Aitutaki, one of the 15 isles that make up Cook Islands.
Cook Islands
Although the Cook Islands occupy an area roughly the size of Greenland, they consist of only 15 masses of land. Thanks to their remote location (2,000 miles northeast of New Zealand, between French Polynesia and American Samoa) and relatively affordable cost (their currency, the New Zealand dollar, is weak against the U.S. dollar), they’ve been longtime backpacker favorites. Now the word is spilling out to a wider pool of travelers, but even the “touristy” isles (those with one or two roads and a handful of low-key resorts) are far less commercial than Tahiti, their neighbor 600 miles to the north.
Rarotonga, home of the capital and airport, is the largest isle. Here you’ll find the greatest selection of resorts, such as the adults-only Sanctuary Rarotonga. Don’t miss their Legends of Polynesia Island Night every Wednesday, which includes an earth-oven feast, log drumming and ura dancing.
The second most populous isle, Aitutaki, also has romance-ready beach villas and intimate resorts. At the Pacific Resort Aitutaki, honeymooners receive a welcome gift, a bottle of wine and fresh flowers.
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