People come to the Cook Islands for the beaches - and unspoiled ones, at that. The Cook Islands, despite covering a vast area, have a very small population, and the islands do not possess any of the large tourist resorts that some might expect from a lush holiday destination. Yet others might delight in the pristine, powdery beaches and the utter tranquillity. There are, of course, a greater number of developed resorts on certain islands than others, such as those on Rarotonga (where the international airport is situated) and Aitutaki, which cater for various activities.

Swimming and snorkeling
For those simply wanting to swim, the best beaches of all are at Muri Lagoon and Titikaveka. But it won't take much to entice you to dive beneath those clear, turquoise waters, which are teeming with colourful fish and swaying coral reefs. Rarotonga also offers a variation in scenery, should you (unlikely though it is) grow tired of tropical paradise, since it is a mountainous island with plenty of verdant scenery. The older volcanic island of Aitutaki offers comparable treasures. Unsurprisingly, given their beauty, the Cook Islands have been used as the setting for several films, the best known being Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.