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After spending over 2 weeks in Tonga and approximately another 2 weeks before that fretting over what to pack, I’ve put together this list of 10 essentials you can’t forget to bring!
This isn’t the Tonga packing guide that tells you to bring sunglasses, this is a deeper look at some other must-have items on your unforgettable trip to Tonga! You seriously NEED item #1, I am so glad I brought item #4 and I almost forgot #7 and #8! Get my top 10 essentials in a handy inforgraphic down below!
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Without further ado, here are my top 10 essential items for traveling to Tonga.
Keep reading to get insight on why you NEED to bring these items, plus my recommendations!
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is an absolute non negotiable!
Tonga gets just a fraction of the visitors its neighboring country of Fiji gets… so it’s just not as set up for tourists. Not to mention everything runs on island time. From delayed / canceled flights to canceled ferries to food poisoning to lost baggage to an unexpected hospital visit, you’ll want to have travel insurance!
I personally use SafetyWing and it costs me less than $2 a day!
I cannot stress enough how much you need this, especially in Tonga. If you want just 1 example out of the hundreds out there, we got delayed on ‘Eua for an extra week! Thankfully we didn’t miss our flight because we had some buffer days, but it could have cost us thousands!
Sun Protectant Swimwear
Hopefully you’re going to be spending a ton of time in the water! Whether you’re going on a whale swim, relaxing on the beach or going for a snorkel, you’ll want to stay protected from the sun during your trip.
While it’s important to wear sunscreen, you don’t want to have to constantly worry about re-applying. That’s why I like to wear either a rash guard or “sun suit” when I’m spending a lot of time under a strong sun. My favorite brand for sun protectant swimwear is Waterlust!
Additionally, Tonga is a relatively conservative country and modest in their clothing. Most people choose to cover up at the beach. While there’s more leniency for pa’langis (Tongan word for overseas traveler) I personally felt more comfortable sticking to the local custom when I could.
Reef Safe Sunscreen
Sticking with the sun protection theme here, make sure you have reef safe sunscreen! The sun is strong in Tonga with the UVs being 5-12 (5 is moderate and 11+ is extreme) so this is truly important!
Things to consider when shopping for a reef safe sunscreen: you’ll want something water resistant and safe on marine life. I usually go for a zinc based sunscreen! Also, I’ve found that some brands are able to get away with labeling as “reef safe” despite still having harmful chemicals. Check the label to make sure you’r sunscreen DOES NOT have oxybenzone or octinoxate. More info can be found at SafeTheReef.
Diarrhea Medication
On to some over the counter medication you may want to bring! I recommend bringing a diarrhea medication like loperamide, jusssssttt in caseeee.
I was convinced we were gonna have issues with either the food or the water in Tonga. Thankfully my partner and I didn’t need to use our loperamide! But we met plenty of people who did need it!
Non-Drowsy Sea Sickness Medication
The next over the counter medication I would recommend is an non-drowsy sea sickness med! If you’re going to Tonga to swim with whales, you need to prepare to be on a small boat for 5+ hours! We went on 2 whale swims and both were a little choppy. Our first whale swim was actually in rough enough conditions to make both a guest and the guide sick!
Cash $ Tongan Pa’anga $
Cash is king in Tonga! The official currency is the Tongan Pa’anga (TOP), which you can withdraw at any Bank of the South Pacific or Western Union. You can also swap your home currency to TOP at the airport.
Make sure you have enough cash to comfortably pay for most everything. All the grocery stores and restaurants we encountered were cash only. The guesthouse we stayed at on ‘Eua was also a cash only facility, but they accepted multiple currencies.
If you’re traveling to accommodation on a more remote island away from a town center, make sure you have enough cash before you venture out there!
In general we felt very safe carrying our cash around!
Travel Adaptor
If you’re coming from the States, you’ll want to pack a travel adaptor or two! Tonga uses a Type 1 electrical socket, the same as Australia and New Zealand.
Don’t rely on any USB outlets in Tonga as we didn’t see any during our travels! Also depending on what resort or accommodation you are at, there may only be communal areas to charge your devices.
Rain Jacket / Extra Layer
I think because I’m from one of the rainiest states in America, I have this horrible tendency to neglect thinking about the rain on my vacation.
While most visitors to Tonga come during the dry season (June-October aka whale season) it’s prudent to bring a rain jacket! First of all it’s a tropical island so rain can really come at any time. Second of all you’ll probably want a rain jacket to keep warm on the boat after your whale swim!
It’s also a great idea to pack an extra layer! While Tonga is tropical it’s a bit further south of the equator than you might think. There were plenty of times I was thankful to have my sweatshirt!
Toiletries
You may think this is a no brainer BUT I want to emphasize bringing your own shampoo and conditioner! I’ve gotten use to relying on hotel shampoo and conditioner for a lot of my travels, but you’ll want to have your own in Tonga! I don’t think any of the accommodation I stayed at provided shampoo or conditioner.
Snorkel Gear
Last but not least, bring your own snorkel gear (if you can)! Most whale swim outfitters with give you gear to use, but if you can bring your own that’s a big bonus!
Not only will this ensure you have gear that you feel comfortable in and fits rights, you’ll also have the autonomy to take yourself on snorkels! Self guided snorkeling was the second best part of my trip to Tonga! I loved seeing all the tropical fish and coral.
I personally have an IST brand mask and snorkel which I really like! I recommend getting a mask that’s made of high grade silicon rather than a stiff plastic as it will be more comfortable. Also look for a snorkel with a purge valve which will make it easier to “clear.”
Get a mask that covers your eyes and nose with an attachable snorkel which goes in your mouth. I will NEVER recommend a full face mask as they can be dangerous to use as they can cause a build up of carbon dioxide and removing them is difficult during an emergency. That’s the former waterfront lifegaurd in me talking!
Final Thoughts
Those are my 10 essential items you need for a trip to Tonga!
Tonga is a truly unique and off the beaten place to travel! Get ready for a full on adventure in this tropical getaway! I would say the top 3 most important things to have for your trip is travel insurance, sun protectant clothing and cash!
Happy travels!
Ahoy! I’m Bree and I’ve started this blog to help you plan your next great outdoor adventure. With a background in marine science, I’ve got an aptitude for all things ocean, but you’ll find land based adventures here too! Everything you see here is based on my own travel experience and paid for myself. I hope you stick around!