Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guide for Aitutaki in the Cook Islands - Aitutaki Purple Travel Guide
This Aitutaki Travel Guide tells you what you need to know to visit Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, what the best things to see and do are and it has lots of photos to help you plan a relaxing vacation in Aitutaki.
Aitutaki is the second most populated and second most popular tourist destination in the Cook Islands after Rarotonga.
The AI in Aitutaki is pronounced as in BUY, the U as in RULE, the TA as in TUB and the I as in WEAK.
We have made a video about Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Please check it out.
Table of contents
General information about Aitutaki in the Cook Islands
There are about 1,700 people who live on 7 square miles (18 square km) of land. Aitutaki is an "almost atoll" with 15 motus (islets) in the lagoon which 19-29 square miles (50-75 square km) in size.
The highest elevation is Maunga Pu which is 404 ft (123 m) tall.
Aitutaki was first settled by Polynesians between 1225 – 1430. The first European contact was with the HMS Bounty in 1789 – before the mutiny took place.
Aitutaki was the first island in the country that converted to Christianity in 1821.
Today, Aitutaki is the second most visited island in the Cook Islands after Rarotonga. The main attractions of Aitutaki are the lagoon and the fact that you can have many beaches almost for yourself as there are only around 40,000 visitors per year.
Due to the low population and number of visitors, you will not find much else besides relaxing on the beach and other beach activities.
If you don’t have enough time to visit Aitutaki or are not a beach person, Air Rarotonga has special day tours that can give you at least a glimpse into the beauty of this island.
Please also see our General Information in the Cook Islands section.
Getting around in Aitutaki
Visitors either rent a car or scooter (cars and scooters drive on the left side of the road), or hire a taxi to get to their destinations.
Aitutaki Taxis
There are only two private taxi companies in Aitutaki. Both do not operate around the clock and you cannot hail them on the streets. You will need to call them ahead of time and reserve your rides with them.
The companies are, in alphabetical order:
- Aitutaki Taxi Service
phone +682 71 472
email: aitutakitaxiservice@gmail.com
website: https://info37745.wixsite.com/website
- Kutekute Tours & Transfers
phone +682 74 193
email majikgatherings@gmail.com
website https://www.facebook.com/TakingyouplacesSince2018
phone +682 71 472
email: aitutakitaxiservice@gmail.com
website: https://info37745.wixsite.com/website
phone +682 74 193
email majikgatherings@gmail.com
website https://www.facebook.com/TakingyouplacesSince2018
The best rental car companies in Aitutaki
None of the big global car rental companies are present in Aitutaki, but you can choose from several local companies. Some may not have cars available on short notice, so it is best to reserve a car by email in advance.
Below are the companies that we are aware of in alphabetical order. We rented a small car from Popoara and were very happy with it. Popoara is located in the same building as The Boat Shed, but the entrance to their office is through the northernmost door near the small parking lot.
- Aquila Rentals Ltd.
phone 682 31 668
email aquila@aitutaki.net.ck
- Popoara Rentals
phone +682 31 379
email rentals@popoara.co.ck
- Ranginui’s Retreat Rentals
phone +682 31 657
email ranginui@aitutakiretreat.net
website https://www.ranginuisretreat-aitutaki.com/about-aitutaki
- Rino’s Rentals
phone +682 31 197
email reservations.rinosaitutaki@gmail.com
phone 682 31 668
email aquila@aitutaki.net.ck
phone +682 31 379
email rentals@popoara.co.ck
phone +682 31 657
email ranginui@aitutakiretreat.net
website https://www.ranginuisretreat-aitutaki.com/about-aitutaki
phone +682 31 197
email reservations.rinosaitutaki@gmail.com
Scooter rental companies in Aitutaki
All of the car rental companies listed above also rent scooters. Additionally, some hotels also rent scooters to their guests, so please check with your hotel.
To rent a scooter, please be advised that you will need to be at least 16 years old (some companies require you to be at least 18 or 21 years of age) and you will need to bring a license from your home country that allows you to operate a scooter. Unlike in Rarotonga, you will not need to take knowledge or driving tests, but you will still need to get a local license from the police station in Arutanga (map), which costs you NZD2.50.
Here is a list of the best scooter rental companies in Aitutaki in alphabetical order that we are aware of:
- Aquila Rentals Ltd.
phone 682 31 668
email aquila@aitutaki.net.ck
- Popoara Rentals
phone +682 31 379
email rentals@popoara.co.ck
- Ranginui’s Retreat Rentals
phone +682 31 657
email ranginui@aitutakiretreat.net
website https://www.ranginuisretreat-aitutaki.com/about-aitutaki
- Rino’s Rentals
phone +682 31 197
email reservations.rinosaitutaki@gmail.com
phone 682 31 668
email aquila@aitutaki.net.ck
phone +682 31 379
email rentals@popoara.co.ck
phone +682 31 657
email ranginui@aitutakiretreat.net
website https://www.ranginuisretreat-aitutaki.com/about-aitutaki
phone +682 31 197
email reservations.rinosaitutaki@gmail.com
The best things to see and do in Aitutaki
Find the best beaches in Aitutaki and the best snorkeling beaches in Aitutaki and a great lagoon tour here.
Takurua Island Feast at the Tamanu Beach Resort
The Takurua Island Feast or short Island Night is not as spectacular as in Rarotonga and sadly there was no fire juggling as was advertised, but it was still worth seeing.
The Island Night starts with a real tasty and plentiful buffet at 7pm and god live music by a local band that sings in Cook Island Maori. The 30min dance show starts at around 8:30pm.
At NZD75 per person, this show is a bit overprized, but if you have not seen the show elsewhere or in Rarotonga, then it is still worth seeing it.
Downtown Arutanga
Arutanga is the main town in Aitutaki. You will find some stores here and the police station.
1 - Aitutaki Market
2 - Vodafone Store with Post Office and ATM
3 - Arutanga CICC Church
4 - Arutanga Park
5 - Police Station
6 - Maina Traders Superstore
Aitutaki Market
Aitutaki Market is open Monday – Saturday from 7am to noon. This is the best place to buy fresh vegetables and fruits on Aitutaki.
Come as early as possible, because the shelves will be mostly empty after 10am.
Vodafone Store with Post Office and ATM
Across the intersection from Aitutaki Market lies a building that has the Vodafone Store on the left, a BSP (Bank of South Pacific) ATM in the center and a Bank of Cook Islands on the right. The Vodafone store also acts as the post office.
The store is open from Monday – Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Arutanga CICC Church
The Arutanga CICC (CICC = Cook Islands Christian Church) was built in 1828 and is the oldest church in the Cook Islands.
Behind it is Arutanga Park.
Arutanga Park
Behind Aitutaki Market and the Arutanga CICC lies Arutanga Park. This small park in the center of town and near the pier is a nice place to relax play with your kids and it never seems to get busy.
Police Station
You will need to go to the Arutanga Police Station if you want to get a Cook Islands scooter license.
Maina Traders Superstore
Maina Superstore has a limited selection of non-perishable food items and frozen foods. They carry almost no fresh fruits and vegetables. You can find some kitchen appliances and hardware here.
Recommended Stores in Aitutaki
Aitutaki Market
Aitutaki Market is open Monday – Saturday from 7am to noon. This is the best place to buy fresh vegetables and fruits on Aitutaki.
Come as early as possible, because the shelves will be mostly empty after 10am.
Neibaa's Supermart and Hardware
Together with Aitutaki Market, Neibaa's Supermart and Hardware was our favorite grocery store on Aitutaki. It had by far the largest selection of non-perishable and frozen food items on the island. But you will not find fresh vegetables or fruits here.
Besides groceries, Neibaa's Supermart has a good selection of kitchen items, school stuff and hardware.
Vodafone Store with Post Office and ATM
Across the intersection from Aitutaki Market lies a building that has the Vodafone Store on the left, a BSP (Bank of South Pacific) ATM in the center and a Bank of Cook Islands on the right. The Vodafone store also acts as the post office.
The store is open from Monday – Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Koru Cafe
Located south of the airport and close to Ootu Beach and the Boat Shed, Koru Café is one of the more popular breakfast and lunch places. They also serve dinner in the high season.
Opening hours are 8am to 2pm every day. Dinner is served after 5pm in the high season.
We really liked their breakfast. It looked beautiful and tasted great.
Vista Points in Aitutaki
Piraki Lookout
Piraki Lookout can be easily reached by car. It is basically just a maintained grassy area near a water tower and a picnic table. There is no special elevated lookout. The views are nice, but not spectacular. Mount Maungapu lookout has the best views.
Mount Maungapu
Mount Moungapu has the best views in Aitutaki. Getting here is not easy. You can get here from Piraki Lookout by driving north on the winding dirt roads.
There is an unnamed road that has signs to Mount Mounga Pu and that branches off from Aitutaki’s main road near the Paradise Cove Hotel (map). This road is very steep and I doubt that a normal rental car will be able to get up the hill. We carefully and slowly drove this road down after our visit to Mount Moungapu, but I doubt we could have driven it up.
There is a dirt parking lot near the peak of Mount Moungapu where you have to park your car and then take the 5-10min hike up the fairly steep hill. I slipped and almost fell once going down the hill after our visit, so be careful.
At the top of Mount Moungapu, there is a radio tower and a maintained grassy area. You can walk all round it for beautiful 360 degree views of the island and lagoon.
Accommodation in Aitutaki
There is a limited choice of hotels, resorts and Airbnbs in Aitutaki and supply can get real low in the high season.
Most people stay in the hotels and resorts on the western side of the island. There is also the popular Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort which is south of the airport in the north east.
As the road from Ootu Beach around the whole island is only about 15 miles (24km), you can pretty much stay anywhere on the island and drive to wherever you want to spend your day.
The map below shows you which hotels and Airbnbs are available:
Ranginui’s Retreat
We opted for Ranginui’s Retreat as we wanted to be close to the best snorkeling spots and to the airport and were planning to prepare most of our meals.
Ranginui’s Retreat is located 1.5 miles (2.4km) south of the airport near Ootu Beach. The owner welcomed us at the airport with a lei for me and one for my wife (thank you very much!) and returned us to the airport at the end of our 5 night stay for free.
We had a Deluxe Beachfront Bungalow, which consisted of a great room that included the kitchenette, dining room and living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom with an outdoor shower. On the covered front porch were a barbeque, a table and two chairs.
The views from the bungalow on the lagoon and Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort were spectacular.
Ranginui’s Retreat has shared free loungers for the beach, free kayaks and even a pool.
The sandy beach is lined with palm trees and right by the channel where you can swim. At low tide, a sandbank becomes visible that you can walk on. Behind the sandbank is another channel and then comes the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort with its beautiful seafront. Honestly, I think the views from Ranginui’s Retreat are much better than the views from the resort.
Ootu Beach, Koru Café, Popoara Rentals and The Boat Shed are only short walks away.
Long story short: We would definitely stay here again.
What part of the Cook Islands do you want to expolore now?
Other popular Purple Travel Guides you may be interested in:
Like this Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel Guide? Pin these for later:
