Orongo — Attraction in Easter Island

Orongo is located at the southwestern tip of Rapa Nui (Easter Island),Chile in the Pacific Ocean. It  is a stone village and ceremonial center consisting of low, sod-covered, windowless, round-walled buildings with even lower doors positioned on the high south-westerly tip of the large volcanic caldera called Rano Kau. Due to restoration work completed in 1976, these stone masonry houses , dating from the Huri-Moai period of Easter Island’s history (c. 1680–1867) gives a glimpse of the past of Rapa Nui.. Orongo now has World Heritage status as part of the Rapa Nui National Park. Orongo was the centre of a birdman cult in 18 to 19th Century AD. The ritual was an annual race bringing the first Manutara (sooty tern) egg back undamaged from the nearby islet of Motu Nui to Orongo. Many used to die falling from cliff or death by sharks. The site has numerous petroglyphs, mainly of Tangata Manu (birdmen). By the end of the nineteenth century, with the wind of modernisation most of the Rapa Nui culture perished or got converted to Christianity, the Tangata Manu cult collapsed and Orongo was abandoned. Come to sea the tranquil picturesque beautiful tiny paradise in the Pacific Ocean and brood over the past of Orongo, Rapa...

Orongo - centre of the birdman cult, and so much more. Orongo was originally the sacred site of the birdman cult. Here, you have many trails to follow, the volcanic crater and great sea views, including 'birdman island'. Orongo has a drop into the ocean on one side and the deep crater on the other, so care is needed.

The birdman cult is well worth reading up. There are the hundreds of petroglyphs carved with birdman images here. Carved into solid basalt, they have resisted ages of harsh weather.

The purpose of the annual birdman contest was to obtain the first egg of the season from the offshore islet Motu Nui. Contestants descended the sheer cliffs of Orongo and swam to Motu Nui where they awaited the coming of the birds. Having procured an egg, the contestant swam back and presented it to his sponsor, who then was declared birdman for that year.

From one of the high points it is possible to view the remains of the runway across Easter Island, that was built for the NASA shuttle to land there in an emergency. Not a lot of people know that!

I spent more time at this site than any other, it was so...

Orongo, located on the southwestern edge of Easter Island (Rapa Nui), is a significant ceremonial village perched on the rim of the Rano Kau volcano. This ancient site was central to the Birdman cult (Tangata Manu), a unique ritual that involved a competition to retrieve the first egg laid by seabirds on the nearby islet of Motu Nui. The winner of this dangerous contest was revered as the Birdman, a sacred figure who wielded considerable power for the following year.

The village itself consists of stone houses with narrow entrances, built in the traditional Rapa Nui style, and is surrounded by dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Numerous petroglyphs depicting birdmen, fertility symbols, and other religious motifs can be found etched into the rocks, offering a glimpse into the island's rich spiritual traditions. Orongo is a fascinating site that not only provides insight into the unique cultural practices of the Rapa Nui people but also offers breathtaking views of the island's...