Survivor Cook Islands

Cook Islands is home to the thirteenth season of the hit reality television show Survivor Cook Islands--probably the most controversial leg--having earned very different reactions because for the first time in Survivor, the contestants were divided into tribes by race and ethnicity, when in previous seasons age and gender clusters are the factors. There were several new twists and first time events that occurred during this season. Survivor Cook Islands also gave birth to the first Asian-American castaway to win Survivor (Yul), the first season to have have a three person final tribal council, a contestant who earned zero votes in the Final Tribal Council (Becky) and the contestant to receive the largest number of cumulative votes in a single season (Jonathan with 15).

The Cook Islands are located in the South Pacific, about 1875 miles (3015 km) north east of Auckland. The Cooks' nearest neighbors are Tahiti to the east and American Samoa to the west, each roughly 1500km (930 miles) away. Aitutaki (filming location of Survivor Season 13) sits at one corner of a triangular lagoon dotted with lovely motu (small islands). Two of the four tribal camps were on Motu Rakau and Motu Rapota. Tribal Council was filmed near Vainamu, Arutanga on the main island of Aitutaki. Motukitiu was the location of Exile Island and Motu Maina was the overnight reward location. Challenges were filmed on Motu Akiami, which also hosted the eliminated contestants (known colloquially to some as the "Mutiny Motel" or "Loser's Lounge").

The high point of any visit to Aitutaki is a lagoon cruise. The motus which are mainly at the outer perimeter of the lagoon are wonderful landing places for the day cruises available for visitors. The air temperature is warm but clouds blow winds swiftly in and off by the sea. Here, almost everything consists of water and blue. Wherever you stand you have a view of the sea and sky. As you turn through 360 degrees, all the lines of the land and sea are parallel with the horizon where the sky meets the sea. The endless lagoon is a continually changing palette of blues, greens and grays and you see the ocean merging with the sky, stretching to the horizon.

Aitutaki is a magnificent and remote island, the kind of which dreams are made. It is a triangular-shaped 'almost'-atoll rising up 4000 metres from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of three volcanic and 12 coral islets (motus). Life on Aitutaki moves at a wonderfully relaxed tempo which is why it is such a popular destination for visitors who fly in from Rarotonga for day trips as well as extended stays. The lagoon can be approached in leisurely fashion in traditional outrigger canoes for quiet paddling just off the beach or in more sophisticated launches favored by foreign anglers. The place is perfect for picnics, walks across to the reef side of the island and some snorkelling in the channel at its north-eastern extremity. Diving is excellent and the fish plentiful in the best spots.

Author's Note: For more Cook Islands Travel Information, visit GoVisitCookIslands.com. A complete travel guide for the Cook Islands including the Survivor Cook Islands.

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