Cook Islands Travel Guide

Cook Islands OVERVIEW

Should you ever fantasize about sun-bleached, time-forgotten idyllic places swaying with seductive dancing and caressing with gentle wave swoosh and ocean breeze, Opentravel knows where to navigate. Steer towards the heart of the South Pacific where about 4,500 kilometers south of Hawaii you'll find your little piece of heaven on Earth, a bead of 15 scenic Cook Islands scattered over a vast expanse of cobalt blue water. Free from the usual South Sea clichés, high-rise hotels as well as pretentious tourism and hype, the archipelago delights with a variety of unique qualities offering each visitor a one-of-a-kind holiday experience. It is here where thousands of years of Polynesian culture intermingle with a spectacular scenery of towering jungle-clad mountains, turquoise water lagoons, verdant coffee plantations and golden sandy beaches baking in the sun. So bewitching that you even start thinking of giving all your life up and turning a new palm leaf over right here.

The islands were first sighted at the turn of the 17th century by Spanish explorers Alvaro de Mendaña glimpsing the Pukapuka island in 1595, and 11 years later Pedro Fernández de Quirós stopping over at Rakahanga to take on provisions. Between 1773 and 1777, the English explorer James Cook traversed the area aboard The Resolution and charted most of it, naming the archipelago the "Harvey Islands". It was not until the 1830 that the islands were renamed in honor of Captain Cook.

Rarotonga, which is indisputably a jewel in the country's crown with its mountainous scenery, lush tropical forests and powdery beaches, attracts most of tourists enticed with the movie-like settings. Its sister, the Aitutaki atoll, boasting treasures like the world's largest coral lagoon overflowing with tropical marine beauties and a ring of picturesque uninhabited islets, comes second in the tourist arrivals. But wherever you go in the Cook Islands you shall be rewarded with stunning beauty and utter tranquility, far from the hustle and bustle of the civilized world, so don't hesitate to venture a trip of the beaten track.