Welcome to Paradise! The Cook Islands is a nation of islands in the South Pacific, with political links to New Zealand. Its 15 islands are scattered over a vast area. The largest island, Rarotonga, is home to rugged mountains and Avarua, the national capital. To the north, Aitutaki Island has a vast lagoon encircled by coral reefs and small, sandy islets. Without a doubt, the country is renowned for its many snorkeling and scuba-diving sites and its beautiful water. The culture of the Cook Islands reflects the traditions of the Polynesian island country and its Indigenous roots. The island traditions are also based on the influences of those who settled the islands over several centuries. Polynesian people from Tahiti settled in the Cook Islands in the 6th century. In the 18th century, the British navigator, Captain James Cook arrived, giving the islands their current name. The culture is alive and well in the islands today, with one of the popular traditional dances of the Cook Islands being the Maori Ura, a sacred ritual usually performed by a female who moves her body to tell a story, accompanied by intense drumming by at least 5 drummers. Moving the hips, legs and hands give off different gestures to the audience to tell a tale, typically related to the natural landscape such as the ocean and birds and flowers, but also feelings of love and sadness. To celebrate this culture and tradition, Anderson Design Group’s award-winning poster artists rendered this original World Travel poster design in the tradition of the Golden Age of Poster Art. This retro-styled rendering and vintage travel art will look great as an art print, notecard, postcard, metal sign, canvas, or mini canvas. To learn more about the Cook Islands or to schedule a trip there, visit the website for the Cook Islands Travel Bureau.