Where to Swim with Whales in Tonga: The Best Islands 🐳

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Whale Swimming in Tongatapu

Number of Licensed Operators: 3-5

Tongatapu is located in the south of the Tonga archipelago and is the main arrival island for most travellers. This not only makes it a convenient island to do a whale swimming tour from, but it is home to some of the most ethically minded operators concerning the whales’ wellbeing.

Despite other island groups having “better” reputations for whale swimming in Tonga, Tongatapu still has successful whale swims almost daily arguably because there are so few operators that the whales are more approachable, rather than being chased away as the season progresses as is the case in other island groups.

The water in Tongatapu’s northern lagoon is shallow enough in many places to see whales resting on the seabed. Plus, there are small outer islands visited on most tours, which provide a picture-perfect lunch stop.

Note that all whale swimming tours in Tongatapu depart from Faua Wharf in Nuku’alofa.

Whales can also be seen from shore from various lookouts and beaches around the island – check out the 10 Best Places to See Whales in Tonga From Shore to learn more.

The Pros of Swimming with Whales in Tongatapu

• It’s the island with the most international arrival flights, so it’s the cheapest island to get to
• It has a convenient departure point in Nuku’alofa
• Most tour operators take an eco-friendly and ethical approach
• Only three to five operators make for uncrowded waters and better success rates as there are fewer boats to “hassle” the whales
• It has a long whale season, typically lasting from June to October.

The Cons of Swimming with Whales in Tongatapu

• Tongatapu is the most populated island, so it’s not a great base for a more tranquil island escape nor the “prettiest”
• The swell can get rough sometimes, which is not good for seasickness
• It can take 20-30 minutes to get to your first whale swimming opportunities.

Learn more about Tongatapu in The Complete Guide to Tongatapu and check out the whale tours in the 5 Best Whale Swim Tours on Tongatapu.

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Whale Swimming in ‘Eua

Number of Licensed Operators: 2-4

A short flight from Tongatapu, ‘Eua is another large island located in the south of Tonga. It’s an affordable island destination with all accommodations being quite cheap, even for backpackers.

The smallest number of whale tours are found in ‘Eua, with the island only regulated to have up to four operators. This means that there’s little “competition” to find whales, resulting in more ethical practices.

While ‘Eua is the first and last place where whales can be found in the whale season, from June to as late as November, it can be one of the places with the roughest waters for swimming with whales due to the lack of sheltered water.

Also worth mentioning is that ‘Eua is one of the best islands to watch whales from shore.

Whale swimming tours in ‘Eua operate from Nafanua Wharf in Ohonua.

The Pros of Swimming with Whales in ‘Eua

• It’s the next-most convenient island to get to in Tonga (and therefore, one of the cheapest) which only requires a short flight or a half-day ferry ride from Tongatapu
• Whale swimming opportunities are close to shore, so you usually don’t have to endure 30-40-minute boat rides to get to the whales
• It has the longest whale season, from June to October (but sometimes November)
• There is only a handful of whale tours, often resulting in a better whale-to-boat ratio
• The island itself is an attractive destination with plenty to do in terms of hiking, 4WD tours, cultural activities, etc.

The Cons of Swimming with Whales in ‘Eua

• The water conditions are sometimes some of the roughest for whale swimming
• Some whale tour operators like to make an early start to catch the calmest conditions – not great if you prefer to lie in on your holiday
• Bookings may need to be done in advance to get a spot on the whale boats.

Learn more about ‘Eua in The Complete Guide to ‘Eua. Plus, check out the whale tours in The Best Whale Tours in ‘Eua.

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Whale Swimming in Ha’apai

Number of Licensed Operators: 7-10

Ha’apai gets raving reviews for its whale swimming due to the small number of tour operators sharing a vast area of ocean. Waters in the Ha’apai Group are typically sheltered thanks to the scattering of islands and protective reefs, as well as often being clearer than other island groups. Of course, the weather and swell can change conditions, as in any island group.

The operators in Ha’apai have a good reputation for taking an ethical approach to their whale tours, while elements of the island group, such as uninhabited islands and reefs that are ideal for snorkelling, add other fun additions to visit during tours.

Most of the operators in Ha’apai operate out of their resorts but often offer pick-ups at nearby resorts and islands.

Whales can also be spotted from shore, particularly from the accommodations on Uoleva Island.

You usually need a little more in your budget for whale swimming holiday here, not only for transport to this outer island but for some of the resorts too. Nevertheless, there are still budget guesthouses in the main town, Pangai, if needed.

The Pros of Swimming with Whales in Ha’apai

• The water conditions are typically calm and clear
• There is a small number of operators sharing a large space, so the waters aren’t too “crowded” for finding whales
• Most tour operators take an eco-friendly and ethical approach
• Ha’apai provides more of an idyllic island holiday with plenty to do in terms of snorkelling, scuba diving, kitesurfing and more
• Some of the cheapest whale swimming tours can be found in Ha’apai.

The Cons of Swimming with Whales in Ha’apai

• You tend to have to choose an operator based on the accommodation you’re staying in, which may not give you your first choice in a whale tour
• The season is shorter than elsewhere, from mid-July to mid-October
• Ha’apai is more expensive to travel to.

Learn more about Ha’apai in The Complete Guide to Ha’apai. Plus, check out the whale tours in the 5 Best Whale Swim Tours in Ha’apai.

© TongaPocketGuide.com

Whale Swimming in Vava’u

Number of Licensed Operators: 20-26

By far the most popular destination for whale swimming, Vava’u has earned itself a reputation for being a whale swimming mecca over the years. While there are plenty of choices when it comes to tours, some operators have been reported to not completely follow regulations and, as a result, cause too much disturbance to the whales. In turn, this typically chases whales away from accessible whale-swimming areas earlier into the whale season, making for less successful whale swims. In short, travellers need to be mindful of which operators they choose in Vava’u.

Whale swimming tours in Vava’u offer the opportunity to stop at various islands and snorkelling spots throughout the day depending on how successful your whale swim has been.

Conditions are a mixed bag in Vava’u; sometimes calm thanks to the sheltering of these closely compact islands but again, it can get really rough when the weather and swell is up.

Note that the whale swimming season is a little shorter than elsewhere in Tonga, typically between July and mid-October.

Whale tour operators depart from either the Small Boat Marina in Neiafu or from the outer island resorts.

Whales can be spotted from shore from the various islands of Vava’u, as well as the northern lookouts of ‘Utu Vava’u.

The Pros of Swimming with Whales in Vava’u

• There’s more choice when it comes to whale tour operators
• You have more choices of idyllic holiday island resorts, as well as accommodations on the main island
• Some international flights arrive on the main island, ‘Utu Vava’u, which could be convenient and affordable depending on where you are coming from
• There are alternative tours to complement your holiday, such as fishing, snorkelling, sightseeing, garden tours and more.

The Cons of Swimming with Whales in Vava’u

• They can be expensive islands to travel to
• Vava’u has the most expensive whale swimming tours
• The whale season is shorter, starting from mid-July to mid-October
• Some operators have been reported to “chase whales” and go over time restrictions with the whales.

Learn more about Vava’u in The Complete Guide to Vava’u. Plus, check out the whale tours in the 10 Best Whale Swim Tours in Vava’u for our picks of the most ethical.