You've probably heard of swimming with dolphins, manta rays, and even seals, but in Tonga, you can cross one fantastic event off your bucket list: swimming with whales! 30,000kg (33 ton) beasts that you can interact with within their native habitat! Humpback Whales travel to Tonga to breed and calve every year between June and October. During this season, you may even swim with these gentle giants lawfully in Tonga, one of the few places in the world where you can do so. It definitely is one of the best things about Tonga you should know.

Tongan seas are a breeding and mating area for a specific group of humpback whales, therefore they are present for many months each year. Even better, the islands that encircle Vava'u provide wind shelter, allowing you to go out on the ocean virtually every day. The crystal-clear blue waters are another appeal for many since it makes filming and photographing these gentle giants much simpler.

Tonga is extremely proud of its shared cultural history. The sheer diversity of culture has resulted in an intriguing set of individuals remaining in one area. Tonga has amassed a diverse mix of cultures throughout the years, from traditions to received modernities. Tonga has a long and complicated history for such a small country. Its people come from many religions, sects, histories, and political backgrounds, yet they all share the Tonga experience. The culture is one of the things about Tonga you should know before traveling to this island.

Tonga is home to one of the most unique cultures in the South Pacific, Tongan culture. The country is proud to be the only Pacific country that has never been colonized and to be home to the South Pacific's sole monarchy. With Tongans constituting around 98 percent of the population, the culture is simple to immerse in as soon as you get off the airport. Traditional tours here are really realistic, with no sense of planned lectures or individuals "putting on a show" (except for the cultural dance and song presentations, which are, well, shows!)

Tonga is famed for being one of the few sites in the world where you may swim with humpback whales. Between the months of July and October, these beautiful creatures come through the islands to mate and give birth. They subsequently go for their feeding sites in the Arctic.

Divers can see manta rays, eagle rays, various shark species, and other rich marine life in addition to humpback whales. Tonga's underwater environment is as diverse as its marine life; with dive locations ranging from coral gardens to caves and vertical walls, there is definitely something for everyone.

What about snorkeling in a cave full of shoals of fish or scuba diving in the world's largest sea cave in the South Pacific? Tonga has an abundance of snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Caves, coral reefs, tunnels, pinnacles, shipwrecks, drop-offs, tunnels, and so on... It's everything here in Tonga's crystal blue seas!

What is the cost of traveling to Tonga? Everyone, from the budget backpacker to the family of four, has their own travel style and demands. Tonga is not a high-end luxury destination, but it does offer certain once-in-a-lifetime events that will most likely cost more money while in the country. Food, lodging, and transportation may all be incredibly inexpensive if you want them to be, but there is always the option to spend a bit.

Food, lodging, and transportation are all quite reasonable, so you can rest on your trip budget. Guesthouses, which are largely managed by locals, provide a variety of accommodations starting at roughly TOP$20 for a dorm to around $120 for a separate room. Pick up affordable products from local markets for self-catering, or dine at one of Tonga's Top Cheap Eats. To get about, take the bus for TOP$1, a cab for TOP$20, or take the ferry from Tongatapu to Vava'u for roughly TOP$80!

Many travelers rates this as one of the best stays they've had - anywhere! The accommodation is simple, but your front door opens onto a super beautiful white sand beach, and you fall asleep to the sound of waves on the reef. The staff treats you like guests and you will be served BBQ parties on the beach, enjoy their wonderful music shows and fire dance in the cave, and beautiful sunsets. Breakfast is hearty and can be delivered to your door, or eaten in the restaurant serving tables with bannana leaves. It will be an unforgettable experience when you come to Tonga

Forget about over-developed luxury resorts with false palm trees where holidaymakers spend the entire day by the pool. Tonga's resorts are the genuine deal. Stay in charming fales (beach huts), which are generally fashioned of local materials and have thatched rooves and walls covered with tapa fabric and/or woven panels. There are often just two to seven fales in a single resort, leaving you the entire beach surrounded by coconut trees to yourself. There is frequently water sports equipment available for you to enjoy the surrounding natural surroundings. But don't worry, you won't have to go coconut picking since the resort restaurant will keep you nourished with a combination of Tongan and foreign cuisine!

Tonga is a country of 170 islands, with just 36 inhabited. Keeping this in mind, there are several less frequented islands in Tonga. While this list does not include the least visited islands in Tonga, it does include areas to consider if you wish to explore Tonga outside the main islands. Most importantly, these are islands that are accessible. Tonga is authentic Polynesia and far from the tourist trail. However, there are less-visited islands in Tonga that are definitely worth checking out. This definitely is one of the best things about Tonga you should know and experience.

Tonga is a nation where you may actually get away from it all. Even during the peak season, which is whale season, it never seems overcrowded with people. Finding oneself at the most famous tourist destinations, beaches, or even an entire accommodation to yourself is just every day in the life of a Tonga traveler.

In Tonga, you don't have to go about clutching your bags or peering over your shoulder. The crime rate is really low! Furthermore, deadly creatures are scarcely a concern, with the single poisonous sea snake unable to break through human skin (and hence unable to harm people). Tonga similarly has no significant illnesses. However, this is not mean that you should disregard all prudence.

Overall, it is a secure site for you as a visitor from practically all angles, but you should take all precautions to ensure your safety and security. With the development of tourism on the islands in recent years, cases of robberies, thefts, and crime, in general, have increased, which means that you as a tourist should choose wisely your accommodation to ensure that all your belongings are safe. It is also recommended to always have a mobile phone from which you will be able to call in case of emergency.

When is the best time of year to visit Tonga? That is, when is the greatest time for you to visit Tonga? It might be the weather, the available activities, the cheapest time to fly, or when there are fewer visitors. Tonga offers incredible experiences all year round. However, there are two separate seasons: the wet season and the dry season. There's a lot to do and see in Tonga. However, the tropical climate varies somewhat throughout the year, and only a limited number of activities are seasonal. This is one of the things about Tonga you should know so you can go to this Island when the weather is the best

Tonga's climate is subtropical. The warm season lasts from December through April, with temperatures hovering around 32°C. The colder season lasts from May through November, with temperatures seldom exceeding 27° C. Although there are essentially two seasons, Tonga's climate does not alter much, making it an ideal year-round vacation location.