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OVERVIEW: Aitutaki is a beautiful atoll sahped island. There is some good snorkeling, a few good places to swim, and a pleasant one day lagoon cruise. It is very relaxed and quiet. In May 2003, the island seemed practically deserted. Many people come for day trips from the main island. Even the bars were poorly attended. I kept wondering where all the tourists were. You can 'do' Aitutaki in 2-3 days, as there is simply not that much to see or do. It's more of a nice place to simply relax, unwind, and chill. I spent most of my time visiting with the other travelers at my guest house, reading, going for a swim, and showering. There's a happy hour at one of the fancy hotels, but only a few folks showed up when I was there, though it was a nice way to spend the 5-6 pm hour. It's quite hot, so expect to take at least 3 showers a day! There's only one road around the island, so you can spend a few hours going up and down the island. There's a short walk up to the top of a hill for a panoramic view of the the island, though to be honest, I took pictures when flying in, so didn't make this climb. The 'Lagoon Cruise' is a nice way to spend a day. They take you out to a couple of the islands, you snorkel around, and have a delicious fish BBQ on the boat. For the more adventurous you can hire a boat to take you outside the reef for some deep sea fishing. Splash! Most of the locals live inland, which is a bit hilly. On Sunday you can go to church (there are many) and afterwards have some food especially prepared for the tourists. As on all the Cook Islands, the place shuts down from Saturday noon until Monday morning. There's electricy 24X7, but the water went off the last day I was there. Always have some drinking water on hand. It's so hot you'll need it, anway. TRAVELER'S ALERT!! When going to Aitutaki or Atiu you DO NOT have to use the two main travel agencies on Rarotonga - Jetsavers and Island Hoppers - to make advance reservations. First of all, there are many more places to stay on Aitutaki than the list they present you with, and unless there is some unusual even going on, there will be plenty of places to stay. These travel agencies will tell you that everything is booked up, but the true story is that a guest house will set aside one or two of their units specifically for these travel agencies, which indeed may be booked up, but they WILL ALSO have rooms set aside for direct reservations, FAXes, and drop ins. Save yourself money by calling the guest houses directly. Better yet, don't make any reservations at all (at least on Aitutaki) and when you arrive, simply rent a motorcycle and drive around yourself until you find what suits your fancy. The island was virtually deserted when I was there. It was downright spooky! Mosquitoes: There are lots of mozzies, especially after it rains, so bring lots of repellent and anti-itch cream. Fortunately there is no malarial mosquitoes and no dengue fever. Money: You can only use your debit card on Monday's at the Westpac branch. You can cash travelers checks, but you will get a poor rate. Food: The few restaurants were very expensive, to save money buy your food from the main store and cook your own meals. Probably healthier that way, too. Internet: None when I was there. Accomodations: Guest houses are plentiful, but expensive. A few guest houses have dorms, but expect to pay around NZ$60 for an ensuite double. I stayed at the Viakoa Lodge and can highly recommend them. - clean rooms with ensuite kitchen and bathroom. The people running the place are extremely friendly and helpful. There's good swimming and snorkeling right at their beach front. They're about a mile from the main 'town' but it's quick on your bicycle or motorcyle. I found Josie's Lodge too cramped for my liking, but it's on the lagoon side which people say is bettter for swimming. Comments? E-mail me at [email protected]. I hope to be adding pictures in a month or two when I have my film developed! |
