The most beautiful lagoon in the world — turquoise shallows, one-resort islets, and Polynesian quiet
Aitutaki is a small Cook Islands atoll 45 minutes north of Rarotonga by plane, built around what many consider the world's most photogenic lagoon. The shallow turquoise water, ringed by white sand motu (islets), turns extraordinary shades of aquamarine and electric blue depending on depth and time of day. The lagoon cruise — stopping at One Foot Island (Tapuaetai) for snorkeling and fresh fish barbecue on the beach — is the defining experience. Unlike Bora Bora, Aitutaki has no overwater bungalows, no cruise ships, and little commercial development. The mood is deeply Polynesian: church choir…
Aitutaki was one of the first Pacific islands settled by Polynesian voyagers, traditionally said to have arrived from Rarotonga around 800 CE led by the navigator Ru. The island was reached by European navigators in 1789, just weeks before the Mutiny on the Bounty (Fletcher Christian and the mutineers stopped here briefly). American forces built an airstrip on the island during World War II — the same airstrip that now serves the tourist flights from Rarotonga. The Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand in 1965; the population has declined steadily as young Co…