Perhaps it's their beauty, rivaling that of the more famous Tahiti and Bora Bora. Maybe it's the old South Seas charm of a small island nation whose little capital is like Papeete was a very long time ago. Whatever the reason, there are few old South Pacific hands who aren't absolutely enraptured with Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.
Rarotonga is in many ways a miniature Tahiti: It has jagged peaks and steep valleys surrounded by a flat coastal plain, white sandy beaches, an azure lagoon, and a reef extending about .5km (1/4 mile) offshore.
Aitutaki plays the role of Bora Bora in the Cook Islands. It is nearly surrounded by a large, shallow lagoon of multihued beauty and abundant sea life. With development of luxury resorts and a host of modest bungalows, this charming, atoll-framed outpost has recently become one of the South Pacific's hottest destinations.
The Cook Islanders have more than beautiful islands in common with the people of French Polynesia, which lies some 900km (550 miles) to the east. Like the Tahitians, they enjoy having a good time, and this lust for happiness very quickly rubs off on visitors. They share about 60% of their native language with the Tahitians, and their lifestyles and religions were similar in the old days. Like many Tahitians, Cook Islanders have a keen interest in their eastern Polynesian past, but they are better at explaining the old ways to today's visitors.
A microcosm of modern Polynesia, the Cooks have enough activities to satisfy almost anyone, including snorkeling, shopping, sightseeing, and scuba diving. They have beaches of dazzlingly white sand; a friendly and fun-loving people who speak English, the best cultural tours in the South Pacific, a variety of accommodation and restaurants in all price ranges, an excellent public transportation system, and some of the region's great bars and dance shows. Indeed, no other place in the South Pacific packs so much in so small a space -- and all at relatively reasonable prices, too.
