The Cook Islands is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet laidback vacation. Ideal for those who want to relax and chill out amidst tranquil surroundings, this tropical refuge is one of the few pristine paradises left on the planet. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking that there’s nothing here to do. Home to a plethora of activities to enjoy, the Cook Islands is a superb destination for the active soul.

Swimming

Swimming is one of the many water based activities that one can enjoy here. However, some of the best swimming locations are on the islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki only. One reason for this is that both these isles have superb lagoons to swim in. There are a number of swimming destinations on the other islands as well, but they are few and far between.

Both Rarotonga and Aitutaki also have some of the best diving and snorkeling opportunities in the Cook Islands as well due to the lagoons that enclose these islands. With plenty of scuba diving prospects inside and outside the reef, the dive conditions here are near perfect with fantastic underwater visibility and warm water temperatures. There are plenty of certified scuba diving operators found on both these islands, so you do not need to worry if you don’t have PADI certification. Snorkeling on Rarotonga and Aitutaki is outstanding as well, with a wealth of marine life to discover. Swim here amidst a huge array of brightly colored fish, exotic shells, and coral.

Diving & Snorkeling

While snorkeling and diving trips are available on the other Northern and Southern islands, they are less developed than on Rarotonga and Aitutaki. If you do plan on swimming here, you will probably have to take your own diving and snorkeling gear on the trip.

Kayaking, Boating & Surfing

Some other water sports to enjoy in the Cook Islands are sailing, boating, sea kayaking, canoeing, surfing, deep sea fishing and windsurfing. Most of these facilities are available on Rarotonga only, as it is the most developed of the Cook Islands.

Cruises

Whale watching cruises are popular during the months of July, August, September, and October with several cruise boats departing from various islands to the open waters of the Pacific. Lagoon cruises around Aitutaki are the best in the Cook Islands, as the lagoon here is filled with many colorful fish and beautiful living corals.

Hiking & other Sports Activities

And if all this is not enough, there are plenty of land based activities as well. Tennis is found on many of the islands, along with horse riding, cycling, golfing and lawn bowling opportunities. Hiking is terrific here as well with plenty of trekking possibilities on every island. ‘Atiu, Ma’uke, Mitiaro and Mangaia have some superb caving and spelunking as well. To enjoy the history and archaeology of the Cook Islands visit the many marae found on all of the islands.