Orongo
5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
This lake-filled crater is filled with remnants of the Birdman cult practiced until 1867.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,461 reviews
Excellent
1,154
Very good
264
Average
37
Poor
4
Terrible
2
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York2,683 contributions
Mar. 2023 • Solo
This is the place to learn about the Birdmen, who came after the culture that built the Moai. See a different aspect of Rapa Nui culture, including a reconstructed village. It is a lovely place for a walk.
Written May 17, 2023
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.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia18,320 contributions
Mar. 2023 • Couples
From Rano Kau’s crater we continued a short way further to the last stop of our amazing tour. The O’rongo Village. We freely admit we hadn’t been particularly interested in the Birdman ceremony - we were all about the Moai. Thankfully we had our excellent guide who pointed out all sorts of of important archeological features of the area and explained the Birdman proceedings. Visiting this place was a great way to finish the day.
Written April 5, 2023
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.
Lee K
Prairie Village, KS1,036 contributions
Feb. 2023
Quite the history of the Bird Man and how the 12 tribes selected their rulers. This place contains the houses for the competitors and their spiritual leaders.
Written February 28, 2023
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.
ruthandvern
Wilton, CA15,442 contributions
Mar. 2020
This location is sacred to the Bird Culture, as it is the location in closest proximity to Bird Island and seekers of the first egg would lay in for viewing from their cut caves out to the island watching for the arrival of the birds, await the laying and swim through dangerous seas to bring home the first egg and rule for the next year. The museum has excellent exhibits clearly explaining the culture.
Written February 11, 2021
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, NY5,857 contributions
Dec. 2019 • Family
Orongo was originally the sacred site of the birdman cult. There are many trails to follow. The volcanic crater and sea views including that of 'birdman island' are spectacular. Orongo has a drop into the ocean on one side and the deep crater on the other.
The birdman cult is well worth reading up. There are the hundreds of petroglyphs carved with birdman images over 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.
One needs to give at least 2 hours to explore this attraction on foot. I would very highly recommend visiting this spectacular attraction to any traveler in Easter Island and preferably with a local guide to get a better grasp of the local history.
The birdman cult is well worth reading up. There are the hundreds of petroglyphs carved with birdman images over 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.
One needs to give at least 2 hours to explore this attraction on foot. I would very highly recommend visiting this spectacular attraction to any traveler in Easter Island and preferably with a local guide to get a better grasp of the local history.
Written November 22, 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.
WImom
Fond du Lac, WI2,340 contributions
Jan. 2020
It takes about 2-3 hours to see this fully. This is Easter Island's most dramatic setting with a wonderful view! There is a small museum with signs that are very informative about the area (English, also). It really merits a local guide to really understand the full history. You will need to show your national park ticket upon entrance. The village is the ceremonial village where the Birdman Competition took place. Toilets are available free. Lighting is best in the early morning or mid/late afternoon. Orongo was restored in 1974 with 47 houses, many of which had collapsed or had been torn down by treasure hunters. There is an interpretive trail through Orongo which the visit better. At the end of the interpretive trail there are many boulders carved with petroglyphs.
Written April 16, 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.
Hamish
Heidelberg, Australia71 contributions
Apr. 2019
Orongo is an incredible experience high on one of the volcanoes. a small ceremonial vllage with plenty of signs to help you learn what this village was used for. An incredible crater lies next to the village
Written March 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.
lesliebauman
Kirkland, WA1,044 contributions
Feb. 2020 • Couples
Besides the amazing volcano here, this site is the place the witnesses waited while the Birdmen swam to the nearby island to pluck the first egg from the migratory birds. This is also a must with a guide to walk you through it’s meaning.
Written February 29, 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.
JrnyJunkie
Cleveland, OH949 contributions
Feb. 2020
Most interesting history about the Birdman cult where you can view the islands where the swimmers went to acquire the bird eggs and see the structures that the islanders lived in on the island.
Written February 27, 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.
Stella R.
Brasilia, DF26 contributions
Feb. 2020
This is one of the few places one can get sufficiently informed about without the aid of guides, because there are posters explaining the history of the place, with a great map that points to each attraction existent there. I wish all ahus would be like this - or maybe at least the main ones.
This is the other site one can get into only once with the Rapa Nui National Park ticket - together with Rano Raraku -, which I find a bit sad because of their importance. Nevertheless, one visit is enough to see it all.
The view to Motu Nui Island is amazing, and no pictures do justice to this. The shades of blue one can see from Orongo whilst looking to this place are completely dazzling. Another great site for those who are looking for deeper knowledge about the history and culture of Rapa Nui people!
This is the other site one can get into only once with the Rapa Nui National Park ticket - together with Rano Raraku -, which I find a bit sad because of their importance. Nevertheless, one visit is enough to see it all.
The view to Motu Nui Island is amazing, and no pictures do justice to this. The shades of blue one can see from Orongo whilst looking to this place are completely dazzling. Another great site for those who are looking for deeper knowledge about the history and culture of Rapa Nui people!
Written February 14, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Orongo
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Orongo:
- Private Full-Day Easter Island Highlights North and West (From C$383.91)
- The Birdman Cult ancestral tour, the mystery of the village of Orongo. (From C$135.69)
- Private Easter Island Full-Day Tour (From C$315.36)
- Private Tour: Full Day Easter Island Highlights (From C$360.60)
- The Magic of Easter Island Program 4 days 3 nights (From C$2,193.78)
- Hotels near Orongo:
- (2.83 km) Cabañas Christophe
- (4.19 km) Hare Nua
- (4.05 km) Camping Tipanie Moana
- (6.55 km) Hareswiss
- (4.22 km) Nayara Hangaroa
- Restaurants near Orongo:
- (4.47 km) Neptune´s Island
- (4.33 km) Kotaro
- (3.71 km) Tataku Vave
- (4.61 km) Makona Restaurant
- (5.78 km) Te Moai Sunset