Ahu Toŋariki The Great Altar of Rapa Nui
Ahu Tongariki, set in the bay of Hanga Nui on the southeastern coast of Rapa Nui, was the largest ceremonial structure ever built on Easter Island and one of the most impressive monuments in all of Polynesia. Its central platform of almost 100 metres supports 15 moai between 6 and 9 metres tall, with an average weight of 40 tonnes — including the heaviest moai ever erected on the island, at 86 tonnes. Destroyed by the 1960 tsunami and restored between 1992 and 1997 with Japanese financial support, it can today be appreciated as the ancient Rapanui people saw it at the height of their culture.
The Largest Ceremonial Complex on Easter Island
Ahu Tongariki, set in the bay of Hanga Nui, was the largest ceremonial structure ever built on the Island. It is around 200 metres (656 feet) long. There is evidence that it once had up to 30 statues, some of which today rest in the ocean. Around this open-air altar, the whole religious, social and political life of the community developed: investitures, initiation rites, assemblies and funerals. The plain in front of the platform has been one of the most heavily populated in the Island. There are still remains of settlements with bases of Hare Paenga (canoe-shaped houses), Manavai (rock-walled gardens) and Papa (large rock surfaces covered with petroglyphs).
The central riser of the Ahu is almost 100 metres (328 feet) long and today supports 15 statues ranging between 6 and 9 metres (19 to 30 feet) high, with an average weight of 40 tonnes. With their respective Pukao of red scoria, the monument reached 14 metres in height. It was the main centre and capital of the Hotu-iti clan, the eastern confederation of the Rapanui people. All 15 moai are aligned to face the sunset during the winter solstice — a deliberate astronomical alignment that confirms the profound celestial knowledge of the Rapanui builders.
The 1960 Tsunami and the Japanese-Funded Restoration
In May of 1960, a mega-earthquake in Southern Chile caused a tsunami with waves estimated to reach 10 metres (33 feet) high, damaging the eastern coast of the Island and dragging inland the Ahu with its Moai (statues weighing over 50 tonnes each), along with thousands of cubic metres of rock to cover an area of 4 hectares (nearly 10 acres). The monument was reduced to a scattered field of ruins.
Between 1992 and 1997, archaeologists from the University of Chile, led by Claudio Cristino and Patricia Vargas Casanova, and with the financial auspices of the Japanese government, restored this ceremonial centre. The Japanese company Tadano donated a high-capacity crane that travelled over 8,000 kilometres by cargo ship to reach the island — without it, lifting the heaviest moai would have been impossible. Today the Ahu Tongariki can be appreciated as it was seen by the ancient people during the high point of their culture.
The Oldest Moai: Found as Infill
Especially important among the pieces recovered is a group of small Moai with more natural, rough features and short ears which seem to be of a yet older style. These had been incorporated as infill within the Ahu, demonstrating that some platforms were built for brief periods of two or three generations and were then renewed. This finding confirms that Ahu Tongariki was not a single construction but the result of several overlapping construction phases across the centuries.
Ahu Tongariki is just 1 km from the Rano Raraku quarry, from which all its moai originated. The ancient road used by the Rapanui to transport the statues from the quarry to the ahu is one of the shortest on the island and can still be traced in the landscape.
How to Visit Ahu Tongariki
Ahu Tongariki is located on the southeastern coast of the island in the Hotu-iti area, about 18 km from Hanga Roa. It can be reached by the southern coastal road or the interior road that passes by Rano Raraku. Most island tours include Ahu Tongariki as part of the east-side circuit, together with Rano Raraku. Private vehicle access is also possible. The Ma’u Henua pass for Rapa Nui National Park is required.
It is one of the few places on Rapa Nui where it is worth arriving at sunrise: watching the sun rise behind the 15 moai is one of the most visually stunning experiences on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ahu Tongariki
How many moai does Ahu Tongariki have?
Ahu Tongariki currently has 15 restored moai, between 6 and 9 metres tall with an average weight of 40 tonnes. One of them — the heaviest moai ever erected on Easter Island — weighs 86 tonnes. Evidence suggests the ahu originally had up to 30 statues, some of which fell into the ocean during the 1960 tsunami.
What destroyed Ahu Tongariki?
The May 1960 Valdivia earthquake in southern Chile generated a tsunami with waves of approximately 10 metres that swept Ahu Tongariki’s moai (weighing over 50 tonnes each) inland, covering 4 hectares. The subsequent restoration between 1992 and 1997 returned the ahu to its original appearance.
How was Ahu Tongariki restored?
Between 1992 and 1997, archaeologists from the University of Chile with Japanese government funding restored the site. Japanese company Tadano donated a crane that travelled over 8,000 km by cargo ship to reach the island — essential for lifting the moai of up to 86 tonnes.
When is the best time to visit Ahu Tongariki?
Sunrise is the most spectacular time: the sun rises directly behind the 15 moai. During the winter solstice (June), the moai align exactly with the sunset — a deliberate astronomical alignment built into the original construction. Most organised tours visit in the morning to combine with the nearby Rano Raraku.