Swim with Humpback Whales

Tonga is one of the best destinations for whale watching and one of the few places in the world where you are allowed to swim with them. Every year, the whales migrate 3,000 miles from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the waters of Tonga to breed and give birth. The best time of year to swim with these gentle giants of the sea is from July to October. Even though they are wild animals, swimming with humpback whales is considered safe as long as you are with a guide. You will want to avoid swimming near the tail, which can be a dangerous and more unpredictable part of a whale. There has never been a recorded report of one of these animals purposefully injuring or killing a human. There are especially large populations of humpback whales near Vava’u Islands and you may even get lucky enough to swim with a mother and her calf.