Aitutaki. Cook Island. Polynesia. South Pacific Ocean. Giant chess set on the beach of the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa Hotel. With a lagoon that is arguably one of the most beautiful in the world, a cruise out on its pristine water is an absolute must. You are likely to be so enchanted, that you'll book another tour for the next day. Back on land, the island of Aitutaki has an interesting history and there are excavations of local marae underway. You can take a safari tour to these ancient places, explore the island and also find out about the legacy of the American troops stationed here during WWII. For novice scooter riders, Aitutaki is generally safer than Rarotonga where traffic can be quite busy at times. (There are also no dogs.) There are not many shops but there is also some locally made handcraft for sale. And when it comes to the nightlife, well these guys know how to party! Aitutaki also has world class restaurants, some fun casual places to meet up with locals and Island Nights. Aitutakians are known as some of the best dancers in the Cook Islands - which is an impressive reputation in this country of dancers. Their agility, rhythm and grace are often recognised in the national dance competitions. Aitutakians are also acknowledged to be excellent drummers. Now they are extending their repertoire to include dancing with fire. It all makes for stunning showmanship by these modern Pacific warriors. It also makes the Island and Cultural Night a special event on Aitutaki. There are shows on most nights of the week at different resorts and venues. Island Nights usually include a buffet feast featuring local and international dishes, or an a la carte menu. You need to make reservations for an Island Night.