25 May, 2017
Destination Profile
You can just imagine what Captain Cook must have thought when he pulled his ship into the palm-fringed bays of these isles back in 1773 – paradise. A speckling of 15 pearls in the midst of the deep-blue South Pacific, this glorious archipelago is all sugar-soft sand and bobbing catamarans. From the see-through waters of the world-famous Aitutaki Lagoon to backcountry clad in taro plantations and dotted with time-stood-still Polynesian villages, there's oodles to get through for the budding explorer. What's more, cheap flights to the Cook Islands from USA can help you arrive without breaking the bank. Expect journey times in excess of 20 hours, often with at least one stopover along the way.
Muri Beach is where Rarotonga reveals its stunning, tropical paradise side. Soft sands lead straight to a warm ocean lagoon all along its length.
Pack the snorkels for the amazing Aitutaki Lagoon, which brims with parrotfish, angelfish, turtles, and all manner of other marine creatures.
Rarotonga's premier cultural draw, the Te Vara Nui Village is all about Polynesian dances, crafts, and culture.
No airlines fly direct between the United States of America and the Cook Islands.
Air New Zealand is the best airline to fly between the United States of America and the Cook Islands.