The Guide to Ecotourism in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands

Resorts and villas play a huge part in a Cook Islands getaway. Choosing an eco-resort or accommodation can help reduce your environmental impact tremendously.

Typical aspects of these environmentally focused accommodations include sustainable energy sources, usually solar power, wastewater treatment to use in the resort’s gardens and to protect the coral, cleaning products that are biodegradable, and many other initiatives that you can read in detail in How to Choose Sustainable Accommodation in the Cook Islands.

The Best Eco-Friendly Resorts in Rarotonga and Aitutaki

• Magic Reef Beachfront Bungalows
• Etu Moana
• Serenity Villas Rarotonga
• Motu Beachfront Art Villas
• Ikurangi Eco Retreat
• Muri Beach Resort
• Nautilus Resort
• Rainbow Villas

Find out much more about what these resorts and accommodations are doing for the environment in the 10 Best Eco Resorts in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Ethical Guesthouses and Homestays

When it comes to supporting local businesses, staying at guesthouses and homestays is a more ethical and environmentally friendly accommodation than a large resort owned by some distant overseas corporation.

However, with most guesthouses and homestays only really available on the outer islands of the Cook Islands, there is an obvious carbon impact of getting there. If looking at accommodation alone, however, guesthouses and homestays are run by locals, typically using more sustainable methods of living due to the limited infrastructure on these islands, while the food provided is almost always locally sourced and packaging-free.

Learn more about where you can find guesthouses in the 10 Best Guesthouses in the Cook Islands and homestays in The Best Homestays in the Cook Islands.

Rarotonga and the Cook Islands are home to several eco-friendly and ethical tourist attractions. These businesses use sustainable practices, educate on conservation and have a low impact yet allow you to encounter amazing aspects of nature.

Some of the top eco-tours in the country include:

• Circle Cook Islands - wearable waste crafting workshops
• Ariimoana - reef and hiking tours on Rarotonga
• Arore Mountain Adventures - low-impact hiking and nature tour on Rarotonga
• Storytellers Eco Cycle & Walking Tours
• Maunga Tours - nature hiking tours on Rarotonga
• Tumutoa Tours - low-impact culture tours and dinners on Rarotonga
• Aitutaki Marine Research Centre - giant clam nursery on Aitutaki
• Discover Marine Wildlife & Eco Centre - wildlife rehabilitation centre and museum on Rarotonga.

And learn much more about these operators and what makes their tours environmentally friendly in the 10 Best Eco Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

More often than not, our biggest environmental impact when travelling is, well, the travelling part. There are, however, some ways to reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to transport in the Cook Islands.

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint on Your Way to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

While carbon offsetting programs aren’t an excuse to fly more, they can help neutralise the associated danger to the planet. Most airlines offer the option to pay a carbon offsetting organisation for the amount of CO₂ you will emit during your flight. However, you can always do your own research and choose a reputable company with a proven program that invests in renewable energy.

Take the most direct flight to the Cook Islands. Nonstop flights generally require less fuel than flights that need to land and take off again. Check out Which Airlines Fly Directly to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands? for details on how to fly more directly.

How to Travel Around the Cook Islands More Sustainably

Use public transport. Taking the bus on Rarotonga has much lower carbon emissions per head than, for instance, flying or renting your own car.

If renting a car is preferred, however, choose one of Rarotonga’s hybrid rentals with Rarotonga Rentals or stay at Magic Reef to rent one of their EVs.

It's also important to note that Rarotonga and the other Cook Islands are all pretty small, so sometimes a bicycle or an e-bike is all you need.

For more advice on the subject, check out the 5 Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Renting a Car in the Cook Islands.

Mindful packing not only means you may save a few bucks on excess luggage fees, but it can also help you be less wasteful while visiting Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

• Only take reef-safe sunscreen with you to the Cook Islands to protect the reefs from harmful chemicals found in traditional sunscreens.
• Only use natural insect repellents to protect your skin and the environment from harmful chemicals.
• To avoid having to buy bottled water, take a reusable water bottle, such as the Lifestraw Bottle, that removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria.
• Pack plastic-free toiletries, such as Ethique shampoo bars, to avoid using plastic-heavy resort toiletries. Plus, no shampoo explosions from your flight!
• Choose luggage that is durable and made with recyclable materials, such as Herschel’s Eco Collection.

And, as we are sure from someone reading this guide about sustainable travel in the Cook Islands, we don’t need to tell you to skip wrapping your luggage in plastic film at the airport…

For more sustainable packing tips, head to the 30 Ways to Travel More Sustainably in the Cook Islands.