Aitutaki Lagoon – Cook Islands

Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands, has flat, white sands beneath smooth turquoise waters that make you think you just arrived in heaven. Aitutaki lagoon’s stunning triangle-shape is created by a coral reef that rises 400 meters from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, surrounding a group of many volcanic and coral isles, splattered with green palm trees everywhere.

The Cook Islands consist of 15 small islands that spread out onto a total land area of 236 kilometers. They are considered a country, located in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand, which takes care of their defense and foreign affairs.

Aitutaki is one of the Cook Islands located north of Rarotonga, the most populated on the archipelago.

Activity/Place Highlights

One of its main traits is the uncanny calm waters. Since the lagoon is an “almost atoll” (a coral reef that surrounds a lagoon), its coral outer edge prevents the sometimes stormy waters of the southern Pacific from going in. Even though the clashing point is a white edge of breaking waves, the lagoon remains smooth and peaceful with just a few little waves breaking in once in a while.

The bottom of the lagoon is completely visible. Thanks to the striking clear waters, you can see every clam, ray, and turtle under the surface, no matter how deep the water is.

Aitutaki lagoon’s motus

This little lagoon holds the main island of Aitutaki, two small sand cays, and fifteen isles or motus. Although most people are drawn to Aitutaki, each little motu has a different charm. For all the people that want to get the full experience and visit them all, getting a lagoon tour is actually very easy; any hotel you book will be able to help you organize it.

Tapuetai

One of the isles you must visit is the tropical Tapuaetai or One Foot Island. This spectacular motu is surrounded by palm trees and the sand is so white they can leave you momentarily blind. It’s the only motu that is populated so you will find little bars and shops, and a small post office that will officially stamp down in your passport that you’ve been to heaven.

Motorakau

Motorakau, one of the volcanic isles, was even picked as the filming location for a British reality show. You can take a nice stroll and tour the entire motu in 10 minutes. However, take your time and admire the clear beaches and surrounding palm trees that almost seem to lay down over the water.

Honeymoon island

It is one of the newest motus and it seems to hide in one of the shallowest parts of the lagoon. Since it’s not old enough to grow trees, it only has many bushes that actually house nesting terns. Almost every bush protects a little feathery chick waiting for its parents to come back to feed it. However, the Pacific brings stray coconuts from other motus to Honeymoon Island, so it’s only a matter of time until this motu grows some palm trees just like its companions.

How to get there

Rarotonga, the Cook Islands archipelago’s capital island, holds the Air Rarotonga airport, which flies to Aitutaki up to five times each day.