The reason people come to Aitutaki isn’t for the main island — it’s for all the little islets out in the lagoon. Here’s a reminder of what Aitutaki looks like from above:

The island is surrounded by a coral reef that breaks the waves. Inside the reef is a lagoon full of islets — and each one looks like it belongs on the front of a postcard. When you see any image of the Cook Islands (clear water, pristine beaches, and no people around for miles), odds are it was taken on one of these lagoon beaches. All of the hotels and restaurants are on the main island of Aitutaki but the lagoon islets are completely free of ANY resort or restaurant. Let’s hope it stays that way.

So the highlight of any visit to Aitutaki is a lagoon tour. There are loads to choose from, all ranging from $85-$99 for the day (including hotel pick-up and a BBQ lunch on the beach, plus snorkel gear). Or you can skip the tour and just take a water taxi to your favorite island for about $60 round-trip per person. Your hotel can arrange any of the tours. I selected Kia Orana Cruise’s Seven Wonders Tour with Captain Fantastic (aka Andrew) and his wife. A fellow guest at Paradise Cove loved this tour so much he went two days in a row, which convinces me to pick it.

Andrew and his wife swing by to get me around 9am. We pick up five other people along the way (a couple from Sydney and a family of three from Canada) and make our way to the main dock in Aitutaki.

And we’re off!

We first stop at Rapota, the island where the British reality TV show Shipwrecked was shot. Captain Fantastic docks near the sand and we hop off for some photo ops. He provides background information on the history of each island we visit.

I am besides myself with excitement at all of this. There’s no where I’d rather be.

We climb back on board and jet to the next island. This continues stop after stop. Each one is just as beautiful as the last (if not more so) and there are slight variations — one island is home to a palm tree forrest of tropical birds, and another one is where they primarily shot Survivor: Cook Islands. But looking back I have trouble remembering them all distinctly! The day tour is a barrage of stunning islands, one after the other. No complaints here.

The birds below are terns or frigatebirds (I hope I’m remembering this correctly… Mom & Dad, Uncle Doug & Aunt Chris, Pete & Elena — feel free to correct me). They look similar to the frigatebirds I saw in the Galapagos (minus the red gular sac) so I think I’m on the right track. Here’s a full list of birds found in the Cook Islands.

The water changes color as we progress from island to island. Sometimes the color changes within seconds as the clouds move overhead. It’s been awhile since high school science, but I think this has to do with the light refracting in the water, which fluctuates with the ocean depth, the sun, and the clouds.

Here’s a red tail tropicbird nesting:

I’d like to spend a few hours (or days) lounging in this hammock.

There are tiny crabs in nearly every shell on the beach. Watch your step!

And we eat young coconut, which is fleshier and chewier than the harder mature variety you typically see.

We stop twice to go snorkeling. Highlights include bright purple starfish and giant clamshells. I look forward to sharing those photos in a few days.

We stop at this island for lunch. Unfortunately I don’t remember what it’s called but it sure is beautiful. Our tour guide changed his island itinerary about a week prior, so this is a new lunch spot for them. The change was intended to avoid overlapping with other tours, and it’s a success — we don’t see another tour all day long. It’s just the six of us plus Captain Fantastic and his wife (our skillful cook).

Our lunch spread includes freshly cooked parrot fish, leafy salad, island fruit, potato salad, and sweet bread.

This is our view at lunch:

Afterwards we search for crabs (we don’t have to look far as they’re everywhere) and then race them. When Adrew first suggest this we think it’s a joke, but then we get into it.

We place the crabs in the center of the circle and whichever crab reaches the outside first wins. Guess what? Mine won!

I’ll stop here for now. I have one more day of photos to share from this lagoon tour, and I’m saving the best for last — One Foot Island photos coming tomorrow! It’s where they primarily shot Survivor: Cook Islands and this particular stretch of sand is among the most impressive in all the world.