Aitutaki Lagoon hosts Motu2Motu from 1 to 3 December
Published on 11/14/2026 at 16:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSRace course and island setting
- Cook Islands Tourism lists Motu2Motu at Aitutaki Lagoon from 1 to 3 December 2026.
- The changeover race covers 36 kilometres through seven legs and six changeovers.
- Aitutaki Lagoon is dotted with 15 motus, or small islets, according to Cook Islands Tourism.
- Aitutaki lies a 50-minute flight from Rarotonga, the tourism authority says.
Aitutaki Lagoon hosts Motu2Motu Aitutaki in Aitutaki, Cook Islands, from 1 to 3 December 2026. The international outrigger canoe changeover race brings paddlers to a lagoon surrounded by small islands.
Motu2Motu Aitutaki runs from 1 to 3 December
Cook Islands Tourism lists the event for 1 to 3 December 2026 at Aitutaki Lagoon in Aitutaki. Its official event listing describes an international outrigger canoe changeover race, making the lagoon itself the sporting venue.
The published format covers 36 kilometres, seven legs and six changeovers, with mixed crews of 12. A separate Cook Islands calendar also places Motu2Motu in Aitutaki from 1 to 3 December 2026 and describes racing for paddlers of every skill level.
Aitutaki Lagoon links racing to a scattered island landscape
The race course is set within the lagoon that surrounds Aitutaki, an island in the southern Cook Islands. The destination has a triangular reef and 15 motus, or small islets, scattered across its turquoise waters, according to Cook Islands Tourism.
That geography gives Motu2Motu a setting different from a stadium course: the event connects several stretches of water around the island rather than concentrating activity on one built arena. The Cook Islands event calendar identifies the seven-leg, 36-kilometre format and mixed crews from the islands and further afield.
Getting to the lagoon from Rarotonga
Aitutaki is about 220 kilometres from Rarotonga and is reached by domestic flight. Cook Islands Tourism gives the flight time as 50 minutes, making Rarotonga the usual air gateway for travellers combining the two islands.
The lagoon is also a regular setting for cruises, snorkelling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. During Motu2Motu, visitors should expect the named race course to be used for canoeing between 1 and 3 December, while the detailed daily race schedule is not included in the official listing.
Visiting Aitutaki Lagoon: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Motu2Motu takes place at Aitutaki Lagoon in Aitutaki from 1 to 3 December 2026.
- The event uses the lagoon as a race course for an international outrigger canoe competition; no closure of the lagoon is stated in the published listing.
- Aitutaki is reached by a 50-minute domestic flight from Rarotonga, according to Cook Islands Tourism.
- The lagoon contains 15 motus, while the canoe event covers seven legs and six changeovers.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Aitutaki Lagoon
When does Motu2Motu take place at Aitutaki Lagoon?
Motu2Motu takes place from 1 to 3 December 2026 at Aitutaki Lagoon in Aitutaki.
What is Aitutaki Lagoon?
It is a reef-enclosed lagoon around Aitutaki, dotted with small motus and used for water activities including canoe racing.
Where is Aitutaki Lagoon and how do you get there?
Aitutaki Lagoon is in the Cook Islands. Cook Islands Tourism says Aitutaki is reached from Rarotonga by a 50-minute flight.
