discovered that it is made up of several interconnected underground chambers whose total route exceeds 7 kilometers in length. Ana Te Pahu could be translated as “the cave of the drum”, since pahu in the Rapanui language designates a type of drum or timpani. This name comes from the thin layer of hardened lava that covers the cavity, forming a gigantic natural drum one and a half kilometers in diameter. If you hit or jump on the lava crust, it produces a vibration that resonates inside.

PUNA PAU, is a small crater or cinder cone on the outskirts of Hanga Roa, in the southwest of Easter Island. Inside the crater there is a quarry of red slag, the only source of this material for the Rapanui, used to sculpt the pukao that they put on the heads of some of their statues, called moai. The Puna Pau stone was also used for a few unusual moai, including the Tukuturi moai and also for some petroglyphs.

Itinerary

• This excursion invites you to discover the soul of Easter Island through an immersive journey into its most iconic and symbolic sites, where the legacy of Rapa Nui unfolds step by step.
• We begin at Puna Pau, the legendary quarry where the distinctive red stone topknots, or pukao, were sculpted. Surrounded by an atmosphere of mystery, this site offers a powerful glimpse into the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the ancient Rapa Nui carvers who shaped these emblematic elements.
• Our route then leads us to Ahu Akivi, also known as Ati ‘U, a deeply spiritual ceremonial platform featuring seven imposing moai of equal size, all oriented toward the ocean. This exceptional site stands out for its astronomical significance, as the moai align with the sunset during the spring equinox and with the sunrise at the autumn equinox, reflecting the islanders’ advanced knowledge of the cosmos.
• The experience concludes at the Tahai ceremonial complex, a remarkable archaeological area that blends restored heritage with a stunning coastal setting. Here, we explore the platforms Ahu Tahai, Ahu Vai Uri, and Ahu Ko Te Riku, each with distinctive characteristics that reveal different aspects of Rapa Nui culture and history. As you take in the scenery and the stories embedded in these monuments, you will sense the enduring ancestral spirit that continues to define the island.
• After this enriching and memorable experience, we return to the hotel on Easter Island.

Includes

• Guide service in Spanish and English.
• Entrance fees.
• Pick-up from your accommodation,

Does not include

• The tour does not include Orongo or the Ana Kai Tangata cave due to the risk of possible landslides.
• Tips and gratuities.
• Professional guide in French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. If you would like a guide in these languages, please request one in advance and pay an extra fee, subject to availability.
• Other services not described in the program.