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Hanga Roa
Things to do in Hanga Roa
Ahu Akahanga

Ahu Akahanga, Hanga Roa

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Ahu Akahanga

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Ahu Akahanga
4.5
551
#3 of 12 things to do in Hanga Roa
Ancient Ruins
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4.5
551 reviews
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Sachin K
Plainview, NY5,840 contributions
Off beat experience
Dec. 2019 • Family
This attraction is an interesting one and different from other attractions. One can see an ahu(platform) in ruins with all of its moai fallen face down or on their backs, most likely toppled after the clan wars.

At the entrance to this site one will see some well-preserved ruins of an ancient village with a number of earth ovens (umu pae), the boat-houses (hare vaka) as well as some paved areas which will show you a little of how the people of Rapa Nui used to live. Very close to here you will also find a small cave that was used as shelter for those who did not have a boat house.

Behind the main ahu, one will find another moai that has been toppled as well as an unusually small moais that would have been one of the first ones to be built. Certainly would very highly recommend visiting this attraction to any traveler and especially those who are eager to have an off beat experience on Easter Island.
Written 22 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dirk W
Antwerp, Belgium174 contributions
Ahu Akahanga
Mar. 2020
In Akahanga there are recreated houses from the past and some statues lying down. This is the least sight seeing.
Written 22 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
deborahk3
Maidstone, UK1,785 contributions
Ahu Akahanga
Jun. 2019
At Ahu Akahanga lay the remains of a small village near the south coast of the Island. At the entrance to the site, there are the stone foundations of a number of houses where it is thought the old inhabitants lived. Close to the houses there are several stone ovens. Close by and facing the sea, is a small cave, thought to provide shelter to the fishermen from the elements.
The Ahu Akahanga stands on the left in front of the sea and this large platform has not been restored. The statues lie both face down and face up allowing you to better see the features. According to Island tradition, the first king of the island is buried close by, however, excavations carried out in recent times have not uncovered any remains of the king. Interesting and significant site on the Island.
Written 22 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Katrien S
Ghent, Belgium1,982 contributions
Overthrown moai and older statues
Jan. 2020
This is one of the sites that has not yet been reconstructed to an often unknown original state Most of the statues were toppled as the European started to arrive, probably in a civil war between the tribes on the island. Here you see the site how the original population left it. The moai thus still lie face down, with the red headdress stones lying a bit further. These were thus all rather late moai. However, on the site also lie several smaller and older moai open to be seen (in most sites they are still covered by ahu).
Written 24 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Nastame
Harrogate, UK1,732 contributions
One of the least interesting sites...
Feb. 2020 • Solo
....on Easter Island. Yes, it's an important site, but not too much to see. The site itself is in a nice spot but of limited appeal and things to see apart from the historical interest.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Bill M
Springfield, MO308 contributions
Restored ancestral village
Jan. 2020
The ancient tribal site of Ahu Akahanga on the south coast of the island has a restored ancestral village on its west end closest to town. There are stone foundations of several hare paenga or boat-houses, so called because of their elliptical shape reminiscent of a ship, where the old inhabitants lived. Our tour guides took us early so we could see the chickens emerge from their stone coop which was cute.
The eastern side is where the Ahu Akahanga stands in front of the sea. This large 60 foot platform has not been restored, illustrating how the ahu were first discovered.
In most destroyed platforms, the statues lie face down. However, in Ahu Akahanga, the 13 mo’ai, (between 16 and 23 feet in size) were knocked down both face-up and face-down making their features and carving more visible as you can get right up to them.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Are G
The Villages, FL25 contributions
This is why you go to Easter Island
Jan. 2020
This entire island owes its present day existence to three people: Edmundo Edwards, Claudio Cristina, and Patricia Vargas. Without them, these magnificent statues would just be rock piles and there would then be zero tourism. It was simply magnificent being guided by them.
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
bukagirl
New Jersey3,751 contributions
Interesting
Jan. 2020 • Solo
Ancient ruins and houses, you can visualize how the Rapa Nui lived.
See the tumbled Moai, best to see with a guide to explain the history.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Gypsyrver
Pinellas Park, FL96 contributions
Very interesting site
Nov. 2019
Although the petroglyphs are eroded you can still see the impressions. Very interesting place as the first king of Rapa Nui is buried here.
Written 4 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jimvin
Caterham, UK866 contributions
Lovely spot
Oct. 2019
I did several tours on the island and this was one of the visits, it is a lovely place and worth stopping by.
Written 17 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ahu Akahanga
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