Ahu Tahai
Three stone platforms on the edge of Hanga Roa. The moai on Ahu Ko Te Riku has restored eyes of white coral, making it the island's most famous sunset viewpoint.
The Tahai archaeological complex lies on the grassy coast at the northern end of Hanga Roa and can be reached on foot. It comprises three platforms. To the south, Ahu Vai Uri has five moai of varying heights, one of them damaged. In the middle, Ahu Tahai has a single moai, and the platform dates back to around 700 CE, making it one of the oldest sites on the island. To the north, Ahu Ko Te Riku has moai wearing red pukao, with eyes reconstructed from white coral and obsidian. It is the only moai on the island with restored “open eyes,” which lets you imagine how the statues once looked in full. These three platforms were restored in the 1968 to 1970s period under the direction of American archaeologist William Mulloy. Every evening, visitors and islanders gather on this grassy slope to watch the sun sink into the Pacific. The moai become silhouettes against the afterglow, making it the most romantic moment on Easter Island. Nearby, the stone house foundations and chicken-house ruins show the layout of an ancient village. Not far away is the Father Sebastián Englert Anthropological Museum, which can be visited at the same time. Tahai is in the town area and generally requires no entrance ticket (check the park's current rules). Touching or stepping onto the platforms is strictly forbidden.
Opening hours
All day (busiest around sunset)
Nearby sights
- Father Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum
- Hanga Roa
- Puna Pau
- Ana Kai Tangata
- Ahu Huri a Urenga
- Ana Kakenga (Two Windows Cave)
- Ana Te Pahu
- Ahu Akivi