Cook Islands Shopping

The Cook Islands offer the tourists a great choice of shopping opportunities. The country has souvenir shops, duty free shops, shopping galleries, gift shops, and local markets. High quality handicrafts stand for ideal souvenirs, so the visitors are eager to buy sculptures, ceramics, glass, and antiques. Local clothing, including colorful shirts and pareus (sarongs), are also very popular. The Cooks are known for their Tivaevae (vivid patchwork quilts) and white flat rimmed Rito hats. There are two types of woodcarvings which can be bought at the Cook Islands. They are Tangaroa (the phallic statue of a prominent male god) and slit drums known as pate. Notice that Ara Tapu road has lots of shops, specializing in handicrafts, black pearls, and other jewellery. At the local markets next to Avatiu Harbour, held on Friday night and Saturday morning, the tourists can purchase fresh sea products.