By guest author, Mr. Wino – So you’ve decided that Aitutaki, Cook Islands is your perfect island vacation. And why wouldn’t you? The island has amazing blue lagoons and reasonably priced Airbnbs and boutique hotels. Plus, there’s a straightforward flight through the Cook Islands International Airport in Rarotonga (or Raro as the locals call it). And best of all…Aitutaki offers a romantic and remote atmosphere, a laid-back island vibe, and some of the friendliest people on the planet. Well done!
Aitutaki has amazing blue lagoons!
Now it’s time to plan! After spending six nights in Aitutaki during our recent epic South Pacific trip, we came away with a pretty good idea on where to go, what to do, and what NOT to do. Overall, we were pleased to have added Aitutaki as part of our trip to the Cook Islands and found it to be one of our favorite places we’ve gone to so far. However, there are some things that are helpful to know before you go. To help you plan your trip, we’ve come up with 9 tips to make your time in Aitutaki more enjoyable.
Traveling Wino’s Quick Tips for Visiting Aitutaki
1. Rent a scooter to explore the island
The best way to get around Aitutaki is by motor scooter.
Aitutaki is small enough for a scooter and it’s not crowded. It’s a good, safe way to get started if you have no experience. Just be aware that scooter driving in a downpour of rain is no fun, so be aware of the weather. Our Airbnb host arranged our rental through Rino Rentals and we got a discount for renting it four days or more (we only paid $20 NZ per day!) Unless you are staying in a resort and plan to totally chill there, transportation is essential on Aitutaki. Zipping around the island on a scooter was one of our favorite things we did on the island during our visit.
2. Get out on the lagoon
Everything is different from the water, and in our opinion…better. When visiting Aitutaki, a lagoon cruise is almost a must. There are many small islands (motus) that are part of the reef that encircles the main island. This is truly where you get that Robinson Crusoe feel. Want to walk along a beach where it feels like you have transported to your favorite screen saver? Do a lagoon cruise!
Be sure to take a lagoon tour in Aitutaki to visit One Foot Island.
Good news is…there are several tour companies that offer these lagoon cruises. Some focus on visiting several different motus, so you can enjoy that remote feeling at every stop. Others focus on snorkeling and water activities. There are higher and lower range options, but you can expect to pay from $80 to $140 USD per person. They typically offer lunch and are a full-day excursion. We used Teking Tours and focused on snorkeling – 3 different spots. The lunch on one of the motu was among the best meals we had on the entire trip! Bonus Tip: weather conditions can make or break this experience. Unless weather conditions are looking strong for the trip, it might be best to wait and book closer to the actual date. This is one excursion where weather is critical.
3. Do a Polynesian Culture (Island) Night
Don’t miss the Polynesian Island Night at Tamanu. It’s fantastic!
You have chosen to visit the South Pacific…so what’s better to do than to include some dancing, music, and excellent food into one of your evenings!?! On most Polynesian islands you can find some sort of “island night” dinner or show, but we truly loved the experience on Aitutaki. Our island night was at Tamanu Beach Resort and it was a delightful evening. It remains one of our best memories from the trip.
What we enjoyed best about the island night on Aitutaki was that it was a genuine family experience with many small local children participating in the show. They actually get you up and dancing with them! Too much fun! The fire show and the buffet meal were also exceptional for us. Yes…it costs some money. But work at least one of these in…you came all this way!!
4. Visit the Boat Shed Restaurant
Enjoying delicious Ika Mata in a real coconut at the Boat Shed Restaurant.
This is located a short scooter ride from the airport and is in walking distance from Ootu Beach – the best beach on the main island. We found the Boat Shed to be a wonderful afternoon stop, and especially enjoyed the local favorite, ika mata (a tuna, lime and coconut dish that reminded us of ceviche). It has a great outdoor seating area, some good food and good drink prices. What we liked the most is the laid-back atmosphere and its proximity to our other favorite lunch spot – the Blue Lagoon! The Boat Shed has karaoke on Sunday nights too, which we didn’t make it to because of the rain, but how much fun is that for a night out in the islands!!
5. Do NOT miss the Blue Lagoon Restaurant
This is the view from Aitutaki’s Blue Lagoon Restaurant! A favorite for lunch!
Since we travel so much, finding a spot that is inexpensive, has amazing views and a comfortable, inviting atmosphere is priceless – enter Blue Lagoon Restaurant. It’s really hard to beat the view/cost ratio of this spot. Drinks are quite reasonable, and they have a variety of quality, inexpensive options for lunch. We didn’t visit for dinner, so we can’t speak to that, be we highly recommend it during the day since its right on Ootu Beach. The Blue Lagoon is both casual and amazing all in one spot!!Make sure you bring your suit and towel – there’s a good place to change clothes and the water is simply amazing. Many people end up paying a bunch of money to enjoy this quality of beach and water, but a simple lunch visit to the Blue Lagoon and it’s all yours.
6. Go to Mt. Maungapu (the highest point on the island)
This is the view from Aitutaki’s highest peak, with blue lagoons every direction.
We all love a vista – where you can see for miles and enjoy the amazing color of tropical waters. On the island of Aitutaki you can drive a third of the way up the highest point on the island, Mt. Maungapu, and then take a hot 20-minute hike to the top (unless you plan for an early morning venture). At only 404 ft (123 meters), it’s a great opportunity to get to the top of the island’s highest peak, without taking your whole day or needing to be in top shape. There are amazing 360-degree views on a clear day. Plus, how many places can you hike to the top peak in 20 minutes??
7. Bring your own snorkel gear
If you’re doing your own snorkeling in Aitutaki, be sure to bring your own gear.
Usually we pack our own mask and snorkel and rent fins along the way. Often this works just fine and it saves a lot of space in our luggage. As we found out the hard way…unless you are staying at one of the high dollar resorts, you simply cannot find snorkel gear to rent on Aitutaki. We love to snorkel and there appears to be some really excellent spots along the west side of the island. The problem is that there’s also a descent current, so fins are needed to make the experience more fun. We recommend you bring your own gear or another option might be to rent some in Rarotonga…if you don’t want to pack them for the entire trip.
8. Enjoy the Sunrise over the Lagoon
The sunrises are amazing on Aitutaki’s east side. #nofilter
So…we are sunset NOT sunrise people, as we’re often too sleepy to enjoy that early time of day. However, the sunrises over the main lagoon (east side of Aitutaki) were simply amazing and should not be missed! Set your alarm and snap some shots or better yet, take a video. You can proudly post your photos as #nofilter…then you can always go back to bed!
9. Relax and enjoy the quiet and serenity
The island of Aitutaki is really all about slowing down and enjoying the beauty of the water. Put the phone away and disconnect. Take some time to meet locals and see how truly happy they are to share their island paradise. Maybe you will get the chance to talk to a local who is sitting by the water and trying to decide whether to take his boat out fishing – biggest decision of the day!!
