This raised atoll in the eastern Cook Islands has daily air service. You can easily walk the periphery of the island (about 11 mi/18 km) in a day if you carry food and water along with you. The shaded track edges many small white beaches and coral cliffs where you can sit and watch the waves. There are many caves on the island (take along a flashlight), some of them accessible for swimming.
Be sure to visit the large Protestant church in the center of the island: It's divided across the middle, with each side of the church decorated differently by rival villages. The two small, basic guesthouses on Mauke are fine places to unwind. 170 mi/275 km northeast of Rarotonga.
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