Arutanga
Village and harbourThe main village on the west coast.
Cook Islands city guide
Aitutaki Travel Guide
Aitutaki has the lagoon that people fly to the Cook Islands for: a huge triangle of shallow turquoise water with motu islets around the rim. Take the lagoon cruise, get your passport stamped on One Foot Island, then slow right down.
1
Hostels in the city
45 min
Flight from Rarotonga
About 15
Motu around the lagoon
NZ$120–180
A lagoon cruise
Aitutaki at a glance
Aitutaki is an almost-atoll about 45 minutes north of Rarotonga by plane. A small, hilly main island sits on the edge of a vast lagoon, ringed by a barrier reef and about 15 motu (islets).
The lagoon is the reason to come. It's shallow, clear and an unreal shade of turquoise, and it's regularly called the most beautiful lagoon in the world.
The main island is quiet and rural, with a few villages, a handful of guesthouses and resorts, and a road around the coast. Arutanga, on the west coast, is the main village and harbour.
Life is slow. Most visitors take a lagoon cruise, snorkel, swim, cycle and sit on the beach.
Two or three days is the usual stay, after four or five on Rarotonga.
Where to stay on Aitutaki
Stay near Arutanga for the village and the harbour, or on the east and north coasts for beaches and the lagoon.
Tautu
Quiet east sideVillage near the lagoon landing.
Ootu
BeachBeach near the airport, on the lagoon.
One Foot Island
LagoonThe motu with the post office.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 1 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
The lagoon cruise and One Foot Island
Take a lagoon cruise. Boats leave in the morning, stop to snorkel with giant clams and reef fish, visit motu islets and sandbars, and land at One Foot Island (Tapuaetai), where a tiny post office stamps your passport. Cruises cost NZ$120 to NZ$180 and are the highlight of most trips.
Visit Honeymoon Island and the sandbars, where the lagoon is at its most photogenic.
Snorkel off the beach on the main island, and kayak out to the nearest motu.
Climb to the Piraki lookout on Maunga Pu, the island's highest point, for views over the lagoon.
Cycle or scooter around the island, through villages and plantations.
Go to an island night for dinner, drumming and dance.
Visit the CICC church in Arutanga, said to be the oldest church in the Cook Islands, on Sunday morning.
Free things
Aitutaki for free (or nearly)
Snorkelling and swimming from the main island's beaches are free.
The Piraki lookout is free.
Sunday church services are free; dress modestly.
Food and drink
Ika mata and self-catering
Aitutaki has a few cafés, restaurants and small shops. Ika mata, raw fish in lime and coconut cream, is on most menus.
Lagoon cruises usually include lunch.
Most budget places have kitchens, and self-catering is the way to save, though shops are small. Bring some supplies from Rarotonga.
A beer is NZ$8 to NZ$12.
Nightlife
Island nights and early nights
Aitutaki is quieter than Rarotonga, with a couple of bars and island nights at the resorts. Most evenings are sunset and an early night.
Getting around
Getting to and around Aitutaki
Air Rarotonga flies from Rarotonga to Aitutaki several times a day, about 45 minutes, for NZ$400 to NZ$600 return. It's the biggest single cost of most trips.
Day tours from Rarotonga include the flight and the lagoon cruise.
On the island, hire a scooter or bike. Many places to stay offer airport transfers.
Costs
What Aitutaki costs
Aitutaki is pricier than Rarotonga. Hostelworld has one listing, a self-catering lodge.
The flight from Rarotonga, at NZ$400 to NZ$600 return, and the lagoon cruise, at NZ$120 to NZ$180, are the main costs.
Self-catering keeps food costs down.
Allow around NZ$100 to NZ$170 a day, before the flight and cruise.
Safety
Staying safe on Aitutaki
Aitutaki is very safe.
Stay inside the lagoon and away from the reef edge, where currents are strong.
Wear reef shoes for coral, and treat cuts quickly.
Wear a helmet on a scooter.
Medical care is basic, with serious cases flown out. In an emergency, call 998.
What's on
What's on on Aitutaki
Aitutaki follows the Cook Islands calendar, with Te Maeva Nui in August.
Late July and August
Te Maeva Nui
Nationwide
Dance and song competitions marking self-government.
Several evenings weekly
Island nights
Aitutaki resorts
Dinner, drumming and dance.
April to November
Dry season
Aitutaki
Clear water and reliable weather.
Hostels
Hostels on Aitutaki
Aitutaki has one listing on Hostelworld, a self-catering lodge. Guesthouses are the other budget option.
When to go to Aitutaki
Aitutaki is warm all year, with highs from 27°C to 30°C. April to November is the dry season and the best time. December to March is wetter, with cyclone risk.
Jan
Hot and wet; cyclone season
Feb
Wet
Mar
Wet and humid
Apr
Drying out
May
Dry season
Jun
Dry and clear
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Te Maeva Nui
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Still dry
Nov
Cyclone season begins
Dec
Hot and wet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average daily highs from weather2travel's Aitutaki climate data. Crowd levels are our rough guide.
How much does Aitutaki cost per day?
Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total. Per day, for one person, in New Zealand dollars.
Estimates. The flight from Rarotonga and the lagoon cruise sit outside these figures.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Aitutaki FAQs
Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.
Is Aitutaki worth the flight?
For most visitors, yes. The lagoon is the reason to come to the Cook Islands.
How do I get to Aitutaki?
By Air Rarotonga from Rarotonga, about 45 minutes, for NZ$400 to NZ$600 return.
Can I visit Aitutaki on a day trip?
Yes. Day tours from Rarotonga include the flight and the lagoon cruise.
Can I get my passport stamped on One Foot Island?
Yes, at the small post office, on most lagoon cruises.
How long should I spend on Aitutaki?
Two to three days.
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