After two nights at the Atiu Villas (perhaps my favorite accommodation on our trip), we flew to Aitutaki. This first batch features some flowers at the Villas, and some signage at both airports, and a couple of uninhabited islands in between, plus the more remote parts of Aitutaki…
The convenience with which I hired a motor scooter at my hotel upon arriving was inspiring, and off I set – as twice before – this time to explore the Aitutaki by this efficiently fun form of frolicking! As you can see, I got around the island and then some.
Those first to panos were taken in the same spot, one looking out, the other looking in! And, please note the vast banyan tree complexes I found in two different places (banyan canyons!). I even made it up to the highest spot on the island where two water tanks have a great view…
Pacific Resort & a coconutty dessert…
On our next, full day on the island, we weent on a lagoon cruise – snorkeling expedition. Captain T’s shirt showed the route out to islands in the corners of the lagoon.
We had three snorkeling sessions. The first featured the giant trevally, intimidatingly big and fast. The second featured some giant clams, big but not fast at all…
Then, out on Honeymoon Island, we experienced some relaxed birds, and had a great lunch…
We had one more snorkeling session after lunch, this one with perhaps the healthiest coral and the most small fish – which are beautiful, but hard to capture with an iphone in a water bag…
The next day was very relaxed, but I managed to do a little more snorkeling in the shallow waters right outside my hotel…
And, I went for a lil’ kayak from Tava’e to Pacific Resort for some happy hour and a great sunset…
After three nights on Aitutaki, we flew back to Rarotonga. The rest of the group left for home that day, but I stayed one more night and a long day in Raro (may add pix & vids eventually).
Thus endeth a wonderful exploration of some, but not all, of the Cook Islands (five out of fifteen).
Here are some pix from others on the trip, these going back to Mitiaro, etc…
Stay tuned, the adventures continue…