Last update: Oct 23, 2026
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Cook Islands Summary
These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.
"Best for" scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.
"Your personal" scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.
"Suited for" badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travelers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.
Suited for
Cook Islands – Quick facts
| Power Grid: |
240 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type I
Type I:
 Read about power adapters |
|---|---|
| Currency: |
New Zealand Dollar (NZD) $1 ≈ NZ$1.76 |
| Cashless info: |
Rating 3/5
Cashless payments are not as widespread as cash in the Cook Islands. However, credit and debit cards are accepted at most establishments, especially in Rarotonga.
Save with a travel credit card |
| eSIM providers: | We cannot recommend an eSIM provider for this country. We advise getting a local SIM card. |
| Tipping: | Tipping is not customary in the Cook Islands, though a tip of around 5-10% is appreciated for good service in restaurants and hotels. |
|---|---|
| Public drinking: | Public drinking is allowed, but it is generally done in licensed establishments like bars or restaurants. It is advised to avoid excessive drinking in public. |
| Public smoking: | Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces like restaurants, bars, and public transport. |
| Constitution Day (August 4) |
National holiday celebrating the country’s constitution with cultural celebrations and events |
|---|---|
| Christmas (December 25) |
Celebrated with festive meals and family gatherings |
| Emergency contact: | Emergency Number: 999 |
|---|---|
| Taxi apps: | |
| Other: | The Cook Islands are known for their beautiful beaches, clear waters, and laid-back atmosphere. It is a popular destination for those seeking peace and natural beauty. |
Best times to travel
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
for Cook Islands, Cook Islands
Cyclone season November to April, highest risk January to March
Humpback whale season July to October, best around Rarotonga
Te Maeva Nui national festival with dance and music, late July to early August
Don't miss
- 🌊 Swim in the turquoise lagoon of Aitutaki
- 🐠 Snorkel over coral gardens filled with tropical fish
- 🛵 Explore Rarotonga’s lush jungle trails by scooter
- 💃 Attend a traditional island night feast and dance show
- 🛶 Kayak around Motu islands and secluded beaches
- 🏝️ Visit Punanga Nui Market for crafts and local delicacies
You've been here?
Log in to manage your own bucket list! Why travel to Cook Islands?
People come to the Cook Islands for lagoon swimming and snorkeling, hikes into a mountainous interior and a Polynesian culture that's easy to see at island nights and markets. The islands are small enough that you can cover one in a day or two. Every trip begins on Rarotonga. Most of its coast has a lagoon, the Cross Island Trek goes up through the interior and the Saturday market in Avarua is the place to try local food and look for tivaevae quilts. Aitutaki is the most visited island after Rarotonga and is about 50 minutes away by plane. It's known for its big lagoon, which visitors can see on a boat cruise with stops on small islets. The southern islands of Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro and Mangaia are quieter. Atiu has caves and grows the Arabica coffee sold in some shops on Rarotonga. The northern atolls such as Manihiki and Penrhyn are much more remote and only get flights on demand. A week is enough for Rarotonga and Aitutaki. The other islands need more time and planning, since flights to Atiu and Mangaia run only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There's little nightlife or city sightseeing, so the trip suits people who want beaches, water and outdoor days.
🏯Places worth seeing
🎡Places for activities
🏞️Natural landmarks
🛍️Shopping
🎈Events
-
Te Maeva Nui Festival
-
Vaka Eiva Outrigger Canoe Festival
-
Rarotonga International Triathlon
-
Tiare Festival
-
Manea Games
-
Constitution Day Celebrations
-
Round Rarotonga Road Race
-
Aitutaki Day
-
Gospel Day
-
New Year's Celebrations
Knowledge before you go
- Carry proof of accommodation and departure for immigration at Rarotonga Airport.
- Scooter riders on Rarotonga need a visitor license from Avarua police. Helmets are compulsory.
- Most shops close on Sundays and the anticlockwise bus doesn't run, so plan the day ahead.
- Humpback whales pass Rarotonga from about July to October and can often be seen from the shore.
How to travel to Cook Islands
All international flights land at Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), about 1 – 2 mi west of Avarua on the north coast. Auckland is the main departure point with flights taking just under 4 hours. Flights also come from Sydney, Brisbane, Honolulu and Papeete, with seasonal flights from Christchurch between May and October. Connections from Europe usually go through Auckland or Sydney. Hotel transfers and taxis wait outside the arrivals hall, while the circle-island bus passes the airport. Visitors from most countries can stay up to 31 days without a visa. Most visitors need a passport that's valid for at least six months beyond their departure date. Immigration also asks for proof of accommodation and of departure. Travel insurance isn't compulsory but is highly recommended.
Access summary
- Rarotonga: Fly to RAR mainly from Auckland, Sydney, some Tahiti connections.
- From New Zealand/Australia: Direct or via Auckland on Air New Zealand, Jetstar.
- Flag carrier Air Rarotonga, not in alliances; codeshares with Air NZ, Air Tahiti.
Check your route from anywhere
Where to stay in Cook Islands
Accommodation is mostly small resorts, villas, self-catering apartments and guesthouses, with a handful of larger beach resorts on Rarotonga. Rooms are spread around the coast road. The circle-island bus passes all the major places to stay, so a spot near a bus stop works without a car. On Rarotonga, Muri on the southeast side has a shallow lagoon with small islets offshore and is close to the Muri Night Market. Titikaveka on the south coast is quieter and has good lagoon snorkeling. Arorangi on the west coast has beaches and sunsets. Avarua, the main town, has fewer beach options but is close to the market and shops. Aitutaki has a limited number of rooms around its lagoon while the other southern islands have a few guesthouses and homestays. Rooms fill up in the drier months from about May to October and around New Zealand and Australian school holidays, so book early for Aitutaki.
Hotel recommendations
*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.
How to get around Cook Islands
The 15 islands are far apart, so getting between them means flying, mostly on Air Rarotonga from Rarotonga Airport. On Rarotonga a coast road of just over 19 mi goes around the island, with Avarua, the main town, on the north coast and most hotels and beaches along the road. Driving is on the left.
Domestic flights:
Air Rarotonga flies to Aitutaki daily in about 50 minutes, with many flights timed to connect with international arrivals. Atiu and Mangaia have flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while Mauke and Mitiaro are about 50 minutes away. The northern atolls only get flights on demand.
Buses:
Two buses go around Rarotonga from Cooks Corner in Avarua, one clockwise and one anticlockwise. A full loop takes about an hour. The anticlockwise bus doesn't run on Sundays and finishes earlier in the day than the clockwise one.
Cars and scooters:
Visitors can drive a car on a valid overseas license for up to six months. Riding a scooter needs a Cook Islands visitor license from the police station in Avarua, which costs NZ$20 ($11.37) if your home license includes a motorcycle class and otherwise comes with a test. Helmets are compulsory on Rarotonga.
Bikes and taxis:
The main roads are flat, so cycling is easy and bikes can be hired around Rarotonga. Licensed taxis are an option for evenings out when the buses have stopped.
Food in Cook Islands
Cook Islands food is Polynesian island cooking built on fresh fish, coconut, taro and tropical fruit, alongside pork, chicken and Western-style cafe menus. Rarotonga has the most cafes and restaurants while the outer islands have far fewer places to eat, so it's worth asking guesthouses about meals. Supermarkets on Rarotonga and Aitutaki make self-catering easy.
Ika mata:
Raw fish marinated in lime juice and mixed with coconut cream, onion and chili. It's on most restaurant menus and at the markets.
Rukau:
Steamed taro leaves, usually cooked with coconut cream, come as a side with fish or steak and appear at island night buffets.
Umu kai:
Food cooked in an earth oven with hot stones and banana leaves, usually for community feasts and celebrations. Visitors can try it at island nights or on an organized umu experience.
Markets:
The Saturday morning Punanga Nui market in Avarua is a good place for roast pork rolls, ika mata and mitiore, a fermented coconut and seafood dish. Muri Night Market runs on several evenings a week for casual dinners.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home
We calculate the average costs when traveling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.
To customize this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.
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Exchange rate trend
The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.
Your exchange rate (USD to NZD) is 11% better than in recent years. That means traveling now is cheaper compared to the past.
Safety information overview
General safety
The Cook Islands are generally very safe, with little violent crime and mostly petty theft such as unlocked bikes or valuables left on beaches. The biggest risks are road accidents on scooters, strong currents near reef passages and cyclones between November and April.
Health & Medical
Rarotonga has a hospital and clinics but facilities are limited and serious cases go to New Zealand, so insurance with medical evacuation cover matters. Dengue is present on several islands, so use repellent. Ciguatera fish poisoning is a known risk on Rarotonga.
Accessibility
Rarotonga's coast is flat, so bus, bike or car trips between beaches and cafes are easy, though some beach access involves sand or steps. The cross-island hike is steep and slippery. Small planes to the outer islands have boarding steps and tight baggage limits.
Tap water
Tap water on Rarotonga isn't considered reliably safe to drink, since tests have found contamination at some sources. About 20 UV-treated water stations supply drinking water and shops sell bottled water. Outer islands rely on rainwater tanks, so treat water first.
Packing recommendations for Cook Islands
Log in to add this place to a travel list and get a summary of all recommended items for your whole trip.
📷
Camera
🌞
Sunscreen
hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
👕
Light, breathable clothing
🧥
Rain jacket
🕶️
Sunglasses
hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
🪰
Insect repellent
🩱
Swimwear
👟
Water shoes
🤿
Snorkeling gear
though rentals are available
🔋
Power bank
🩹
Basic first aid kit
🌞
Reef-safe sunscreen
👒
Sun hat
hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
📃
Travel insurance
👔
Smart-casual outfit
for restaurants
🪪
Copies of passport and important documents
📱
Travel eSIM
🔌
Universal power adapter
🩺
Prescription medication
💳
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
🛂
Passport
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