8 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands

Rarotonga Turtle Tours offers one of the most ethical and mindful turtle tours on the Avaavaroa Passage.

They take small groups of no more than six guests to snorkel alongside green turtles and eagle rays.

After a safety briefing on how to swim respectfully with turtles, you'll board a boat to either the popular Avaavaroa Passage or the quieter Papua Passage (on request), where the shallows quickly drop into a deeper channel teeming with marine life.

Turtles can be spotted resting under rocks, scratching their backs and feeding on algae as it drifts through the passage, and the guides know exactly where to position you so the animals come to you naturally.

Keep an eye out for schools of eagle rays too; the guides know the spots where they surface for those unmissable photos. The crew, led by Kato, Kali and the team, will also handle underwater photography throughout.

Included in the "Turtle and Eagle Ray Tour" are quality masks (no fogging here!), snorkels, fins and booties, light refreshments, and Surf Lifesaving and First Aid-certified guides for 1 hr 30 mins of in-water time. Longer and custom private tours of Avaavaroa Passage are available, as is a guided free dive in Papua Passage, which features an underwater cave.

For travellers wanting a more intimate and personalised turtle encounter in Rarotonga, Green Turtle Tours offers a private guided swim through the beautiful Ava'avaroa Passage.

The experience begins with a short briefing and gear fitting at the YWAM/Ava’avaroa Passage car park before you cross the road together to enter the water. Once in the lagoon, your guide leads you through the passage in search of the magnificent green turtles that frequent this area, along with eagle rays and an array of vibrant reef fish.

What makes this tour stand out is its unhurried pace, you decide whether you want to stay in the water for one hour or closer to two, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the marine life without feeling rushed.

All snorkelling gear is provided, and your guide captures the entire swim on video, transferring the footage to your phone afterwards so you can relive the experience.

Learn more and book on Green Turtle Tour's website.

Location: Pickup available throughout Rarotonga or meet at Ava'avaroa Passage car park (YWAM car park), Vaimaanga.

Ocean Toa Cook Islands offers an unforgettable turtle swimming experience for all. Join their small-group guided tours (capped at eight guests) led by qualified lifeguards for guaranteed turtle sightings.

The family-friendly tours cater to all ability levels, ensuring everyone can enjoy this magical encounter.

After your swim, enjoy refreshing local fruits while waiting for your photos and videos to be ready.

A portion of your booking supports the "Ocean Tamariki School Holiday Program," which educates local children about their marine environment.

Whether you're a seasoned swimmer or a first-timer, Ocean Toa's experienced team (with four to five lifeguards per tour) ensures a safe and memorable adventure. It's a fantastic way to experience the Cook Islands' underwater world while supporting local initiatives.

Location: Tours meet at the Avaavaroa Passage, Vaimaanga. Find out how to get around Rarotonga in our Rarotonga Transport Guide.

Experience an intimate turtle encounter with Sea Pace Rarotonga in the Avaavaroa Passage. Their small-group tours ensure personalised attention, with just four swimmers per guide (or two guides for less confident swimmers).

The standard "Turtle & Ray Tour" offers excellent value, lasting 1 hr 30 mins and including guided snorkelling, all gear, and a guaranteed turtle encounter. For those seeking a more luxurious experience, their premium tour features private guiding, photos, a handcrafted fruit platter, and local refreshments.

We've heard great feedback about their child-friendly approach and commitment to safety during our recent research trip. It's an unforgettable way to get up close with these gentle sea creatures in their natural habitat.

Location: Tours meet at the Avaavaroa Passage, Vaimaanga

Go Local Cook Islands offers a fun and interactive turtle swimming tour of the Avaavaroa Passage with a fun crew of local lads.

Walking out from shore (or by boat in rougher conditions), the tour lasts one to two hours, depending on how long you want to swim, and includes quality snorkelling gear (snorkel, mask and fins), refreshments, food and drinks, as well as underwater photos transferred directly to your phone. The guide-to-guest ratio is a reassuring 1:4, meaning you get plenty of personal attention in the water.

Although it helps to be a confident swimmer, floats and paddleboards are on hand for support if needed. Do note that touching the turtles is not permitted, which is standard practice for responsible wildlife encounters.

The experience wraps up with a coconut demonstration, where the local guides show you how it's done before cracking open a fresh nu (drinking coconut) for you. They have decent on-site facilities too, including a café, toilets showers and parking, so you're well looked after before and after your swim.

Ariki Turtle Tours & Sea Scooters is one of Rarotonga's longest-established snorkelling tour operators, and for good reason: few outfits do it with this much polish.

Based at the stunning Avaavaroa Passage, their flagship "Premium Sea Scooter Turtle Adventure" is a two-hour tour with a guaranteed turtle interaction, using lightweight 'Le Feet' sea scooters that make gliding through the passage feel almost effortless (and fun).

In our experience, they were great for easier access to the eagle rays but turtles don't like to hang around the "buzz" for long.

Confident swimmers can opt for the "Onu Free Swim Adventure", while the "Premium Sea Scooter Ocean Adventures" tour takes you over the RMS Maitai shipwreck, now absorbed into the reef just below the surf zone.

Large groups are split into smaller groups, typically with one to three guides per four guests, and all tours include premium snorkel gear, a safety boat/guides, and tour photography. There's even an on-site café with WiFi if you want to arrive early and settle in.

KiteSUP offers an "Adventure Turtle Snorkel Tour" at Papua Passage, near Rarotonga's Muri Beach. This unique experience takes small groups of no more than eight to an exclusive turtle habitat, where you'll swim with turtles in their natural environment, alongside coral gardens, eagle rays and sometimes sharks.

Unlike the more popular snorkel spots on the island, Papua Passage is far less crowded, giving you a genuinely immersive experience. It's best suited to competent or advanced swimmers who are comfortable in open water. Tours run Sunday through Friday, lasting approximately two hours.

All necessary gear is provided, including a mask, snorkel, fins and a wetsuit. Photos are taken throughout and shared with you via social media, so you can relive the adventure long after you've dried off.

Bubbles Below offers year-round diving experiences in the stunning waters of Aitutaki. This dive operator specialises in small-group and personalised adventures. You'll have the chance to swim with turtles and eagle rays, with June and July being the prime months for spotting them.

All tours, whether private or shared, include water and snacks to keep you refreshed.

Scuba diving with Rarotonga's dive operators is also a great way to see turtles underwater, depending on the dive site you choose. Learn more in the 5 Best Dive Shops & Operators in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Location: Arutanga Harbour, Arutanga, Aitutaki. Transfers are available for a fee. Otherwise, check out the Aitutaki Transport Guide to learn more about getting around.