Aitutaki

Nestled in the waters of the Pacific Ocean lies a tiny island called Aitutaki. A part of the Cook Islands, this paradise is home to some of the most pristine of sands, dreamiest lagoons and lush underwater life. Here’s some of what to expect, see and do in this dreamscape.

VISIT

To get to Aitutaki, you’ll first need to fly to Rarotonga, the Cook Islands’ main island. You can fly directly from Los Angeles, Tahiti, Australia and New Zealand via Air New Zealand.

From Rarotonga, the plane ride to Aitutaki is under an hour via Air Rarotonga. Make sure to get a window seat as the view from above is stunning.

Weather-wise, it’s best not to even look at the weather forecasts. Aitutaki is warm, sunny and full of blue skies! If you’re looking for the warmest time to visit, January to March are the hottest months. We visited in January and it had forecasted stormy weather for all of the five days we were there. In the end, we had only half a day of rain, and even then it had a serene beauty about it.

To get around the island, you can rent a scooter or a car but remember - the island is smaller than you think, in fact you can bike around the island in half a day and some accomodation even provide bikes!

Expect to eat out a lot and stay offline - groceries and wifi are expensive in Aitutaki! As there are limited resources in the island, prices are high and fresh food (like vegetables) are scarce. Locals grow their own and catch fish to live off.

STAY

We stayed at the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort and it was one of the most luxurious places I’ve ever stayed at. I mean, we had a private island mostly to ourselves, even in the middle of summer. Hammocks by the water’s edge, outdoor showers under palm trees, fully air-conditioned rooms and if you felt like splurging a lot more, you can book an overwater bungalow for the ultimate luxury stay. Complimentary bikes are on hand to travel to and fro around the island (although the island itself is quite small and easy to walk around) and endless water gear is made available such as paddle boards, snorkels and kayaks. I also loved the little pockets of the island like a beach bar to have lunch and soak in the view on one end, a palm grove and garden in the middle and then the overwater bungalows by the water - beautiful.

SEE

Aitutaki is a tiny island but don’t let that fool you into thinking there isn’t much to do. From water activities to ultimate relaxation, Aitutaki is really a place where you can go on your own pace.

However, the number one activity you can’t miss out on is a cruise or tour of the lagoon! And the best lagoon tour to take is with Teking Tours. We took the Snorkeling Safari Cruise ($125NZD per person which is so reasonable) and this is what we saw:

Colourful Corals and Reef

Giant Clams — a treasured & conserved species of Aitutaki waters. Indeed, boats are not allowed to dock on these areas.

A shipwreck you’ll be able to snorkel and explore!

Crystal clear water

On the tour you’ll be taken to uninhabited islands with the most stunning pristine sands and clearest waters. The Sandbar close to the island of Maina, where you will be taken to, has one of the most amazing landscapes I’ve ever seen. The tour also comes with a delicious lunch (barbecued vegetables, fish and salads) and you’ll be snorkelling a good amount of time so make sure to wear sunscreen!

There is a wide selection of tours in Aitutaki but the reason we chose Teking Tours is because of their ethical and environmental stance. They take smaller groups with smaller boats so access better locations for snorkelling away from crowds. They do not anchor in the middle of the sea so as to protect the coral reefs, educate people about the importance of looking after the waters on their tours and most of all, they donate a percentage of what they earn to the conservation, preservation and restoration of the lagoon. It’s so important to support local businesses like this, who give back to their natural environments and share their knowledge.

One Foot Island is one of the destinations on your tour and is a postcard picture perfect one at that. Spend your time enjoying the view, lying on the beach or snorkelling with the abundant sea life. You can even get your passport stamped in this little island, home to the world’s smallest post office! Life doesn’t get better than this.

Of course, other than touring the lagoon, you’ll also want to play in it! There is abundance of water activities you can do — snorkelling, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, swimming, the list is endless. The underwater photography is spectacular and the views are straight out of a postcard. Spend your days offline and lounge with a book and live the slow life.

Aitutaki has a special relationship with it’s people. While on our snorkeling adventure, we met a man (who actually lives in Rarotonga but does a lot of work in Aitutaki) that enlightened us on this. He told us that, for years and years, the people of Aitutaki have lived off their land & waters. And you can feel it - from amazing seafood feasts and tropical fruits to huts made out of coconut leaves and woven pandanus walls to the thick ‘ei (flower garland) that adores their heads and necks. ⁣⁣
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But now, more and more, there is a growing respect respect for their land, lagoon waters and undersea life. It’s not amiss to see signs saying “reduce, reuse & recycle” in their local shops or encouraging people to bring their own containers for takeaways. This from a little island in the Pacific. Their public spaces - toilets, roads, beaches - so clean and well looked after.

When you do visit, please respect the land and waters as the locals do. Support the local businesses and embrace the culture.