Private Rarotonga Turtle Tour
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Many popular snorkeling experiences in Rarotonga disappoint travelers looking to spot fish, and not other snorkelers' fins. This small-group snorkeling tour is perfect for travelers who want to experience the island's abundant sea life in a more intimate setting. With a private beach, all snorkeling gear provided, and a delicious fruit basket, and photos from your excursion included, this tour has everything you need for a memorable experience.
- Get away from the crowds and enjoy a more intimate snorkeling experience
- All snorkeling gear provided to explore the underwater world
- Refresh with a delicious selections of local fruits
- A small group means more attention from your guide
What's Included
- Guaranteed turtle experience
- Use of Snorkeling equipmentUse of Snorkelling equipment
- SnacksLocal fruits
- Ample parking for your convenience
- Secure storage for your valuables
- Outdoor shower
- Photography is included on all tours but not guaranteed as your safety is our priority
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Snorkel Cook IslandsAvaavaroa Passage, Takitumu District, Cook Islands
We're right on the beach at Avaavaroa passage. Find us up on Google Maps under Snorkel Cook Islands. We're conveniently on the main road bus route. We do not offer direct transfers but upon booking you will be emailed all details of how to find us, If not email kiaorana@snorkelcookislands.com
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Kayleigh_K
Such a cool, fun experience! The turtles do come right up to you and the whole crew is constantly looking out for your safety but also creating an enjoyable time. Highly recommend doing this tour, it is something we will be doing again when we come back to Raro
Reviews
4.8
based on 192 reviews
Luke_L, Jan 2026
Was expecting great things but bit disappointed. Did the 01/01/26 at 1:45pm tour. Guide seemed disengaged with the later tour booked it. Seemed half the turn out to the morning session. No photos of my group session have been uploaded. Way over 160 from the morning group. Felt the consistency wasn't there for both groups. Not sure why as I paid the same amount if not more way over the special price. The water was not as visible as expected to see alot of the marine life. Just ok!
James_B, Jan 2026
The tour delivers however, the low rating is due to the fact that the photos were not uploaded, and the emails remain unanswered. I love the passion of the host and tour guide protecting the reef, however, I cannot help but feel the 1;45pm tour group didn’t get the same love as the previous two, of which their photos were uploaded. Very disappointing as this truly was remarkable seeing Manta Rays and Turtles.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks for your feedback!!
We’re sorry about the delay with the photos and the lack of response to your emails. We’ve recently been catching up on emails, so we apologise if yours was missed. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the experience and connected with the guide’s passion for protecting the reef, and seeing manta rays and turtles is always something special.
We’re sorry it felt like your group didn’t get the same attention, that’s not the experience we aim to provide, and we’ll take that on board.
If you haven’t received your photos until now, please email us at kiaorana@snorkelcookislands.com and we’ll make sure to help you find them.
Thanks again for your patience.
Kayleigh_K, Aug 2025
Such a cool, fun experience! The turtles do come right up to you and the whole crew is constantly looking out for your safety but also creating an enjoyable time. Highly recommend doing this tour, it is something we will be doing again when we come back to Raro
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks so much, Kayleigh! It’s fantastic that the crew balanced safety with a truly enjoyable time and that the turtles made such a close-up impression 🐠. We’d love to see you back exploring the moana soon!
Helen_W, Jul 2025
Local run snorkelling adventure - experienced crew and they made it lots of fun and really looked after all levels of swimmers. Over an hour on the actual reef after safety briefing and passing the snorkeling ability test.
A smaller group would have been better but once everyone spread out in the water there was plenty of room to explore at your own pace
Saw beautiful fish, reef and of course… turtles!
We appeared to have longer in the water than the other tours on the day which was major bonus
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Helen! 🐢 We’re so glad you enjoyed the local snorkelling adventure 🌊. The team loved supporting all levels of swimmers and giving everyone the chance to explore turtles, reef, and fish at their own pace 🐠.
Hope to share another amazing Raro adventure with you soon!
Fran, Jun 2025
This tour is advertised a a small group tour with a maximum of 20 people and there were 35 people in our group. The tour is conducted from the beach, which we didn't expect, with a fairly extensive safety briefing. We geared up and after being shown a map drawn in the sand, which I wasn't going to remember for the life of me, we walked and swam out to where the turtles and other marine life are visible. There was an extensive crew of around 6 staff/life guards who were responsible for our safety. We were asked to stick with our group as there were several other groups of people out there. I happened to stray a bit because you're out in the ocean, with maybe a hundred or more other people, with your head under the water snorkeling and trying to get a glimpse of what you paid to see. One of the other tours staff members was quite rude telling me to stick with my group. I understand why the different tour operators would want there group to stay with them but speaking to people in a respectful manner, when they stray unknowingly from their group, would render the experience much more pleasant. Unfortunately I let this guys attitude get the better of me and I told our tour staff that there were to many people and asked how to get back to shore. At that point, a lovely young lady, shout out to Ally!, took me under her wing and guided me and my husband and daughter out to see the turtles and rays. Only then did I actually start to enjoy myself and appreciate why we had opted to do this tour. The way back into shore was also a bit hairy, we had to walk back in single file, with strong currents and rocks under the water to navigate. Ally was by my side all the way and I truly appreciated her looking out for me. I found it hard to rate this tour because the staff were lovely and really did their best to ensure the tour was enjoyable for everyone but there were too many people and the disrespectful nature of the other tour operator put a dampener on it. All I can say is try and stick with your group and if you get roused on give em the finger, because the ocean is there for us all to enjoy.
Rob_K, May 2025
The entire experience was simply amazing. Being able to swim with so many different turtles was incredible and when they popped up for air right next to you it was simply epic. I cannot recommend the activity highly enough. If you’re in Raro do not miss out.
The guides led by Big T were super friendly and it made you feel really safe and the equipment was far better than you usually get on these kind of trips.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much!
We’re so happy you had an incredible time swimming with the turtles and enjoying the vibrant marine life. Big T and the team love making sure everyone feels safe and comfortable while having a memorable snorkel experience.
Anthony_H, Mar 2025
An amazing experience. The team there are so great I can’t praise them enough. My wife is not a strong swimmer but they supported her throughout the trip to make her feel safe. Saw plenty of turtles and rays and got some great photos. The current was strong on the day we did the trip but there were enough buoys to grab onto to have a rest and the team ensured anyone who needed extra help got it. Can’t recommend this tour enough
Response from Host, Mar 2026
What a pleasure to read your experience, Anthony! The best part of our day is seeing guests relax, laugh, and connect with the turtles, even if the water is a little challenging.
So happy the team’s support and the buoys helped make it comfortable and memorable for you both.
Daniel_S, Mar 2025
Great experience with an awesome friendly team. Very happy getting to see the turtles, will bring the family next time.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you so much Daniel for your kind words. We loved having you and how lucky we will be if we get you back again with the family.
Keep spreading these positive vibes and living life to the fullest.
cassandra_H, Feb 2025
Saw So many turtles and Eagle rays .. was very Safe with an Adventurous Feel .. guide was Amazing lovely person friendly and Knowledgeable … Staff made us feel Welcome and looked after us .. I had to change my tour time and they accommodated me without an issue .. can’t Wait to see the photos ! Great Value for money Cook Islands Fantastic turtles Everywhere and lots of Pretty fish ! 😊💝
Response from Host, Feb 2025
So happy you had an amazing time with us! 🐢✨ Seeing so many turtles and eagle rays must have been incredible!
Our team always aims to make everyone feel welcome and looked after, so we’re glad we could accommodate your schedule. Hope you love the photos as much as the experience! 📸🌊
Would love to have you back for another adventure! 💙
Deanna_G, Jan 2025
It was the best experience with the nicest people possible! I can't wait to come back and give it another go, especially after learning so much about the water. Thank you very much! Can't wait to see the photos you took.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
We’re so glad to hear you had the best experience with us! 😊💙
It's fantastic that you learned so much about the water and had such a great time! 🙌✨
Thank you for your kind words! If you could share your email address or send us an email, we’d love to share the photos with you soon! We can't wait to welcome you back for another adventure! 🌊📸
Kylie_F, Jan 2025
We all thoroughly enjoyed this turtle experience. Tee was informative and provided an extremely safe and controlled environment for people of all swimming abilities to enjoy this trip. This included people who were not such good swimmers. The turtles were awesome to get so close to and nothing like we have experienced before.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review! 🌊🐢 We're thrilled to hear that you all enjoyed the turtle experience with Tee!
It's great to know that everyone felt safe and included, no matter their swimming ability. Your kind words mean a lot to us! 😊
We hope to see you back for another unforgettable adventure soon! Don’t forget to book your next tour with us! 🌟✨
Zoe_W, Jan 2025
This was the highlight of my holiday. Swimming with turtles, why wouldn't you. Our guide was awesome, very informative and him and his crew made me feel safe in the water. Highly recommend Snorkel Cook Islands.
The experience itself in 2 words magically majestical
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 We're thrilled to hear that swimming with the turtles was the highlight of your holiday. It truly is a magical experience, isn't it? 🐢💙
Our team always aims to make everyone feel safe and at ease, so we're glad we could make it memorable for you! 🌊✨
We’d love to see you back for another adventure someday. Until then, take care and happy snorkeling! 🐠🌴
Luana_L, Dec 2024
Beautiful people ❤️ so much fun
and lots of laughter i wanted to go further deeper but i couldn't and still waiting for our photos 📸
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your lovely review! ❤️
We're so glad to hear you had so much fun and enjoyed all the laughter! It’s great that you wanted to explore further, and we hope you get to do that next time! 🌊
Your photos will be on their way soon! We can’t wait to welcome you back for more amazing adventures. Don’t forget to book your next tour with us! 🐠✨
Missy_C, Sep 2024
Grateful for the support we had through our experience, good vibes for the time we had with T, Ri and toretto.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Missy! 😊 We're glad to hear you had such a great time with T, Ree, and Toretto — they’ll be thrilled to know they made your experience special! 🌟
We’d love to welcome you back for more good vibes on your next visit! 🌊
Anna_B, Aug 2024
Amazing experience with a lovely team. Felt very safe and were free to roam around the water alone. We saw lots of turtles and rays. Absolutely stunning! We are excited for the photos!! Thank you :))
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for the amazing review! 🌟 We’re thrilled you felt safe and enjoyed exploring the water with our team.
Seeing lots of turtles and rays is always a highlight! 🐢✨ We’re excited for you to see the photos too!
Can’t wait to have you back for more stunning adventures! 😊
laani_l, Aug 2024
Actually seeing turtles and rays was so good and the staff were amazing highly recommend people go with this
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Laani! 😊
We’re thrilled you enjoyed seeing the turtles and rays, and we’re delighted to hear our staff made a great impression. 🐢🌊
We’d love to have you join us again for more amazing experiences. 🌟
samantha_n, Mar 2023
There are very few tours that exceed expectations and exceed reviews- this is one of them!
Our day with Henry swimming with turtles on our private tour was one of the best days of my life. From the care they took in explaining everything to being in the water and seeing the most gorgeous marine life to the fruit buffet we were greeted with on our return and the photos and video- it was beyond words! I am the CEO of a PR firm in New York and this company could teach everyone a lesson on customer service and EXPERIENCE. I cannot recommend them enough! And the photos look like I’m a diver with National Geographic! We will be back!!! Because of them!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
It was an absolute pleasure to host you!! Love that we exceeded your expectations and you had such a memorable experience! So look forward to taking you snorkeling again when you're next in Rarotonga!
Aaron_M, Mar 2022
Absolutely epic experience, best activity we did in our 2 weeks in Raro by far. Plenty of turtles and other great sights. The tour guide Josh was amazing - friendly, knowledgeable, and took great photos. Would highly, highly recommend .
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Meitaki Aaron for the recommendation. So glad you had an epic experience with Josh. Visit us again in the future and take care. Thanks, Lani
Karl_B, Feb 2020
Amazing experience to be able to swim up close to turtles and other reef wildlife! They are a group of trained life guards so you know you are in the safest hands on the island. If you don't know how to snorkel, they'll teach you that too and might even teach you something you didn't already know. Definitely the best snorkelling experience on the island. Can't miss this!
Response from Host, May 2024
Kia Orana!
We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience swimming up close to turtles and other reef wildlife! 🐢💦 Safety is our top priority, and we're glad you felt secure with our trained lifeguards. 🏊♂️ We're always happy to teach snorkeling skills and share our knowledge about the underwater world. 🐠🌊 Thank you for considering us the best snorkeling experience on the island! 🏝️ We can't wait to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures! 🌟🐬
Cheers,
Elly - SCI Admin
justin, Jan 2020
This reef tour is genuine, the real deal, island friendly, eco friendly and hassle free. Josh and his crew looked after us, good quality gear and a great tropical feed to finish. One of Cook Island's treasures.
Response from Host, May 2024
Kia Orana!
Thank you for your kind words! 🌟 We're delighted to hear that you found our reef tour genuine, eco-friendly, and hassle-free. 🏝️
Josh and the crew take great pride in providing top-notch service and quality gear. 🐠🌺 It was our pleasure to share one of Cook Island's treasures with you! 🐢💦
We can't wait to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future! 🌴🤗
Cheers,
Elly - SCI Admin
Maria_H, Dec 2019
Thanks to Josh and team it was well worth it to get up before the break of dawn while on holiday.
The amount of care they took to make sure our goggles and other gear fit perfectly was amazing. For the first time ever I didn't nearly drown myself halfway because of water and fog in my goggles :) Josh and Tim also continuously made sure we were OK so that we could concentrate on watching the turtles, eels and other fish. We were lucky to see so many turtles up close. I was also fortunate to see one ray, but will definitely have to come back one day when visibility is better to see the rest of the school of rays.
Thank you guys for an amazing experience.
Response from Host, May 2024
Kia Orana!
You're welcome! 🌟 We're thrilled to hear that you found it worth getting up early for our tour! 🌅
It's fantastic to know that our team's attention to detail ensured your gear fit perfectly. 🐢💦 We're glad you had a smooth snorkeling experience without any goggle mishaps! 😊 Josh, Tim, and the team are dedicated to ensuring our guests feel safe and comfortable throughout the excursion. 🏊♂️👍
We'd love to welcome you back to explore more underwater wonders, including those elusive rays! 🐠🦈 Don't hesitate to book with us again whenever you're ready for another adventure! 🌺🐬
Cheers,
Elly - SCI Admin
Christine_B, Jan 2026
The experience was fantastic.
We were the first in the water, the turtles swam directly with us.
Charlotte is great.
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Response from Host, Mar 2026
Es ist fantastisch zu hören, dass ihr ein so magisches Erlebnis hattet! 🤿
Wir freuen uns, dass Charlotte euren Tag so besonders gemacht hat und die Begegnung mit den Schildkröten unvergesslich war.
From $372.86
per group (up to 3)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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