In search of the Birdman Cult: Full Day Private Tour

Sites visited

Rano Kau, Orongo, Puna Pau, Ahu A´kivi, Vinapu

Description

Explore the final chapter of Easter Island’s ancestral culture on this in-depth full-day tour. Learn about the fascinating Tangata Manu (Birdman) ritual and visit the most symbolic archaeological sites of the post-moai era.

Start your day with a hotel pick-up and drive to Rano Kau, a majestic extinct volcano with a freshwater lake nestled in its crater. Take in sweeping ocean views and walk among the ruins of Orongo, the ceremonial village where the Birdman competition once took place. Discover its petroglyphs and learn the stories of those who competed for spiritual and political power.

Continue to Ahu Akivi, a unique platform of seven moai statues that face the sea — a rare orientation. Visit the red-stone quarry at Puna Pau, where the distinctive moai topknots (pukao) were carved. End your journey at Vinapu, an archaeological site famous for its intricate stonework, drawing comparisons to Incan engineering.

Optional Add-on: Lunch

You can add a traditional lunch in Hanga Roa or a similar local venue.
Includes: Main course, fresh salads, juice or soda, and dessert.