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The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days© DH - Cook Islands Tourism
The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days

The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days

© DH – Cook Islands Tourism

How to Spend 1 Week in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands: A Selection of 7-Day Itineraries

Got 7 days at your disposal, a plane ticket to the Cook Islands and no idea what to do with the two? You have plenty of time to comfortably enjoy one of the archipelago’s glorious islands or you can just about squeeze in a trip to both Rarotonga and Aitutaki. With our compilation of the best Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries for 1 week (7 days), you’ll figure out exactly where to go, what to do, where to stay and more!

Whether you’re a family or couple; on a budget or seeking luxury, our selection of 1-week Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries seriously has something for everyone. Get browsing and see where the magic takes you. Usually, it’s to somewhere in paradise…

Destinations Visited on Our Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week

The Cook Islands is actually made up of 15 islands, but with just 7 days to spare, you’ll probably want to choose between Rarotonga and Aitutaki (or both)!

Rarotonga

Rarotonga is the largest island in the Cook Islands, home to the country’s capital and only international airport. With a 32km (20-mile) road around the entire island taking you to a myriad of resorts, restaurants and lagoon tours, the island is like one huge resort. Find out more about it in The Complete Travel Guide to Rarotonga.

Aitutaki

Since its first written discovery, Aitutaki has been described as one of the world’s most beautiful lagoons. The pace of life is a lot more relaxed on the main island of the atoll compared to Raro, yet there are still plenty of resorts and action on the lagoon to keep a holiday here interesting. Discover more about it in The Complete Travel Guide to Aitutaki.

The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days© DH - Cook Islands Tourism

Cook Islands Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for 1 Week

With 1 week in the Cooks and a limited budget, you’ll have an epic experience visiting either Rarotonga or Aitutaki, but perhaps not both if you want to save a bit of cash. That’s why we’ve divided our budget and backpacking itineraries for 1 week into two exciting itineraries:

Combining the Cook Islands’ amazing free and cheap activities, affordable ways of getting around such as bus and scooter travel, and staying in the country’s budget resorts, backpackers and guesthouses, these itineraries make sure you can still enjoy an incredible getaway even on a limited budget.

Overview: 7-Day Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for Rarotonga

Overview: 7-Day Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for Aitutaki

The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

Cook Islands Luxury Itinerary for 1 Week

If escaping to the Cook Islands for a special occasion and if, well, money is not an issue, this Rarotonga & Cook Islands Luxury Itinerary: 1 Week offers the ultimate “treat yourself” getaway.

Stay in Rarotonga and Aitutaki’s most lavish resorts and villas, experience the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation and indulge in the islands’ fine dining scene.

Overview: 7-Day Luxury Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki

  • Day 1 – Arrival on Rarotonga
  • Day 2 – Private tour of Rarotonga
  • Day 3 – Adventure or relaxation in Raro
  • Day 4 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
  • Day 5 – Private tour of the Aitutaki Lagoon
  • Day 6 – Relax in Aitutaki
  • Day 7 – Fly to Rarotonga + departure
  • See the full itinerary: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Luxury Itinerary: 1 Week.
The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days© DH - Cook Islands Tourism

Cook Islands Family Itinerary for 1 Week

Needless to say, our Rarotonga & Cook Islands Family Itinerary: 1 Week sticks to the Cook Islands’ main island, Rarotonga, not only to ensure the experience is a relaxing one but to also eliminate the cost of karting a tribe across the ocean to the Cook Islands’ other atolls.

With an easy decision made to stay on Rarotonga, our itinerary will guide you through the most family-friendly accommodations, things to do with kids and the best dining options for all ages.

Overview: 7-Day Family Itinerary for Rarotonga

The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

Cook Islands Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for 1 Week

With its gorgeous turquoise lagoons, sandy shores and swaying coconut palms, the Cook Islands is famous and fabulous for a romantic escape! There’s no doubt that a honeymoon or couples’ getaway to the Cook Islands has to include both the Polynesian paradise of Rarotonga and one of the world’s most romantic lagoons, Aitutaki. With that in mind, our Cook Islands Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 1 Week includes both.

Plan a getaway with your loved one that has you staying in the most endearing accommodations, experiencing adventure and relaxation, as well as dining at the most romantic restaurants…

Overview: 7-Day Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki

The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

Cook Islands Foodie Itinerary for 1 Week

Taste is an important sense not to be forgotten when travelling. In fact, our Rarotonga & Cook Islands Food Itinerary: 1 Week puts it at the forefront as an immersion in the Cook Islander culture.

Our itinerary incorporates food-related activities, such as progressive dinner tours and “umukai” workshops, while also, of course, giving top dining recommendations for any connoisseur.

Overview: 7-Day Foodie Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki

  • Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
  • Day 2 – Explore Avarua + Muri Night Market
  • Day 3 – Road trip around Rarotonga + make your own umukai
  • Day 4 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
  • Day 5 – Experience the Aitutaki Lagoon
  • Day 6 – Road trip around Aitutaki
  • Day 7 – Fly to Rarotonga + departure
  • See the full itinerary: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Food Itinerary: 1 Week.
The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week / 7 Days© Craig Owen - Cook Islands Tourism

Cook Islands Adults-Only Itinerary for 1 Week

If you want to have an appropriate tone for your holiday, i.e. one that doesn’t involve overenthusiastic children, then set your sights on our Rarotonga & Cook Islands Adults-Only Itinerary: 1 Week.

Of course, adults-only accommodations are at the forefront of this itinerary, while experiences that you couldn’t usually do with kids in tow, from scuba diving to spa treatments, are also a highlight.

Overview: 7-Day Adults-Only Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki

More of the Best Cook Islands Itineraries

That’s it for the best Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries for 1 week (7 days). If you think you’d rather visit for a shorter amount of time (which, why would you?!) or longer (go on then!), check out our best Cook Islands itineraries below.

Finally, if you have no idea how long to spend in the Cook Islands, then you best start at square one with The Best Cook Islands Travel Guide.

Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, a local government body representing the tourism industry. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

Contact Robin via our contact page

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