Which cook island to go to

Speak to someone who's been there Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Cook Islands specialists. Popular places to visit in the Cook Islands Featuring heavily on our itinerary ideas for visiting the Cook Islands, these places are destinations that we know prove consistently popular with our travellers. Map view List view. Map of places to visit in the Cook Islands. Places on the map. You looking so pretty! Your post and pictures are grab my eyes.

What a place greenly location, wonderful beach and your budget guides. Really impressing me to make a visit to Cook Island. I thought that the only island where we can find the giant animals was the galapagos islands, but I can see that there is much more to discover. The Cook Islands look gorgeous! A couple of friends are there at the moment, and I must admit that seeing their photos and your post has made me a bit jealous.

It looks like paradise x. I d like to quit my job and see the world. Is it possible? You can easily do so on that budget. Stick to cheaper regions of the world Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and South Asia, Central America , stay in guesthouses, and travel overland as much as possible You could travel way over a year on that. Just show up wherever you want to be— and make it happen. It always works.

I get 5 travelers a day to rent cheap rooms, I get free room and board. Like they say: Not all who wander are lost. Looks absolutely incredible. I had heard rumours that there are no decent budget accommodation options on the Cook Islands — how did you find the hostels?

Any you would recommend? I love your blog! I will be travelling to Cooks Island next year and have been researching by reading blogs. I love your favorite spot in Raro. Where exactly is that? I really love travelling. Especially going to Islands like this. The pictures of Cook Islands are very beautiful. They make me want to go there right now.

I just see the pictures but I can image that Cook island is a paradise. Thanks for your post. Oh and did you go to the Sailing club? And the Rrotonga resurant, oh oh oh and the market? Did you stroll through the town too? I hate any kind of traveler blogs or posts! Thank you! So true! Visited Cook Islands last year and had the chance to meet a couple of solo travelers like myself. Contradicting to myself, they pointed out was lucky that my first visit I met fellow solo backpackers.

During the time, seen more couple and families. Yet i would recommend it for solo visitors. Why not? Thank you very much for visiting my home island Aitutaki. I only visit every years now since my maternal grandparents passed on. Before then I was there twice a year. It is very expensive to travel there and now that I only visit every yrs it has allowed me more time and money to travel to other parts of the globe. But will be visiting January for family reunion.

Hi Lauren, great blog! Thanks for getting me so excited for what is coming soon. Great blog! I am going to the Cook Islands in June as a solo traveller after being inspired by your blog.

Where did you take the 4th photo your favorite viewpoint? Hi Lauren, I am going to Rarotonga in just under 5 weeks from now, and just came across your helpful blog. I was wondering if you saw any big creepy spiders or snakes or anything else like that on the island?

I am deathly afraid of spiders so anything you can tell me would help I would move to Raro today if i could. My favorite place on earth. Agreed about Aitutaki, nice, but Raro is better. We spent a week on Roratonga and only a day on Aitutaki… I knew as soon as we arrived we should stay longer!

However, we have been blessed to have traveled through many parts of the world and many islands. The Cook Islands will be definately visit for me again. The people, the scenery and environment were so welcoming and relaxing. Time did not matter there — unless you waiting until the late afternoon to stop and most shops and they were closed. But the beach never closed and the snorkeling was top notch. We snorkelers for hours and didnt have to deal with the tide pulling you around and predators looking for you.

Since the large reef was about meters off the beach and fully encircled Roratonga,, you were safe from large predators and currents. We found eating out was often cheaper than cooking — but, we often got a coconut for breakfast and it filled us easily until lunch or later.

Coconuts were free and fell all over the place. We are already planning our trip and will stay in anAirbnb again to save a few bucks. Thank you for a detailed, impressive guide! Thank you for sharing. In pictures it looks like the most beautiful place on Earth. But we are planning to go when the borders come down.

It is truly heaven on earth, we have visited Aitutaki four times now and the colours of the water need to be seen to be believed. The people are very friendly and there are multitude of things that you can do, from dining at divine restaraunts to Island nights, Muri lagoon cruises. You can do as much as you want to do all the way to the other end of the spectrum in not doing anything and just chill out and go for a swim, have a drink to cool down and repeat repeat and repeat again.

All the best. How to Start a Travel Blog. My Monthly Travel Summaries. How I Fund My Travels. Facebook Twitter. Aitutaki is great for cycling! Aitutaki Lagoon. This must be what heaven looks like. Aitutaki's picture-perfect lagoon glows in technicolor shades of turquoise, and 21 idyllic islets motu dot the clear waters, tempting you to paddle to their shores.

Kayaking is a great way to explore these tiny islets, but you can also visit some of the larger islands on cruises or tours. The small island of Maina in the southwest corner of the lagoon offers excellent snorkeling opportunities and is home to a beautiful sandbar known as "Honeymoon Island. If you want to stay right on the lagoon, the over-the-water bungalows at the luxury Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort perch right above its crystal-clear waters.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in the Cook Islands. Tapuaetai One Foot Island Tour. Fringed by gently curving coconut palms, beautiful Tapuaetai, or One Foot Island as it is more commonly known, is the most visited of Aitutaki's motu, and for good reason. This stunning island looks like it belongs in a tropical island fantasy.

You can bask on its gleaming white sands, wade and snorkel in the turquoise lagoon , and even get your passport stamped at the tiny post office. Hermit crabs scuttle along the shore, and you can walk around the entire island in about 20 minutes.

The island is also a popular spot for weddings. Tours to the island are one of the most popular things to do in the Cook Islands from Aitutaki, and most include plenty of time to snorkel.

Among the sea life commonly spotted here are giant clams, giant trevally, and brightly colored coral. Most tours also include a barbecue lunch and visits to other motu islets in the lagoon. Muri Beach, Rarotonga. On the southeast coast of Rarotonga, Muri Beach or Muri Lagoon, as it is sometimes called, is one of the most popular and picturesque beaches on the island.

Although the water quality has declined in recent years, the shallows stretch into dreamy shades of aquamarine, and snorkelers can see many species of tropical fish. Four offshore islets, called motu, shimmer on the horizon, enhancing the beauty of the area. After a day in the sun, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the many nearby resorts and restaurants. Titikaveka Beach, Rarotonga. On the southwest coast of Rarotonga, pretty Titikaveka Beach and lagoon is one of the island's best areas to swim and snorkel.

The water is often so clear that you need only stand in the lagoon to spot colorful fish. Snorkelers will find plenty of marine life around the many coral heads, and the lagoon is dotted with blue sea stars. It's also great for kayaking. In the small settlement nearby, you can visit the coral stone Cook Islands Christian Church dating from A fun way to learn a little about the history of the Cook Islands and traditional island life is a visit to the Te Vara Nui Village.

The excursion begins with a 2. Coconut husking, cooking, fishing, dancing, carving, weaving, and Maori bush medicine are just some of the activities you can learn about on the tour. After soaking up all the culture, it's time for an island-style feast.

Both western cuisine and traditional Cook Islands food awaits in the waterside dining room, along with a cultural performance incorporating storytelling through song and dance.

The evocative over-the-water setting, elaborate costumes, and opportunities for audience participation make this experience even more memorable.

Hotel pickup and drop-off is also available, and you can purchase just the tour or a dinner-only package if you prefer. Te Rua Manga. Hiking the cross-island track is a great way to explore Rarotonga's lush scenery. The trail leads from the north coast up to the distinctive pinnacle rock Te Rua Manga The Needle , one of the island's most famous landmarks. It then leads via Wigmore's Waterfall to the south coast. The falls are beautiful after heavy rain, with a pool at their base, but the cascades slow to a trickle during the dry season.

This challenging hike takes about four hours and leads through dense forest, climbing to the base of The Needle, a steep finger of rock that juts straight up into the air. From the base of the Needle, you can enjoy beautiful views over the coast and surrounding forest.