Ahu Tongariki

The largest ahu (stone platform) on the island, with 15 moai standing in a row with their backs to the Pacific. The sunrise behind the statues is the island's most iconic scene.

Tongariki lies on the island's southeast coast at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano. The platform is about 100 meters long and is the largest ancient ceremonial platform in all of Polynesia. Fifteen moai of varying heights stand on it. The largest weighs about 86 tons, and one of them still wears a red pukao (topknot) carved from volcanic scoria. All the statues were toppled during the tribal wars of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the tsunami triggered by the 1960 Chilean earthquake swept them inland for hundreds of meters. Between 1992 and 1996, Chilean archaeologists led the re-erection of the statues, with funding from the Japanese crane maker Tadano, which gave the site the appearance it has today. On the grass in front of the platform stands a “Travelling Moai,” which was once taken to the Osaka World Expo for display. The most classic experience is sunrise, when the sun rises from the sea and the 15 statues form silhouettes against the light. You need to leave Hanga Roa about 40 minutes before dawn, a drive of about 30 minutes. The site is in the national park's paid zone. Admission is with a park ticket, and a licensed guide must accompany you. It is usually open from 09:00 to 18:00, with separate arrangements for sunrise visits (check the park's current rules).

Ahu Tongariki

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby