Rarotonga tips: 5 things you should know before you go

Rarotonga tips: 5 things you should know before you go

We wish someone had told us these rarotonga tips before we went to the cook islands!

One of the disadvantages of traveling in the South Pacific (if there can be something like this) is the lack of infrastructure for backpackers. It can be done with minimal effort, but it is certainly more difficult than, for example, in Southeast Asia or Europe.

At home in London we knew no one who had visited places like Tonga or Rarotonga, so it was very difficult to get first -hand wisdom. We mostly used internet research and travel guide information - until we came to Rarotonga, where we were surprised by some surprises.

rarotonga tips

Below we share the rarotonga tips that we have learned to help future visitors to prepare for what is in stock.

The internet is damn expensive

Since Rarotonga is part of the New Zealand, which is far further developed, we expected a better internet infrastructure than on other Pacific Islands. Oh, how did we get wrong.

in Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga we had several ways to go online: cafés that offered free WiFi when buying, internet shops that offered a quick connection for a small fee, or a local dongle with which we were able to connect from anywhere.

in Rarotonga (or "Raro", as the locals call it) we only had one choice: Telecom and their ridiculous prices, including 50 NZD for a gigabyte. That is $ 40 or 25 GBP for a gigabyte.

There are two price structures to choose from. WiFi can be bought as a package with which you can sign up and unsubscribe at will, but at fairly high prices: 1 GB for $ 50, $ 500 for $ 25 and $ 10 for $ 10

Since modern websites are as heavy as they are, we have found that just calling up emails would devour huge amounts of data at once. The alternative that is somewhat cheaper is to buy minute blocks, but they have to be used in one session: 30 minutes for $ 6, 60 minutes for $ 9 or 90 minutes for $ 12

In short: If you have to be online in Rarotonga, this will probably burden your budget.

The bus is also not cheap

After three months in the Pacific, we were used to only paying cent for bus trips. All of this changed in Raro, where we paid 5 NZD ($ 4 or 2.50 GBP) for a simple journey. The other thing to be considered is that single trips cost $ 5, while the return trip costs $ 8, so it is worth buying a return trip if you do a return trip.

(and this is something that we have never experienced in the over 60 countries that we have visited together) you have to pay extra for a large backpack: $ 2 per bag. We quickly felt the pinch after a few bus trips through the city.

You will probably not find te manga

On the cross Island Walk we met a German-Kiwi couple who said they tried to climb the Te Manga, the highest point on the island, but not found the way.

You were experienced climbers, and when Peter and I went to do the same, we made sure that we took a card with us on which the point was clearly marked. Unfortunately we were going after two hours and still not looking on the way. Finally we gave up frustrated in our third hour and went home.

It reminded me of the Nevis Peak in St. Kitts and Nevis that tourists shouldn't try alone. In fact, we only found Nevis because we searched Tripadvisor for instructions.

If we were less complacent to research Te Manga, we might have actually found it. If you plan to climb him, make sure that you are doing some research!

You should stay near Muri Beach, even if it is touristy

We didn't want to stay on the Muri Beach after we read that it was very touristy. We stayed on the other side of the island and thought that one day we could take the bus down.

alt = “”> Atlas & Boots is one of our rarotonga tips to stay near Muri Beach

In reality, Muri is one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen. It has a number of hotels on one side with many kayaks and paddleboards that contaminate the scene, but its absolute beauty negates the relatively tourist feeling.

We went on a second trip to Muri, but in retrospect I wished that we had remained accessible on foot.

You will probably fall in love with you

Despite some of the above points, I fell in love with Raro and let myself be there a piece of my heart-and I write this from the private island of Taha’a with a view of the crystal-clear water of French-Polynesia and Bora Bora, which awaits us.

raros lush, but rugged inner landscape, its breathtaking blue water and soft sand mixed with the amenities of modern supermarkets, streets and restaurants (and one cinema!) Made it the first place where I could really imagine leaving London.

be ready to fall in love.

where to spend the night in rarotonga

In the following you will find some suggestions for accommodations on the cook islands. We always take the time to read reviews carefully to make sure you get exactly what you expect from your booking.

• pacific resort, rarotonga
• te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa, Rarotonga
• te Vakaroa villas, rarotonga
• Muri Shores, Rarotonga
• rumors of luxury villas & spa, rarotonga
• Muri Beach Club Hotel, Rarotonga

best travel time for rarotonga

The cook islands are great all year round, with minimal seasonal fluctuations. In general, the drier months, November to April, are moisture.

The best season for visiting the cook islands is September and October if it is less damp and cooler. Be aware that due to the mountainous country of Rarotonga it can often rain without warning, so always pack a waterproof jacket.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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