The Capital of the Cook Islands is Rarotonga, a tropical paradise which is extremely beautiful and small enough to explore with lush tropical mountains, pretty coastal scenes, sandy beaches and a very slow pace of life. The island is actually the top 2,000 feet of a 13,000-foot volcano with steep, craggy ridges covered in green making up the center area.

If you grow weary of soaking up the sun under palm trees on the pristine powdery white beaches, there is certainly plenty to do. Activities include canoeing, kayaking or snorkeling, attending one of the islands' many festivals or clapping along as dance groups play at various hotels.