About the Port
Palmerston Island rests in the northern Cook Islands, its six low islets strung along an eleven-kilometer ring of reef enclosing a lagoon of exceptional clarity. Once known as Avarau, or "200 harbours," the atoll's sheltered waters have long drawn sailors and support a rich variety of marine life. Today it remains one of the most isolated inhabited places in the Pacific, with a small community descended largely from a single nineteenth-century settler family.
Because there is no harbor or pier, visits depend on calm seas and local boats that ferry arrivals across the lagoon from ship to shore. The pace on land matches the setting: a handful of homes, coral sand paths, and an unhurried welcome shaped by generations of isolation. Travelers who make it ashore find a rare glimpse of Pacific life largely untouched by wider development.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Palmerston Island.
Snorkel the Lagoon
Slip into the atoll's remarkably clear, sheltered waters to see coral gardens and reef fish up close; local boat operators can point out the best spots near the landing area.
Meet the Marsters Family Descendants
Nearly everyone on the island traces back to a single 19th-century settler, and locals often welcome visitors into their homes for a meal or conversation—a rare, genuine window into island life.
Walk the Coral Sand Paths
Wander the islet's quiet lanes past simple homes and shaded groves; the entire settlement can be explored on foot in under an hour, making it easy to soak in the atmosphere before returning to the boat.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Palmerston Island
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 35 | $21,200 | |
| Apr 1, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 13 | $13,320 | |
| Sep 25, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 28 | $25,500 | |
| Oct 13, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 10 | $12,690 | |
| Mar 26, 2028 | Scenic Cruises | Scenic Eclipse II | 30 | $36,760 | |
| Apr 3, 2028 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 12 | $9,920 | |
| Apr 13, 2028 | Scenic Cruises | Scenic Eclipse II | 12 | $13,933 | |
| Apr 13, 2028 | Scenic Cruises | Scenic Eclipse II | 25 | $36,165 |