Rarotonga is the main island of the Cook Islands, ringed by a lagoon and mountains, with a relaxed pace, a single round-island road and friendly Polynesian culture. It has beach resorts, self-catering bungalows and guesthouses, and cheaper rooms are often inland or on the quieter south coast.
Finding cheap rooms in Rarotonga is easier when you know where to look. We compare live hotel rates across the top booking sites and point you to the neighborhoods where hotels are cheap but the location is still great.
Rooms come in more shapes than hotels — in Rarotonga you can also compare apartments with kitchens, vacation rentals for families, B&Bs and budget hostels in one search.
Cruise ships call at Rarotonga by anchoring offshore and tendering passengers into Avarua, weather permitting.
A shallow, sheltered lagoon with islets, kayaking and resorts.
The small capital, with markets, cafés and the harbour.
The west coast, famous for sunsets, with resorts and bungalows.
The quieter south coast, known for good snorkelling.
Zoom and pan the map to compare hotel prices by neighborhood; rates come live from the booking sites.
May–October is drier and cooler. The wet season from roughly November to April is warmer and more humid, with occasional cyclones.
Self-catering bungalows and guesthouses, especially inland or on the south coast, are usually cheaper than beach resorts.
Round-island buses run clockwise and anticlockwise, and scooters and cars are easy to hire.
Yes. Short flights and day tours link Rarotonga with Aitutaki’s famous lagoon.