Things To Do › Aitutaki
Water Activities

Maina and the Aitutaki giant clams

📍 Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Where
Western side of the Aitutaki lagoon — boat access
Opening hours
Daylight, calmest in the morning
Typical cost
Included on most lagoon cruises

Maina, toward the western side of the lagoon, is one of the stops most lagoon cruises include, and the reason is the clams.

The clams

Giant clams sit in shallow water with their mantles open, in blues, greens and browns that look artificially saturated. Because the water is shallow and clear, you see them properly without diving.

Also here

Reef fish in numbers, coral in reasonable condition, and a sandbar to stand on between snorkels.

Looking after it

  • Do not touch or stand on the clams or the coral.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen, or a rash vest instead.
  • Keep fins clear of the bottom — a careless kick breaks years of growth.
💡 Local tip
Look but do not touch. The clams close when a shadow passes and repeated handling stresses them — and they are far older than they look.
Listed as a local guide entry — not bookable through CI Booking. Details can change; it is worth confirming before you go.

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Mouare Aitutaki
From NZD 870/night
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From NZD 200/night
Do
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From NZD 500/person
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From NZD 40/day

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