The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 5 Days

Last Updated: 10 June, 2025

How to Spend 5 Days in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands: A Selection of 5-Day Itineraries

Got 5 days at your disposal, a plane ticket to the Cook Islands and no idea what to do with the two? You have just enough time to enjoy one of the archipelago’s glorious island hotspots, either Rarotonga or Aitutaki.

With our compilation of the best Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries for 5 days, you’ll be able to 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 5-day 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 5 Days

The Cook Islands is actually made up of 15 islands, but with just 5 days to spare, you’ll want to choose between the archipelago’s main destinations, Rarotonga and Aitutaki!

Rarotonga

Rarotonga is the largest island in the Cook Islands, home to the country’s capital and only international airport. With a 32 km (20 mi) 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.

For more of an island comparison, see Which is Better, Rarotonga or Aitutaki?

The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 5 Days [2023]

Cook Islands Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for 5 Days

Budget travellers and backpackers could go either way on their trip to the Cook Islands: Rarotonga or, although coming with the cost of a return flight, Aitutaki. For full flexibility, we’ve divided our budget and backpacking itineraries into two options:

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 allow you to enjoy an incredible getaway even on a limited budget.

Overview: 5-Day Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for Rarotonga

Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
Day 2 – Explore Muri Beach
Day 3 – Island hike
Day 4 – Rarotonga tiki tour
Day 5 – Explore Avarua + departure
See the full itinerary: Rarotonga Budget & Backpacking Itinerary: 5 Days.

Overview: 5-Day Budget and Backpacking Itinerary for Aitutaki

Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga + fly to Aitutaki
Day 2 – Tour the Aitutaki Lagoon
Day 3 – Self-drive tour of Aitutaki
Day 4 – Free day on Aitutaki
Day 5 – Departure
See the full itinerary: Aitutaki Budget & Backpacking Itinerary: 5 Days.

The Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Itineraries for 5 Days [2025]

Cook Islands Luxury Itinerary for 5 Days

If escaping to the Cook Islands for a special occasion and if, well, money is not an issue, this Rarotonga Luxury Itinerary: 5 Days offers the ultimate “treat yourself” getaway.

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

Overview: 5-Day Luxury Itinerary for Rarotonga

Day 1 – Arrival on Rarotonga
Day 2 – Private tour of Rarotonga
Day 3 – Adventure in Raro
Day 4 – Relax in Raro
Day 5 – Souvenir shopping + departure
See the full itinerary: Rarotonga Luxury Itinerary: 5 Days.

Cook Islands Family Itinerary for 5 Days

Needless to say, our Rarotonga Family Itinerary: 5 Days offers an idyllic balance of family fun and time to relax. What’s more, you’ll probably just want to keep your getaway confined to Rarotonga to avoid any unnecessary flights with a full tribe.

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: 5-Day Family Itinerary for Rarotonga

Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
Day 2 – Explore the Muri Lagoon
Day 3 – Family road trip around Rarotonga + Tumutoa Tours
Day 4 – Free day on Rarotonga
Day 5 – Last day on Rarotonga
See the full itinerary: Rarotonga Family Itinerary: 5 Days.

Cook Islands Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for 5 Days

With its gorgeous turquoise lagoons, sandy shores and swaying coconut palms, the Cook Islands is famous and fabulous for a romantic escape!

Couples who’d prefer a more effortless getaway will dig our Rarotonga Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 5 Days, while those settling for nothing less than the honeymoon hotspot and world’s most romantic lagoon will want to check out the Aitutaki Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 5 Days.

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: 5-Day Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for Rarotonga

Day 1 – Arrival on Rarotonga
Day 2 – Adventure in Raro
Day 3 – Relaxation in Raro
Day 4 – Self-drive tour of Rarotonga
Day 5 – Departure
See the full itinerary: Rarotonga Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 5 Days.

Overview: 5-Day Honeymoon and Romance Itinerary for Aitutaki

Day 1 – Arrival in Aitutaki
Day 2 – Tour the Aitutaki Lagoon
Day 3 – Explore Aitutaki
Day 4 – Relaxation in Aitutaki
Day 5 – Departure
See the full itinerary: Aitutaki Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 5 Days.

Cook Islands Foodie Itinerary for 5 Days

Taste is an important sense not to be forgotten when travelling. In fact, our Rarotonga Food Itinerary: 5 Days puts it at the forefront as an immersion in the Rarotongan culture.

Our itinerary incorporates food-related activities, such as a progressive dinner tour and umukai workshop, while also, of course, giving top dining recommendations for any connoisseur.

Overview: 5-Day Foodie Itinerary for Rarotonga

Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
Day 2 – Explore Avarua + Muri Night Market
Day 3 – Road trip around Rarotonga + make your own umukai
Day 4 – Foodie hike on Rarotonga + island night
Day 5 – Last day on Rarotonga
See the full itinerary: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Food Itinerary: 5 Days.

Cook Islands Adults-Only Itinerary for 5 Days

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 Adults-Only Itinerary: 5 Days.

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: 5-Day Adults-Only Itinerary for Rarotonga

Day 1 – Arrive on Rarotonga
Day 2 – Adventure on Rarotonga
Day 3 – Explore Rarotonga
Day 4 – Relax on Rarotonga
Day 5 – Departure day
See the full itinerary: Rarotonga Adults-Only Itinerary: 5 Days.

More of the Best Cook Islands Itineraries

That’s it for the best Rarotonga and Cook Islands itineraries for 5 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.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])

At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About the 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.

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