Tangaroa Tours

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Overview

Tangaroa 4 x 4 Tour is an exciting half day adventure into the interior of the island of Rarotonga. These Cook Islands tours are a great way to explore some of the islands hard to reach places and get a feel for the lay of the land.

The Raro Safari tour commences with a brief overview of the island and what the tour entails. Heading inland you will discover the lush tropical interior of the island. Visit the green valleys of Avatiu along a paved road that takes you close to the center of the island. Along the way you will see taro plantations. The Taro plant is an important food crop throughout the Pacific. You will learn of its history and how it came to the Cook Islands. Gain access to some of Rarotonga's sacred sites such as Arai Te Tonga Marae. Learn of ancient rituals and human sacrifices at this sacred site.

Most of the Raro Safari Tour is conducted along the ancient Ara Metua - an inland road system that lies a mile or so inland from the coast and built by the warrior chief Toi, approximately 1000 years ago. The Ara Metua winds along its original course through areas that are intensively cultivated and pass colorful gardens and plantations. This part of the tour presents the island from a very different perspective than the coastal road. Ara Tapu is a 31 kilometer coastal highway that runs parallel to the white sand beaches of the island. This road takes the tour pass old limestone churches, through the main township of Avarua where the islands main shopping area is located, through pawpaw plantations, resorts and village shops.

Tangaroa 4 x 4 Tour also takes you to the heights of some of Rarotonga's more accessible mountains offering spectacular views of the coastline and lagoon. The eastern heights in particular offer a fantastic view of Muri Lagoon and her offshore islands (motus).