The Cook Islands appear in our catalog as one destination, and two of the country's fifteen islands carry the snorkeling. Rarotonga, the main island, is ringed by a fringing reef with a lagoon between the shore and the break — easy, warm, walk-in water — plus a handful of reef passes for stronger swimmers. Aitutaki, a short flight north, holds an enormous turquoise lagoon of coral heads, sand and uninhabited motu that is the picture most people have in mind when they say South Pacific. Expect coral, giant clams, rays and turtles in calm, clear water. It is a small country in free association with New Zealand, a long way from anywhere, with real limits on infrastructure — which is a large part of the appeal.
What we cover — and what we don’t
Where we cover the Cook Islands: Rarotonga and Aitutaki as one destination, with five sites between the lagoon and the reef edge — Muri Lagoon and Aroa on Rarotonga, Rarotonga's reef passes, and Aitutaki's lagoon with One Foot Island and its outer motu. The rest of the country's fifteen islands and the northern group are not in this catalog. Note the jurisdiction: the Cook Islands are a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand, with their own immigration rules rather than New Zealand's. Part of Rarotonga's west coast sits under a customary ra'ui, a community no-take arrangement whose rules are local and community-enforced — check the current rules before you take or touch anything.
In catalog rank order. Rank, taglines and “best for” notes are the catalog’s own; each destination page and guide goes deeper.
46Cook Islands
The lagoon classic
Lagoon water · True South PacificFifteen South Pacific islands in free association with New Zealand — and two of them carry the snorkeling, one of them a lagoon of exceptional beauty.
A South Pacific island country of fifteen islands in free association with New Zealand, and two of them carry the snorkeling. Rarotonga, the main island, is ringed by a fringing reef with a lagoon between the shore and the break — easy, warm, walk-in water. Aitutaki, a short flight north, holds an enormous turquoise lagoon of coral heads, sand and uninhabited motu that is the picture most people have in mind when they say South Pacific. Expect coral, giant clams, rays and turtles in calm, clear water, plus a reef pass or two for stronger swimmers. It is a small country with real limits on infrastructure and a long way from anywhere, which is a large part of the appeal.