1 Week: Mangaia or Mauke

Please help me make up my mind :-)

My partner and I will be in the Cook Islands for Vaka Eiva and will have about 10 days spare after the Motu to Motu race on Aitutaki. This will be our 5th trip to Raro and 4th to Aitutaki. We have been to Atiu as well once (LOVED it) but this time we would like to explore another island and can't decide between Mangaia or Mauke.

We are pretty active people so really not looking to just lie around reading a book all day. We love getting into the local scene and interacting with the locals, checking out what it is that makes an island different from the others, anything cultural, nature.

What things have you ennjoyed on these islands?

The two islands are quite different.

Mangaia is the larger of the two and has much vertical geography than Mauke. Compared to the rest of the Southern Group Mangaians are fiercely independent and tend to do their own thing. One-on-one the people are just as friendly as the islands you've already visited. The caves are probably the most spectacular in the Cook Islands and the local lore and tales of the past are among the most interesting. If you go be sure and look up Tere' in Ivirua. He's a very good cave guide and story teller. It's an interesting place to explore on foot but I'd recommend taking a GPS and setting up some reference waypoints before you set out exploring on your own. Have someone take you to the entrance and exit to the old stone road that leads from the coast to the interior and set those on your GPS so you don't get lost. It's a neat walk.

Mauke is probably the friendliest of the five islands in the Southern Group. It's flat and the two main villages kind of merge into one. There's a 10.2 mile perimeter road that is in the shade 90% of the way. It makes a very pleasant 3-hour morning walk if you can manage the distance. Tiara cottages is the best place to stay on Mauke. Ta & Teata are very accommodating and thoughtful hosts.

You may want to consider Mitiaro too. It's a bit more wild, (as in party) than the other two and has a swimming hole to die for!

Check out these Mauke videos:
http://youtu.be/I6vllXoJfEU and http://youtu.be/sPifdN0ZANQ

Added video links

Oh thanks, that's all good info! I hadn't considered Mitiaro in the mix, more to research ;-) My Cook Islands LP is a little out of date so I'll do a bit of googling. The air Raro flights may work out better.

If we can do Vaka Eiva, I think the round Mauke walk won't be too much of a prob. ;-)

Thanks for the vid links too, I'll check them out tonight.

I would also recommend Mangaia, being the second largest island in the Cook group, there is much ground to cover with its three main villages being spread out, and a system of underground caves intersecting the island. If you are interested in geology, history and birdlife this island will appeal to your adventurous nature.

Air Raro flies from Rarotonga to Mangaia on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Limited accommodation but a nice mix including budget guesthouses, individual chalets, and moderate s/c villas.