2011 Price: From $3,695* per person with air from Los Angeles
Price based on double occupancy
2011 Dates: Custom departures available every Sunday
If you are looking for that once in a lifetime, off the beaten track adventure, complemented with South Pacific sun and style, this is it! A Cook Islands Vacation awaits.
Spend 12 nights in the Cook Islands, a true gem of island chains, just a 9.5 hour non-stop flight from Los Angeles.
Day 1: Arrive Rarotonga at 6am and transfer to your accommodation Royale Takitumu Villas, a boutique retreat located on the southern coast of Rarotonga. Royale Takitumu offers 10 beautifully appointed one-bedroom villas, all with a view of the azure-blue lagoon and white sand beach, one of the best on the islands for snorkeling and privacy. Adventures on your doorstep include kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, kite surfing, sailing and lagoon tours. Overnight Royal Takitumu
Day 2: Free morning followed by afternoon safari tour. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and then head inland to discover the lush tropical interior of the island. Along the way, your tour guide will offer commentary on the history and traditions of the island, as well as notes on the many uses of the local flora and fauna in traditional medicine making. You will visit ancient marae where ancestors performed human sacrifices, investitures chiefs and important meetings. The tour also takes you to the heights of some of Rarotonga’s more accessible mountains, offering spectacular views of the coastline and lagoon. Overnight Royal Takitumu
Day 3: Free Day, followed by evening cultural island evening show and dinner. Overnight Royal Takitumu
Day 4: Free Day and evening to explore. Kayak, snorkel, or hope on a scooter for a ride around the island. Overnight Royal Takitumu
Day 5: Free Day in Raratonga. Overnight Royal Takitumu.
Day 6: Fly from Rarotonga to Aitutaki. You accommodation, Tamanu Beach, is a stunning beachfront property located on the western side of the island. This property offers 22 bungalows, two freshwater swimming pools, two bars and a restaurant right on the beach. Some of the best swimming and snorkelling on the island are right off your doorstep. Overnight Tamanu Beach
Day 7: Lagoon cruise
Aitutaki’s lagoon is one of the most beautiful in the world, It is fringed by tiny islets, with the main island of Aitutaki bordering its northern reef. A day out on this magnificent creation is definitely a must-do on any visit to the island. Your full day, lagoon excursion includes snorkelling, fish feeding, lunch, and endless opportunities to explore deserted beaches on your own. See giant clams in their natural habitat and learn of the clam propagation program that the Marine Department is implementing in the lagoons.
Enjoy One Foot Island, where you will be served a picnic lunch of fresh BBQ fish with local salads. All this complemented with the great entertainment from your cruise crew. Take the time to send a postcard home from One Foot Island. You can send your postcard from what is the worlds only registered post office located on an uninhabited island. Bring your passport and have it stamped with the One Foot Island stamp ... a reminder of your perfect day on the lagoon. Overnight Tamanu Beach
Days 8, 9: Free days to soak in Aitutaki. Overnights Tamanu Beach
Day 10, 11, 12: Fly Aitutaki to Atui. Atiu, the island of birds and legends, is the third largest island in the group…perfect for the true adventure traveler looking for an off-the-beaten-track experience. The island is riddled with caves, maketea (a raised coral atoll), cliffs, and white sand beaches. The most famous of all the caves on the island is the home to the only population of Kopeka bird in the world…just one of many exotic birds that can be found on this predator-free island.
Atiu has a tiny population of only 569 inhabitants and is divided into 5 local villages. The village women have maintained their traditional arts, such as tapa cloth (from the bark of trees) and tapa flowers. You will also find Tivaevae (a type of patchwork quilting) with its vibrantly colored patterns, and carvings such as traditional drums, bowls, ornaments, and the finest ukuleles in the Cooks. Not to mention, the local coffee is world class!
Spend three days and three nights exploring. Overnights at Atui Villas
Day 13: This afternoon your catch you flight back to Raratonga to bid farewell to the Cook Islands
Included:
- Round-trip air from Los Angeles to Rarotonga on Air New Zealand
- Fresh flower ei, meet & greet international arrival
- All Transfers
- 5 nights Royal Takitumu Villas (Lagoon View)
- 4 nights Tamanu Beach (1 Bedroom Lagoon View)
- 3 nights Atiu Villas (Standard Villa)
- Daily tropical breakfast, dinner while at Atiu Villas
- Safari Tour
- Island Night Buffet Dinner & Dance Show for 2 people
- Return airfares Rarotonga / Aitutaki / Atui/ Rarotonga
*Price subject to change based on current air specials and local exchange rate at time of booking. Travel dates of Nov 2010 and March - June 2011 eligible for the $200 discount. For travel during other periods, Dec 2010 and Jan - Feb 2011 a $100 discount will apply.
