Rarotonga Rarotonga is the arrival island for international flights to the Cook Islands, but it’s also an island that would be a shame to miss if you were to hop straight onto a plane for the next island. The volcanic island is unique to the Cook Islands in that it has volcanic peaks to climb and a cosmopolitan culture of cafes, restaurants, and shops. Aitutaki Very different from Rarotonga, Aitutaki is an atoll with one large island (although smaller than Rarotonga) and several small “motu” (islets) encircling a glorious lagoon. Life is even slower and more relaxed here compared to Rarotonga, where finding yourself alone on a motu or sandbank amongst turquoise waters is fairly common.