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The Most Eco-Friendly Tours in the Cook Islands
The more you travel, the more you realise how precious this world is to protect. Whether you want to immerse in the natural wonders of the Cook Islands, including its vibrant flora and fauna, or want a more educational experience for your group, the eco-tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands will be an invaluable experience. Check out some of the best in this list of tours that use sustainable practices, educate on conservation and have a low impact yet allow you to encounter amazing aspects of nature.
For more about travelling sustainably in the Cook Islands, also check out The Guide to Ecotourism in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands and 5 Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Renting a Car in the Cook Islands.
1. Ariimoana
A fascinating eco-tour on Rarotonga that gets you exploring the reef safely, Ariimoana is run by a local family, Kura, Jacapo and their daughter Mahi. Discover marine creatures that you’d otherwise miss and absorb a wealth of knowledge about Rarotonga and its marine life, giving you an insight into local conservation efforts. Their reef tour is an excellent option for families, which we list in the 30 Things to Do on Rarotonga with Kids. The team also offer inland mountain walks, showing you local edible plants and fruit to try along the way.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Vaimaanga, south side of Rarotonga.
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© Creators Hype - Cook Islands Tourism2. Birdman George Eco Tours
If you’re looking for the ultimate ecotourism adventure in the Cook Islands, look no further than the island of Atiu! See what makes the island an eco-lovers’ paradise with “Birdman George”. While the tour includes walking historic trails and visiting historically significant sites, the main focus is the ecology of Atiu where George will point out kakerori and colourful kura that he looks after in this island sanctuary, as well as interesting Atiuan plants and explain their medicinal uses. At the end of the tour, you’ll arrive at a picturesque beach where George will serve either a tropical spread for a picnic lunch or an “umu” – a Polynesian style of cooking where food is slow-cooked in an underground oven – on a Sunday. See more tours like this in the 5 Best Tours in Atiu.
Location: Transfers are included, Atiu.
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© Cook Islands Tourism3. Storytellers Eco Cycle & Walking Tours
Explore Rarotonga in an eco-friendly way, by bike, with Storytellers Eco Cycle Tours! They have bicycles for all ages, so there’s no excuse not to join them on their “Discover” tour suited to beginner cyclists or their “Explore” tour for the more experienced. Cycle past quaint villages, learn about the history along the old Ara Metua coral road, and stop for tastings of local fruit discovered along the way. There are also eco-walking tours available, like the “Afternoon Stroll” and “Walk About” tours where you won’t believe the insights you’ll get into the Cook Islander culture and what sights you’ll get to see on foot. Learn more about Storytellers and book your eco-tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.
Location: Transfers are included, Rarotonga.
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© Storytellers Eco Cycle Tours4. Maunga Tours
A low-impact tour made all the more enticing with its focus on conservation and hands-on nature experiences, Maunga Tours is the legacy of Pa’s Cross Island Trek, the original eco-tour of Rarotonga. Join Bruce for a 3-4-hour hike on the famous Cross-Island Trek including hiking to the summit of Te Rua Manga, a.k.a “The Needle“. You’ll be shown all sorts of unique flora and fauna that are otherwise easy to miss if you were hiking on your own. The hike ends at the Papua Waterfall where you can wash off your hard work.
Location: Transfers are included, Rarotonga.
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© DH - Cook Islands Tourism5. Ariki Adventures
Not only are Ariki Adventures pretty darn awesome for sponsoring the local Cook Islands Sea Turtle Conservation Society (5% of the fee goes toward turtle conservation) but they offer a unique way to swim with turtles in the Cook Islands. Introducing their “Turtle Sea Scooter Safari“, this two-hour experience with 90 minutes of swimming time has you zooming along the currents of the Avaavaroa Passage with electric sea scooters, making it effortless to keep up with the sea turtles. Learn more about the turtle tour and book yours on Viator or Tripadvisor. They also offer lagoon snorkelling tours, which you can read more about on these pages of Viator and Tripadvisor or in the 10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands.
Location: Tours depart from the Flying Turtle Cafe, Main Road (Ara Tapu), Arorangi, west side of Rarotonga.
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© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism6. Snorkel Cook Islands
Get an exclusive snorkelling or turtle swimming experience with Snorkel Cook Islands. Their three-hour private snorkelling tour with VIP transfers to their private beach has all the high-quality snorkelling gear included. As the only snorkelling tour operator offering exclusively private snorkelling tours for the lowest impact, Snorkel Cook Islands takes you and up to two other people on a tour of healthy marine ecosystems where turtles and rays are a regular feature. Your guide will capture the key moments for you with their underwater camera then, when you’re ready, the snorkelling tour concludes with a banquet of island-style refreshments. Learn more about the snorkelling tour and book tickets on Viator and Tripadvisor or check out their turtle swimming tour on Viator and Tripadvisor. They are also listed in the 10 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga.
Location: Transfers are included, Rarotonga.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com7. Tumutoa Tours
Traditional life in the Cook Islands is inherently eco-friendly and where you’ll struggle to find a better example than Tumutoa Tours! Their “Discovery Walking Tour” is an excellent sustainable tourism option where you’ll join the friendly island warrior, Tumutoa, for a two-hour tour walking the bush and gardens of Rarotonga to try local fruit and vegetables, learn about medicinal plants, try coconut tree climbing and husking and listen to local legends. For those who are looking for more of an adventure, try the “Legends of Raemaru” tour which takes your discovery walk up a mountain! Umu (traditional underground oven) feasts are also a part of the Tumutoa Tours’ offerings, which you can learn more about in the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in the Cook Islands.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Arorangi (well signposted off the main road), west side of Rarotonga.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com8. Tik-ebikes & Tours
Hop on one of the most unique (and eco-friendly) vehicles to tour around Rarotonga with Tik-ebikes & Tours! Their “Island Tour” takes you around Rarotonga in an electric tuk-tuk where you’ll stop by historical sites, such as the Tinomana Palace, stunning landscapes like the Mairie Nui Gardens and the soft sands of Muri Beach. You’ll get an insight into the history and culture of the island with an interesting stop at the Rito Organic Coconut Oil Factory and get some time to experience the local arts and shops of Avarua before you’re transported back to your accommodation. Tours last approximately three hours. Tik-ebikes & Tours also offers private electric bicycle tours, which you can learn more about in the 5 Best Bike Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.
Location: Transfers are included, Rarotonga.
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© Daniel Fisher - Cook Islands Tourism9. Explore Raro
For an eco-friendly bike tour with a difference, swap the pushbike for an electric 2×2 motorbike to not only go further but also stay sustainable. Utilising UBCO electric motorbikes, you’ll race around Rarotonga completing various challenges and accumulating points to see how you do on the Explore Raro leaderboard and win prizes! There are two options: the cruisy “Discovery Expedition” and the competitive “Challenge Expedition”. Either way, you’ll get to explore Rarotonga in a uniquely interactive way and enjoy inclusions, such as lunch and an Explore Raro T-shirt.
Location: Tours depart from the Flying Turtle Cafe, Main Road (Ara Tapu) Arorangi, west side of Rarotonga.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com10. Marine Research Centre
Take a relaxed unofficial eco-tour of a giant clam sanctuary at the Marine Research Centre of Aitutaki. Take a look around the giant clam and native clam nursery and learn about the conservation work done here from the site manager, Richard (usually available from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday). What’s more, entry is just a donation. See more affordable experiences like this in the 15 Free & Cheap Things to Do on Aitutaki.
Location: Follow the road to the northern tip of Aitutaki, around the lefthand side of the old airstrip and toward the golf course. The Marine Research Centre is signposted on the left-hand side before reaching the golf course.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com11. Discover Marine Wildlife & Eco Centre
Animal-lovers and families alike will find a very educational eco-focussed visit to the Discover Marine Wildlife & Eco Centre. The small museum-like attraction might be small but it’s packed with activities, including a bird and turtle rescue centre where you can feed the animals in rehabilitation, artefacts and education on whaling and shipwrecks, as well as tasty treats at the onsite Coconut Crab Cafe. Find out more about this eco-attraction in the 40 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands with Kids.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Arorangi, west side of Rarotonga.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com12. Arore Mountain Adventures
Another incredible hiking tour on Rarotonga, Arore Mountain Adventures takes you on a stunning mountain trek on the back hills of Muri. Experience the natural beauty of the inland forests of Rarotonga and look out for wildlife on this hike that can be done either in the daytime or at sunrise. The walk lasts approximately 1h30mins and headlamps are provided for the sunrise walk. Learn more about the walk in the 8 Best Guided Walks in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.
Location: Tours depart from the Muri Meeting House, Muri eastern side of Rarotonga. Transfers are available for a fee.
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© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comMore About the Best Eco-Tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands
That’s it for the most sustainable and eco-friendly tours of the Cook Islands in this list of eco-tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. For more eco-tours focussed on wildlife, for example, take a look at the following guides:
- 10 Best Nature & Wildlife Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
- The Top 10 Natural Wonders in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
- 20 Animals & Birds in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
Finally, discover more about the flora and fauna of the islands in our guide, Wildlife in the Cook Islands: Animals in the Cook Islands & Where to See Them, as well as alternative experiences in the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List.
![7 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=OTU1OjM5Ng==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgOTAwIDcxOSIgd2lkdGg9IjkwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI3MTkiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
![7 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2023]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=MTA5NTozMDE=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTIwMCA5NTkiIHdpZHRoPSIxMjAwIiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijk1OSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "7 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2024]")