Hello all - I'm going to be staying in Aitutaki for 5 days with nothing to do but explore the lagoon. I know about the tour-operated lagoon cruises, but I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about exploring the lagoon independently with a canoe or something. Is this not feasible? One knowledgeable fellow at another site told me that it is unlikely anyone would rent out a motorboat or outrigger. Has anyone ever crossed the lagoon in a kayak?<BR><BR>Thanks<BR>Noel

I rented a kayak from the Samade Restaurant, on Ootu Beach. We paddled across the lagoon to two different motus, then back again. It was fun, but took a lot longer than we anticipated. Our shoulders ached for the next couple of days.

Thanks - that's what I'm thinking I will do. Have far out did you get? As far as One-Foot Island?<BR><BR>Also, I'm staying on the Western side of the Main Island (Pacific Resort)- is it easy to get to Ootu Beach from there?

Hi Noel. While at the Pearl on Aitutaki recently we met with a couple who were headed out to Akaiami Motu for 3 or 4 nights. They had to go into town and buy their own groceries. There is only a lean-to shack kind of facitilities. It was never quite clear to us if there were any facitilites other than that. They were being boated out there, and somebody promised to come and get them at a pre arranged time. They were paying per night but I don't remember if they told us how much.<BR>I believe they booked it through Island Hoppers Vacations, according to their ad, &quot;specializing in outer island travel.&quot; But I could be wrong on that. They were pretty vague on the details.<BR>www.islandhoppervacations.com<BR>Other than that, we tried the kayak bit on Raro, and if the wind is up a little, like Alf says, sore shoulders.

Thanks folks. I'm probably not going to spend a night on the motus, but I'm definitely going to hire someone to take me out there for the day, and maybe tow a rented kayak there too so I can explore while I'm out there

Noel: Digging through my stuff, I found a flier for Teking. Talked to Teking on the beach at Pearl one day, he was waiting for his fares. He does half day trips, and seems way more flexible and faster than the large party boats. Bishop is an all day deal with lunch on One Foot Island. But they might agree to drop you somewhere and pick you up on their way back.<BR>Teking's flier also indicates that he provides &quot;water taxi service&quot;. I think you'd be able to hitch a ride with either of these guys once you get there. They both have very fast outboard motor boats, I don't think they'd want to drag a kayak around. But hey, who knows. Good Luck.

Thanks Bill - that's good to know about Teking - I'll ask them about towing a kayak when I get there.<BR><BR>I'll probably do the Bishop Cruise the first day I get there, then hire Teking to take me back to the spots I'd like to explore on my own