Ahu Vaihu
Ahu Vaihu
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
189 reviews
Excellent
94
Very good
71
Average
23
Poor
1
Terrible
0
midway42
Georgia3,477 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
European explorers made contact with the indigenous Rapanui for the first time via Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen in 1722, and the Spanish, English, and French followed later in the century. Although these interactions weren’t entirely benign, they were more investigative in nature than militant; it is from many of these visits that we have the first recordings of native island life. These observations are the basis of the reconstruction of a group of structures at Ahu Vaihu that I visited as the first stop on the first day of my island tour. Although we passed on the toppled mo’ai and ahu that seemed to be the main attraction, we did see the boathouse, chickencoop, cooking pit, and a series of enclosed gardens. The latter contain taro (a root vegetable), toa (sugar cane), mahati (paper mulberry), and ti (for tattooing). I spent maybe 45 minutes on site as my guide explained all of these and integrated the story into the island’s pre-European history.
In summary, although our time here was brief this was one of the more memorable attractions I saw while on the island. Rapa Nui certainly isn’t only about the mo’ai and ahu, and this granular look at the existence of the average citizen was a welcome departure from the rock carvings and apocalyptic remnants that I saw later during my tour. Solo travelers without a guide may struggle here as there was no printed descriptions next to the constructions, but for those with a knowledgeable docent (Claudio Tucki is one of the best) this should be your first stop on even a one-day visit.
In summary, although our time here was brief this was one of the more memorable attractions I saw while on the island. Rapa Nui certainly isn’t only about the mo’ai and ahu, and this granular look at the existence of the average citizen was a welcome departure from the rock carvings and apocalyptic remnants that I saw later during my tour. Solo travelers without a guide may struggle here as there was no printed descriptions next to the constructions, but for those with a knowledgeable docent (Claudio Tucki is one of the best) this should be your first stop on even a one-day visit.
Written June 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sachin K
New York City, NY6,555 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
This site is an offbeat tourist attraction in Easter Island. It is a restored village and gives a good insight into the former lives of Rapa Nui people. Certainly worth visiting with a local tour guide and very highly recommended for the offbeat traveler.
Written November 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EdoSal
Santiago, Chile222 contributions
Sep 2019
They recreated a kind of town, where you can understand how did they sleep, how did they collect fresh water, how did they cultivated vegetables. I would recommend to visit this site at the start of your tour, it gave us the basic understanding of their way of living.
Written September 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paula a
New York City, NY71 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
See the chickens running in and out of their stone house. See the vegetables growing in their specially created wind breaks of stone walls. This site really puts you in the lives of Rapanui outside contact.
(The site is also called e'e' or something like that.)
(The site is also called e'e' or something like that.)
Written November 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mjrg59
Iowa City, IA1,085 contributions
Jan 2013 • Couples
When population density and depletion of resources caused conflicts among the Easter Island villages, east to west, the moai were downed because they afforded protection to the villagers and their destruction would diminish that protection. Some moai were affected by natural disasters. Repositioned moai on different ahus reflect their original status but these downed moais reflect the history of human conflict. Enjoy surf and turf (cattle) nearby as well as the ahu and its downed moai.
Written February 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gypsyrver
Pinellas Park, FL103 contributions
Nov 2019
This Ahu is where the islanders destroyed 8 large Moai wh=ith a semi destroyed temple. Interesting to see the statues lying down.
Written December 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Montanatraveler312
Ballantine, MT86 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
It was great to see a village restored. You get a much better idea on what the boat houses looked like and how the people lived back then. You had the chicken houses and the areas where the gardens were inside a protected rock fence. Really helped to get a clear picture of how they lived.
Written April 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The World is My Oyster
Orlando, FL21,764 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
We ended up stopping at Ahu Vaihu for a few minutes and glad we did. The Moai have not all been restored but that look shows the wear and tear the ocean and earthquake had on this place. Beautiful views of the ocean as well as a nice fresh breeze. The Moai standing with the stray dog guarding it is also pretty cool.
Written October 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rowan H
Cairns, Australia1,720 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Ahu Hanga Te'e O Vaihu is located on the coastal road of easter island, around 1/3rd of the way from Hanga Roa heading towards Ahu Tongariki. The Ahu features around 8 Moai which unfortunately have not been re-erected and lay face down in the mud with their red scora hats.
In the dying days of the Rapi Nui civil walls ensued and all the Moai were deliberately toppled over by tribes at war as they were believed to confer protection over the villages they overlooked. Only 50 of the 288 moai around the island have been re-erect and those of Vaihu have not made this list. This is pretty disappointing as these Moai appear to be in quite good condition. There is also a individual small Moai erected near the entrance seperate to those on the Ahu.
Although this won't be the highlight of your trip this is a worth wild stop while travelling on the coastal road towards Ahu Tongariki. If you are short of time however you could skip it.
Please take the time to rate my review
In the dying days of the Rapi Nui civil walls ensued and all the Moai were deliberately toppled over by tribes at war as they were believed to confer protection over the villages they overlooked. Only 50 of the 288 moai around the island have been re-erect and those of Vaihu have not made this list. This is pretty disappointing as these Moai appear to be in quite good condition. There is also a individual small Moai erected near the entrance seperate to those on the Ahu.
Although this won't be the highlight of your trip this is a worth wild stop while travelling on the coastal road towards Ahu Tongariki. If you are short of time however you could skip it.
Please take the time to rate my review
Written January 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TwoKatz
Metchosin, Canada1,554 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
Our guide book calls this site: Ahu Hanga Te'e O Vaihu. The Hanga part describes the ocean bay. We thought the eight fallen Moai and their pukao to be very impressive, even in the pouring rain. This is the site where our primary camera died (a known defect when used in prolonged high humidity environments but unknown to us at the time!) and we had to resort to point-and-shoot & cell phone photos - a sad occurance at a once-in-a-lifetime destination.... This is an easy access site and so worth seeing.
Written December 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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