In short
Tonga is the only Pacific state never to have been colonised: the kingdom kept its monarchy without interruption. Sunday is a constitutionally mandated day of rest.
It is one of the few places in the world where swimming with humpback whales is permitted, with licensed operators, from July to October.
What it really costs
Tonga is cheaper than Fiji or French Polynesia, but everything is imported and the offer remains limited.
Domestic flights and ferries to Vava'u and Ha'apai dominate the budget. Vava'u is the centre for whale swimming and sailing.
What nobody tells you
On Sundays everything closes: shops, restaurants, domestic flights and even some activities. It is written into the Constitution, not a custom.
The country is highly exposed to cyclones from November to April, and the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption left its mark on the archipelago. Infrastructure remains fragile.
Dress is conservative: shoulders and knees covered away from the beach, men included, and swimwear is not worn in town.