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The Cook Islands range from towering Rarotonga, the country's largest island, to the low oval islands of the south and the solitary atolls of the north. Visitors are rewarded with natural beauty and colorful attractions at every turn. There is motion and excitement on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, peaceful village life on the rest. Since few tourists get beyond the two main islands, a trip to Atiu, Mangaia, or Mauke can be a fascinating travel experience. After French Polynesia, travel to the Cook Islands is inexpensive, and the local accommodation industry is efficient and competitive. It's a safe, quiet place to relax and you feel right at home. The local greeting is kia orana (may you live on). Other words to
know are meitaki (thank you), aere ra (goodbye), and kia manuia! (cheers!).

The Cook Islands lie between French Polynesia and Tonga in the center of the Polynesian triangle about 4,500 km south of Hawaii. The time is the same as in Hawaii and Tahiti, two hours behind California and 22 hours behind New Zealand

These 15 islands and atolls, with a land area of only 240 square km, are scattered over 1.83 million square km of the South Pacific, leaving a lot of empty ocean in between. It's 1,433 km from Penrhyn to Mangaia. The nine islands in the southern group are a continuation of the Austral Islands of French Polynesia, formed as volcanic material escaped from a southeast -northwest fracture in the earth's crust. Five of the northern islands stand on the 3,000-meter- deep Manihiki Plateau, while Penrhyn rises directly out of seas 5,000 meters deep.

Practically every different type of oceanic island can be found in the Cooks. Rarotonga is the only high volcanic island of the Tahiti type. Aitutaki, like Bora Bora, consists of a middle-aged volcanic island surrounded by an atoll-like barrier reef, with many tiny islets defining its lagoon. Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke, and Mitiaro are raised atolls with a high cave- studded outer coral ring (makatea) enclosing volcanic soil at the center. It's believed these islands were uplifted during the past two million years due to the weight of Rarotonga on the earth's crust. There are low rolling hills in the interiors of both Atiu and Mangaia, while Mauke and Mitiaro are flat. The rich, fertile southern islands account for 89% of the Cooks' land area and population.

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