THE COOK ISLANDS
To be honest, it was a bit overwhelming to visit these small islands in the middle of 2.2 million square kilometres of ocean. We went out to even smaller sandbanks in the lagoons around Rarotonga and Aitutaki and got a glimpse of life in the deep water. There was no waiting for anything out there—it all just unfolded with the tides. We’ve put together a full blog post below with everything you need to know to visit Rarotonga and Aitutaki this year.
Quick tips to help you get around
Accommodation in Rarotonga and Aitutaki
On Rarotonga, we stayed at the Muri Beach Club Hotel, which is on the south east side of the island. Muri Lagoon is one of the most relaxing places on the island for swimming, sailing and kayaking because the water is very calm. On Aitutaki, we booked this resort which was based on its own island and had beachfront access to the most beautiful lagoon. It is adult-only so we’ve included options for a family or budget trip in our full guide below.
The best experiences in the Cook Islands
The most unforgettable experiences that we’ve ever had included snorkelling with turtles in Rarotonga and swimming with whales in Aitutaki. If you’re after an all-inclusive tour of the islands, we’ve looked into many companies and found that the best option is this six day tour of both Rarotonga and Aitutaki hosted by Intrepid Travel on TourRadar
Currency
Most payments on the Cook Islands are made in New Zealand dollars. To save money on currency exchange and cash withdrawals, we used our WISE card while travelling in the Cook Islands, which you can instantly sign up for here.
Mobile data
Vodafone is the only provider of WiFi and mobile data in the Cook Islands. You’ll need to find WiFi hotspots around Rarotonga and Aitutaki (mostly in restaurants, resorts and shops) to connect to, and login using Vodafone’s WiFi hotspot passes or eSIMs which you can buy online or in person at the airport, most supermarkets and some hotels and resorts.
The ultimate Cook Islands travel itinerary
We’ve put together a full guide which includes the best time of year to visit the Cook Islands, which islands to visit and how to reach them, and things to do on both Rarotonga and Aitutaki:
