Cook Islands Fly & Stay: A Snowbird Tropical Retreat

Beach Vacations

Arrive in Rarotonga and settle into island life surrounded by turquoise lagoon and palm-fringed beaches.
Explore ancient marae and local legends on a guided Island Discovery Tour through lush, cultural landscapes.
Drift across Muri Lagoon on Captain Tama’s cruise, snorkelling coral gardens and savouring a beachside feast.
Fly to Aitutaki for a day among dazzling blues, where One Foot Island awaits in serene perfection.
Unwind with long, unhurried days in paradise—swimming, strolling, and soaking in Rarotonga’s golden sunsets.

Days

55 Years of Expertise in Tailor-Made Travel

ExcellentBased on 5,309 Reviews

55 Years of Expertise in Tailor-Made Travel

ExcellentBased on 5,309 Reviews

Trip Features

Epic Scenery

Showcases landscapes that elevate parts of the journey.

Unique Accommodation

Incorporates distinctive stays that add personality and memorable flair.

Beach Vacations

Vacations that help you unwind in warm weather climates.

Epic Scenery

Showcases landscapes that elevate parts of the journey.

Unique Accommodation

Incorporates distinctive stays that add personality and memorable flair.

Beach Vacations

Vacations that help you unwind in warm weather climates.

Trip Itinerary

At a Glance

DAY

Depart North America

DAY

Welcome to the Cook Islands

DAY

Island Discovery of Rarotonga's Rich Culture & History

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Progressive Dinner Experience

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Amazing Aitutaki

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Rarotonga at Leisure

DAY

Farewell to the Cook Islands

Travel Itinerary

Trip Starts

Trip Stop

Trip Ends

Detailed Itinerary

DAY

Depart North America

Day Tour

Depart North America

Today you depart North America on the first leg of your journey to the South Pacific. Whether you’re dreaming of turquoise lagoons, white-sand beaches, or warm island hospitality, your tropical escape starts now.

DAY

Welcome to the Cook Islands

Day Tour

Arrive in the Cook Islands

Kia orana and welcome to the Cook Islands! You’ll be met on arrival by a local representative, ready to help you trade your travel shoes for sandals and ease into a relaxed island pace.

Your Accommodation

Palm Grove

Set in the enchanting area of Vaima on the stunning Southern coast, Palm Grove enjoys the peace and tranquillity of one of the best locations on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Thirteen garden bungalows set amongst hibiscus and tipani flowers are complemented with thirteen beachfront bungalows set alongside the secluded beach. Sit back, relax, and find your own private piece of paradise!

Duration

29 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Continental Breakfast

Show on Map

DAY

Island Discovery of Rarotonga's Rich Culture & History

Day Tour

Island Discovery Tour

Start your holiday in the Cook Islands with an orientated cultural tour of scenic Rarotonga in a modern air-conditioned coach. Explore the history and culture of the Cook Island people in the company of your qualified, friendly tour guides. Follow the roads and paths used by our ancestors dating back to 1100AD; visit a sacred marae (ancient gathering place for royalty) and explore historical sites once inhabited by our people. Learn where the best snorkelling spots are located in Rarotonga, see why the coconut tree is known as the Tree of Life.

DAYS

4-5

DAYS

4-5

Rarotonga at Leisure

Enjoy the day as you wish. If you would like to arrange an activity, excursion, or other experience, please contact your Goway Destination Specialist.

DAY

Progressive Dinner Experience

Day Tour

Progressive Dinner

Leave behind the familiar surroundings of your resort and venture out to local villages to experience true Cook Islands cuisine, hospitality and the real spirit of culture & lifestyle, when you visit with locals in their homes! Enjoy a Progressive Three Course Dinner, where each course is hosted in a different local home. Walkthrough the tropical garden at the home of your first host, who serves your 'first course' for the night. Then it is off to enjoy your "main course", where you will be treated to a buffet feast, similar to what you would expect at a large Cook Islands family gathering. Then, your "dessert" host will delight you with local sweets, fruit as well as tea and Atiu Island brewed coffee. When enjoying your meals at each home, you will be delighted by the sounds of local ukuleles, guitar and voices of the small string band that will accompany you throughout your local dining experience.

DAYS

7-10

DAYS

7-10

Rarotonga at Leisure

Enjoy the day as you wish. If you would like to arrange an activity, excursion, or other experience, please contact your Goway Destination Specialist.

DAY

Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise

Day Tour

Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise

Captain Tamas award winning Lagoon Cruise is undoubtedly one of the best ways to discover and experience the stunning Muri lagoon. Be entertained by Captain Tama's and his crew on this once in a lifetime, most unforgettable experience. Watch the magical ocean through the glass bottomed boat, listen to island stories with typical Cook Island humour. Leap off the boat, snorkel and meet the reef fish up close and personal. Or chill out and float above the coral paradise. Muri beach offers beautiful clear, shallow water - so it's ideal snorkelling fun for everyone, from beginners to advanced and if you can't snorkel, don't worry, the crew will teach you. After your snorkel the boat heads to a small island in the lagoon to enjoy a delicious fresh fish BBQ which includes: Fish cooked "Raro style" over an open fire, BBQ bananas (the captains speciality), a range of salads all accompanied by seasonal fruits and French bread. Captain Tama's and his entertaining crew have been sharing their tropical island playground with visitors since 1992 on this award-winning Muri Lagoon cruise.

DAYS

12-14

DAYS

12-14

Rarotonga at Leisure

Enjoy the day as you wish. If you would like to arrange an activity, excursion, or other experience, please contact your Goway Destination Specialist.

DAY

Amazing Aitutaki

Day Tour

Aitutaki Day Tour

The day starts with a transfer from your Rarotonga accommodation and a 40 minute flight to Aitutaki. On descent, the stunning colours of the lagoon come into view and this is usually where everyone has their phone against the windows - capturing the magical landscape below. On arrival at Aitutaki, take a 45 minute tour of the island by "Les Truck" taking in views of inland plantations and the main villages. Then the highlight of the day. The renowned Vaka Cruise - six hours of cruising the magnificient blue lagoon aboard the Polynesian styled vaka Titi-ai-Tonga. Visit three (Moturakau, Akaiami, One Foot Island) small motu (islets) fringing the lagoon with time for snorkelling at each one. Experience the solitude of pristine white sand beaches and warm crystal clear water. Highlights include the iconic One Foot Island (Tapuaetai) and Akaiami - where giant TEAL flying boats used to stopover for refuelling on the famous Coral Route between Fiji, Samoa and Tahiti. Lunch is served on board. A delicious medley of barbecued pelagic fish steaks served with a variety of fresh salads and tropical fruit all sourced from local farmers. Lunch is accompanied by complimentary tea, coffee, and water, and a cash bar for wine, beer, champagne, and soft drinks is available. The day ends with an arrival back in Rarotonga at 5.30pm and a transfer back to your accommodation.

DAYS

16-30

DAYS

16-30

Rarotonga at Leisure

Enjoy the day as you wish. If you would like to arrange an activity, excursion, or other experience, please contact your Goway Destination Specialist.

DAY

Farewell to the Cook Islands

Day Tour

Depart the Cook Islands

Time permitting, savour a leisurely breakfast, one last stroll along the beach or some last-minute souvenir shopping before your flight home, taking warm island memories with you.

What to Expect

Explore what moves you.

The Cook Islands

Palm Grove beachfront

Enjoying Endless Summer

Garden Studio

Know when to go.

Place

Conditions

Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall

City 874Partly Cloudy

21°C / 71°F

40mm / 1.6"

Weather data is based on monthly averages.

Popularity rating

ExcellentBased on 5,309 Reviews

Verified

October 9, 2026, was our 50th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, I wanted to take my bride to Europe for 50 days. Also, other than the flight over, I wanted to make the trip by train. I contacted Farnaz at Goway. The trip we planned ultimately extended to 60 days. It was absolutely flawless. We had great hotels, great tours. Even though this trip was complex and had a lot of moving parts, there were no problems. Farnaz and the folks at Goway done a great job. I highly recommend them and will definitely use them on any future tripsDaniel Graff

Verified

We had a fabulous Croatia vacation with a cruise from Dubrovnik to Split, followed by land tours on Split and Opatija. Lodging was always comfortable and conveniently located. Tours and activities were perfectly suited to our interests. We have used GoWay for 2 vacations and are currently working on another. Karen

Verified

We would like to thank our travel specialist, Bijal for all the planning and coordinating that was done to make our Tanzania trip as spectacular as it was from start to finish! Everything went so smoothly from our transfers, to our accommodations, to all of our tours! The people we came into contact with were exemplary! There were so many highlights on our trip from the animal sightings, to the balloon flight and champagne breakfast, to all the incredible scenery. Our accommodations were stunning! The level of service was remarkable and the locations were beyond our expectations. To think we would be having dinner and seeing the zebras and the elephants in the distance was amazing! Our tour guide/driver was very knowledgeable, friendly, passionate and had a keen eye for spotting animals in the distance. He made sure that we saw all the animals that we had hoped to see. it was truly a pleasure to spend the week with him. Thank you again to Bijal for all the work in making this once in a lifetime trip so exceptional!! We look forward to having Bijal help us plan our future trips.The Chadwicks and Williams

Verified

I wanted to do a once in a lifetime vacation but had no idea where to start, other than knowing where I wanted to go. I reached out to goway.com and Jessica (shoutout!), who is an expert on our specific destination, sent me an itinerary quickly! She had me going into the jungle one day, so I requested to swap that nonsense for a fishing charter, and before I knew it, my trip was ready. We just returned and it truly was a once in a lifetime experience! The resort service was top notch and (according to locals) we had all of the BEST activities the island has to offer. If you are up in the air at all as to whether or not going through goway is worth the money, I'm here to tell you: If it's peace of mind and a perfect vacation you're looking for, do it now.therealitgirl

Verified

We recently worked with Jacqueline to plan our trip to Greece and had a wonderful experience. We made several revisions to our itinerary and Jacqueline was patient, understanding and prompt in responding to our needs. In addition to the specific tours she booked, she provided extra options and local suggestions for each place we visited in Greece. Her attention to detail and responsiveness made our trip incredibly memorable. Mark Mendell

Verified

We have used Goway several times to plan simple & more complicated trips. The last 2 trips we worked with Brooke Theron who is extremely customer focused. She listens well & is alway flexible to look at alternatives. We will continue using this representative & Goway. Our only criticism is that they do not break down the various costs of a trip which makes tipping very awkward. It can also create a sense of " mistrust" when all the costs are not transparent. Cheryl Hayes

Verified

Our trip to Switzerland was an amazing experience. Our travel agent at GoWay, Bo was so helpful in helping my husband Louie plan just what we wanted to do on this trip. Taking the trains thru the county was easy by the many hours Louie and Bo worked on this. Also our helicopter ride in Zermatt on my birthday was just unbelievable. Flying around the Matterhorn and the Alps is one flight we will never forget. Thanks Bo for setting this up. The trip was one incredible adventure that we will never forget. Thanks again Bo, Lynn Gerber. Lynn Gerber

Verified

We booked a Goway tour to Botswana and Zimbabwe and it was excellent. We worked with Brooke, the Goway represntative, to set up the tour and she was an outstanding agent who answered any questions we had very quickly and completely. Her hotel recommendation for the additional night we stayed was pefect. Goway hires a local tour group, Jenman Safaris, to lead the safari in the 2 countries. The tour itself was amazing...the lodges that we stayed at were very nice and the food was great (except for one lodge's food). The Goway itinerary was slightly different than the actual Jenman Safari itinerary but most of the sites that we went to were the same as listed on the Goway itinerary. I would use Goway again because their choice of a local tour group was very good...nice lodges/camps and good food and knowledgeable tour guides.Ma Fa

Verified

Our GoWay tour representative, Michael Keon, was on top of all of our concerns and questions in a professional manner and we look forward to working with him in the future. Michael was very easy to work with and treated us like family.Thomas

Verified

Matthew handled my honeymoon couple's very specific African itinerary like a pro! My clients went to four different travel agents who only wanted to send them on safaris. My clients had already done safaris and were specific on what they wanted to do and see. Matthew hit the nail on the head! Highly recommend!Amanda Schott

Our Commitment

Why Travel with Goway?

Personalized Trips

Every vacation with Goway is tailored to your exact travel needs. Our vacations are as unique as you are.

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Travel experiences with up to 5-star accommodations and private guided tours that offers an intimate and exclusive way to see the world.

Authentic Experts

Work with our Destination Specialists who are true experts, having lived, worked, or traveled extensively in the destinations we offer.

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Enjoy great value on vacations to over 115 destinations on all seven continents. Explore the whole world in the way and style you choose.

What do the experts say?

Jessica Scott

Team Lead

Learn More About This Expert

Te Maeva Nui is the Cook Islands' biggest annual cultural celebration, held every August to mark the anniversary of the nation's self-governance. The festival features colourful parades, traditional music and dance, handicrafts, and local food. It’s a vibrant showcase of the islands’ heritage and community spirit. Attending Te Maeva Nui gives travellers a unique chance to see the culture come alive and connect with locals in a joyful, festive setting

Learn More About This Expert

Rochelle Vierus

Destination Specialist

Learn More About This Expert

The islands are deeply Christian, and on Sundays almost everything shuts down — shops, cafés, tours. Instead, visitors are welcome to attend vibrant church services full of incredible a cappella singing. It’s one of the most authentic cultural experiences you can have.

Learn More About This Expert

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Exclusive Savings

Insider Benefits

Departures from Los Angeles or San Francisco	Garden Studio 29 nights Per Person US$	Beachfront Studio 29 nights Per Person US$
1 November to 13 December 2026 7 January to 31 March 2027	$5,189	$6,249
14 December 2026 to 6 January 2027	$5,339	$6,399
Add-on Airfare Information: For departures from Seattle or Las Vegas, add US$175 per person For departures from Dallas or Portland, add US$260 per person For departures from Denver, New York, or Chicago, add US$410 per person For departures from Boston, Philadelphia, Orlando, or Miami, add US$530 per person

Departures from: Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton	Garden Studio 29 nights Per Person CA$	Beachfront Studio 29 nights Per Person CA$
1 November to 13 December 2026 7 January to 31 March 2027	$7,729	$9,249
14 December 2026 to 6 January 2027	$8,449	$10.129
Add-on Airfare Information: For departures from Montreal, Quebec City, or Toronto, add CA$315

Cook Islands Fly & Stay: A Snowbird Tropical Retreat

Trip Features

Trip Itinerary

At a Glance

Depart North America

Welcome to the Cook Islands

Island Discovery of Rarotonga's Rich Culture & History

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Progressive Dinner Experience

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Amazing Aitutaki

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Rarotonga at Leisure

Farewell to the Cook Islands

Detailed Itinerary

Depart North America

Welcome to the Cook Islands

Island Discovery of Rarotonga's Rich Culture & History

Rarotonga at Leisure

Progressive Dinner Experience

Rarotonga at Leisure

Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise

Rarotonga at Leisure

Amazing Aitutaki

Rarotonga at Leisure

Farewell to the Cook Islands

Departures

Terms and Conditions

What to Expect

Explore what moves you.

Most Popular Time to Travel

Know when to go.

Our Commitment

Why Travel with Goway?

What do the experts say?

Jessica Scott

Rochelle Vierus

Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.