If you are looking for beautiful white sand beaches and warm, clear water for swimming and snorkeling, these two destinations may meet your needs. However, there is a significant difference between the two Fiji vs Cook Islands.
Fiji is the most visited island and consists of a group of two islands with many resorts. In contrast, the remote Cook Islands are much less commercialized and feel rustic and authentic in remote areas. Don’t expect to find McDonald’s at the chef!
In fact, on a large scale difference between Fiji vs Cook Islands, the Cook Islands have a population of less than 20,000 (the capital’s population is 5,000), while Fiji has a population of 900,000.
But Fiji certainly has a lot to do. The country is a volcanic country with impressive lush mountainous interiors with numerous hiking trails and waterfalls. Fiji’s highest peak is 1324m, while Mount Cook’s highest peak is 653m.
The remote islands of Fiji are relatively close to the main island, making it easy to navigate throughout the archipelago. This opens up possibilities for exploration and more ways to keep your vacation busy. Fiji’s tourism sector is also very important and there is a lot of work to be done.
On the other hand, the Cook Islands are more dispersed and therefore more difficult to access to the different islands. The advantage of this is that the beaches and the most beautiful tourist attractions are never busy. You might just feel like you own the whole beach. No matter how wise the hike is, there is much less to do in the Cook Islands than in Fiji.
Basically, if you want to spend most of your time relaxing and swimming on the beach, the laid-back Cook Islands and its secluded beaches might be a better choice. But if you want to combine beach activities, exploration, island tours, and more, Fiji is for you.
In terms of cost, the Cook Islands are slightly cheaper than Fiji. The lack of resorts on the Cook Islands means there are plenty of self-catering accommodation options to suit all budgets. However, the cost of food in these two destinations is almost the same.
With a large Indian population, Fijian cuisine mixes Aboriginal and Indian influences. Freshly caught seafood is popular in Fiji, and fish in coconut milk curry is often on the menu. Another fish dish is cocoa – it’s a fish salad, usually in coconut shells!
