A Tonga sailing itinerary covers a cruising ground from Vava'u, the largest island of the Vava'u group, south for about 15 nautical miles and 15 nautical miles east to west (see Tonga maps). Within this area are numerous uninhabited wooded islands ringed with white-sand beaches and coral reefs ideal for snorkeling. Passages between some of the best anchorages in the South Pacific are typically short, with stops along the way to explore the islands, snorkel on the reefs, or simply anchor for a relaxing lunch in an unspoiled setting reminiscent of what the Pacific must have been like for Captain James Cook when he sailed Tongan waters in the mid-1700s.
