Lagoon Cruises around Aitutaki Atoll

One of the main reasons why so many people visit Aitutaki is because of its beautiful lagoon, which plays host to a vast array of vibrant coral species and a profusion of marine life. Huge, vivid and filled with a plethora of fish and other marine mammals, the Aitutaki lagoon offers some of the most stunning snorkeling and diving in the Cook Islands. Maina is the best place to go and catch a glimpse of this island’s incredible underwater beauty.

A great way to see and explore the lagoon on Aitutaki and the various motu here is to take a lagoon cruise. There are several tour companies in the area that can take you around the Aitutaki lagoon by boat, so that you can see firsthand how truly stunning this area really is.

Most lagoon cruises are either half or full day tours and include free transportation to and from your hotel, a BBQ lunch and snorkeling gear. When choosing an Aitutaki lagoon cruise it is important that you choose a boat with a roof shelter as it gets quite hot especially in the afternoon. Full day lagoon cruises are much better than half day cruises as they let you explore Aitutaki’s reefs more completely.

Another alternative lagoon cruise involves tourists being dropped off on a motu for a short while and picked up later on. These cruises are much cheaper, but require that you bring your own food and water supply. Another type of Aitutaki lagoon cruise is by canoe, which takes between two and three people for a canoe ride around the lagoon, with snorkeling, fishing and reef walking as other activities to enjoy. The canoe cruise is for around 4 hours.

For a luxury lagoon cruise, Paradise Islands Cruises at the Aitutaki Pearl Beach Resort offers a 34 foot long catamaran to travel on, while if you are on a budget, Kit Cat is a more affordable alternative.