Akitua Island in the Cook Islands has a lovely private resort, the luxurious 5-star Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa. Lie on sweeping white beaches and wade in the blue-green waters that encircle this small islet. Luxury accommodations and a laid-back South Pacific atmosphere make this an idyllic getaway.
Learn about the legends and movie stars that add to the history of this tropical atoll. The first Polynesians came to Aitutaki through the Ootu Pass where the resort is located. In the 12th century, legend says the famed warrior Ru, his four wives and large family came to the island of Aitutaki through this pass. In the 1950s, John Wayne and Cary Grant traveled to Akitua during the age of Solent flying boats.
Stay in a private bungalow on the water and wake to picturesque views of the azure lagoon. Bathe in an open-air shower, relax in a hammock and shed all remaining tension with a spa and massage treatment.
Spend days on untouched beaches wading in luminous water. Explore Aitutaki Lagoon on a glass-bottom boat, sail to One Foot Island and walk on the ancient sandbar called Nude Island, named for its lack of vegetation. Snorkel or scuba dive in the marine reserve, windsurf, canoe or kayak on the lagoon, explore thick rainforest by day and look out over the Pacific Ocean to the night sky.
The resort offers many in-house activities. Move your hips in Polynesian dance lessons, keep your mind sharp with a game of giant chess or stay agile while crab hunting and crab racing. Make a sun hat from coconut palms and learn to play the ukulele while sitting in the shade under a tree.
As the golden sun sets over the water, sip a cocktail and listen to the sound of gently lapping waves. Akitua is located north of the Aitutaki Lagoon. Access the island by a 2-minute private ferry ride from Aitutaki.
