How to Spend 2 Weeks in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands: A Selection of 2-Week Itineraries
Got a whopping 14 days at your disposal, a plane ticket to the Cook Islands and no idea what to do with the two? Welcome to our compilation of the best Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries for 2 weeks!
Whether you’re a family or couple; on a budget or seeking luxury; want to just stick to the main islands or prefer to island-hop, our selection of 2-week Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries seriously has something for everyone. Get browsing and see where the magic takes you. We’re betting it leads to what many describe as “paradise”…
Destinations Visited on Our Cook Islands Itineraries for 14 Days
The Cook Islands is actually made up of 15 islands, although many people have only heard of Rarotonga and Aitutaki. With these 14-day Cook Islands itineraries, you don’t have to make a decision between the two as each itinerary incorporates these holiday hotspots. Scroll to the bottom of our itinerary compilation and you’ll also find that 14 days is just enough time to fit two more of the Cooks’ less-visited paradises should you want to do some serious island-hopping.
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 than on Rarotonga, yet there’s still plenty of resorts and lagoon action to keep a holiday here interesting. Discover more about it in The Complete Travel Guide to Aitutaki.
Other Southern Group Islands
Due to their proximity to Rarotonga and Aitutaki, we have also included the Southern Group islands of Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke and Mitiaro on some itineraries. They are all very different from Rarotonga and Aitutaki yet all very similar to each other with their rocky fossilised coral terrain. With only a handful of tourists per month, these islands can offer a more “authentic” slice of island life. Learn more about them in The Complete Travel Guide to the Southern Cook Islands.
© Sean Scott - Cook Islands TourismCook Islands Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for 2 Weeks
Explore both islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki on a limited budget with this Cook Islands Budget & Backpacking Itinerary: 2 Weeks!
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, this itinerary allows you to enjoy an incredible getaway even on a limited budget.
Overview: 14-Day Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki
- Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
- Day 2 – Explore Avarua
- Day 3 – Explore Muri Beach
- Day 4 – Island hike
- Day 5 – Rarotonga tiki tour
- Days 6-7 – Free days on Rarotonga
- Day 8 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 9 – Tour the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Day 10 – Explore the northern end of Aitutaki
- Day 11 – Explore the southern end of Aitutaki
- Days 12-13 – Free days on Aitutaki
- Day 14 – Departure
- See the full itinerary: Cook Islands Budget & Backpacking Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comCook Islands Luxury Itinerary for 2 Weeks
If escaping to the Cook Islands for a special occasion and if, well, money is not an issue, this Rarotonga & Cook Islands Luxury Itinerary: 2 Weeks 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. With two whole weeks, you can even afford the time to take a private jet to the less-visited atoll of Mitiaro.
Overview: 14-Day Luxury Itinerary for Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Mitiaro
- Day 1 – Arrival on Rarotonga
- Day 2 – Private tour of Rarotonga
- Day 3 – Adventure in Raro
- Days 4-5 – Relax in Raro
- Day 6 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 7 – Private tour of the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Days 8-10 – Relax in Aitutaki
- Day 11 – Fly to Rarotonga + luxury self-drive tour
- Day 12 – Private jet to Mitiaro
- Day 13 – Explore Mitiaro + fly back to Rarotonga
- Day 14 – Souvenir shopping + departure
- See the full itinerary: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Luxury Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
© DH - Cook Islands TourismCook Islands Family Itinerary for 2 Weeks
You have two options for your 2-week family trip to the Cook Islands: either stay on Rarotonga and spread out the experiences we recommend for Rarotonga over 2 weeks or follow our Rarotonga & Cook Islands Family Itinerary: 2 Weeks exactly to incorporate both Rarotonga and Aitutaki. The latter is a fantastic option if your family is a little more intrepid.
Regardless of what you choose for your family getaway, our itinerary will guide you through the most family-friendly accommodations, things to do with kids and the best dining options for the whole tribe.
Overview: 14-Day Family Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki
- Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
- Days 2-3 – Explore the Muri Lagoon
- Day 4 – Family road trip around Rarotonga + Tumutoa Tours
- Days 5-7 – Free days on Rarotonga
- Day 8 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 9 – Tour the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Day 10 – Family road trip around Aitutaki
- Days 11-12 – Relax on Aitutaki
- Day 13 – Fly to Rarotonga + Muri Night Market
- Day 14 – Last day on Rarotonga
- See the full itinerary: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Family Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
© CI - Cook Islands TourismCook Islands Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for 2 Weeks
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: 2 Weeks includes both of these islands.
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: 14-Day Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki
- Day 1 – Arrival on Rarotonga
- Days 2-3 – Adventure in Raro
- Days 4-5 – Relaxation in Raro
- Day 6 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 7 – Tour the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Day 8 – Explore Aitutaki
- Days 9-11 – Relaxation in Aitutaki
- Day 12 – Fly to Rarotonga + self-drive tour
- Day 13 – Free day on Rarotonga
- Day 14 – Departure
- See the full itinerary: Cook Islands Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comCook Islands Foodie Itinerary for 2 Weeks
Taste is an important sense not to be forgotten when travelling. In fact, our Rarotonga & Cook Islands Food Itinerary: 2 Weeks 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, of course, giving the top dining recommendations for any connoisseur.
Overview: 14-Day Foodie Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki
- Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
- Day 2 – Explore Avarua
- Day 3 – Road trip around Rarotonga
- Day 4 – Foodie hike on Rarotonga
- Days 5-6 – Free days on Rarotonga
- Day 7 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 8 – Experience the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Day 9 – Road trip around Aitutaki
- Days 10-12 – Free days on Aitutaki
- Day 13 – Fly to Rarotonga + progressive dinner
- Day 14 – Last day on Rarotonga
- See the full itinerary: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Food Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comCook Islands Adults-Only Itinerary for 2 Weeks
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: 2 Weeks.
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: 14-Day Adults-Only Itinerary for Rarotonga and Aitutaki
- Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
- Day 2 – Experience inland on Rarotonga
- Day 3 – Experience the Rarotonga Lagoon
- Day 4 – Rarotonga road trip
- Day 5 – Free day on Rarotonga
- Day 6 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 7 – Experience the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Day 8 – Explore Aitutaki
- Day 9 – Adventure on Aitutaki
- Day 10-12 – Relax on Aitutaki
- Day 13 – Fly to Rarotonga
- Day 14 – Last day on Rarotonga
- See the full itinerary: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Adults-Only Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
© Tayla Beddoes - Cook Islands TourismCook Islands Island-Hopping Itinerary for 2 Weeks
As you may have noticed, most of our Cook Islands itineraries are for Rarotonga and Aitutaki which is, indeed, enough for most tourists. But if you’re a more intrepid traveller wanting to get a sense of the “real” Cook Islands, then these island-hopping itineraries might be just your thing.
Our Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu & Mangaia Itinerary: 2 Weeks takes you to an eco-paradise and the oldest island of the Cooks. The Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mauke & Mitiaro Itinerary: 2 Weeks, on the other hand, ventures to two of the less-travelled uplifted coral atolls of the Southern Group. All of the above are awash in limestone caves, rare birdlife and quaint villages with their own unique traditions.
Overview: 14-Day Island-Hopping Itinerary for Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu and Mangaia
- Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
- Day 2 – Relaxation or adventure on Rarotonga
- Day 3 – Explore Rarotonga
- Day 4 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 5 – Experience the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Day 6 – Explore Aitutaki
- Day 7 – Fly to Atiu
- Day 8 – Eco-day on Atiu
- Day 9 – A day of culture on Atiu
- Day 10 – Fly to Rarotonga then Mangaia
- Day 11 – Explore Mangaia
- Day 12 – Tour the caves of Mangaia
- Day 13 – Fly to Rarotonga
- Day 14 – Last day on Rarotonga
- See the full itinerary: Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu & Mangaia Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
Overview: 14-Day Island-Hopping Itinerary for Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mauke and Mitiaro
- Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
- Day 2 – Relaxation or adventure on Rarotonga
- Day 3 – Explore Rarotonga
- Day 4 – Rarotonga to Aitutaki
- Day 5 – Experience the Aitutaki Lagoon
- Day 6 – Explore Aitutaki
- Day 7 – Relaxation or adventure on Aitutaki
- Day 8 – Fly to Rarotonga then to Mauke
- Day 9 – Explore Mauke
- Day 10 – Tour the hidden gems of Mauke (or fly to Mitiaro, depending on flight schedules)
- Day 11 – Fly to Mitiaro
- Day 12 – Explore Mitiaro
- Day 13 – Fly to Rarotonga
- Day 14 – Last day on Rarotonga
- See the full itinerary: Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mauke & Mitiaro Itinerary: 2 Weeks.
More of the Best Cook Islands Itineraries
That’s it for the best Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries for 14 days (2 weeks). If you think you’d rather visit for a shorter amount of time (which, why would you?!), then check out our best Cook Islands itineraries below:
- The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 10 Days
- The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 1 Week
- The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 5 Days
- The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 3 Days.
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.
