Surfing in the Mentawai Islands Come surf the worlds most perfect waves

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Mentawai Islands

Surfing in the Mentawai Islands only really started in the early 90's due to their lack of infrastructure, the time it takes to get there and simply because it is one of the wildest places on earth.

Many of the tribal inhabitants of the more remote island have up until recently, little contact with the modern world, preferring instead to live the age old lifestyle as they have for thousands of years.

These days, there are surf resorts and their boats that allow you to visit this wonderful surf paradise. There is always a perfect wave to be found somewhere, no matter what time of year. Hidden behind an island, close to a tree line shore or around the next corner, perfect surf in the Mentawais awaits....

Weather Conditions

J/F M/A M/J J/A S/O N/D
Air Temp (°C)
30°
32°
32°
32°
32°
32°
Wetsuits
Rain

Surf conditions for Beginners:

Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JAN for BEG level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on FEB for BEG level
F
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on MAR for BEG level
M
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on APR for BEG level
A
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on MAY for BEG level
M
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JUN for BEG level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JUL for BEG level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on AUG for BEG level
A
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on SEP for BEG level
S
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on OCT for BEG level
O
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on NOV for BEG level
N
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on DEC for BEG level
D

Surf conditions for Intermediates:

Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JAN for INT level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on FEB for INT level
F
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on MAR for INT level
M
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on APR for INT level
A
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on MAY for INT level
M
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JUN for INT level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JUL for INT level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on AUG for INT level
A
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on SEP for INT level
S
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on OCT for INT level
O
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on NOV for INT level
N
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on DEC for INT level
D

Surf conditions for Advanced:

Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JAN for ADV level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on FEB for ADV level
F
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on MAR for ADV level
M
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on APR for ADV level
A
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on MAY for ADV level
M
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JUN for ADV level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on JUL for ADV level
J
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on AUG for ADV level
A
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on SEP for ADV level
S
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on OCT for ADV level
O
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on NOV for ADV level
N
Surf Conditions in Mentawai Islands on DEC for ADV level
D

Rain

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Season

May to September is the peak season for surfing. Mar, April, Oct & Nov and 'off' season can be better because of the smaller crowds & more mellow surf. Rainy season is Sept-Dec with heavy rain for 2-3hrs per day but that doesn't effect the surf..

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Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv

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The Mentawai Islands are made up of 70 islands off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. The largest islands is Siberut and the other two major islands are Sipura, North Pagai and South Pagai.

The Mentawais are approximately 150km off the coast of Sumatra. There is no big city or town. You will either stay on a chartered boat or in one of the islands surf resorts. If you are a surfer then you have to make it to the Mentawais once in your lifetime. You will score more waves here than anywhere in the world, and there are waves for every standard. The waves you will surf are the ones you have grown up seeing the pros surf in magazines, they all look photoshopped and too perfect to be true but they are!

Swell is super consistent in the Mentawais. March to November is the peak season for surfing in the Mentawais but the off season is often better because of the smaller crowds and more mellow. Wind patters are key here and are usually perfectly glassy about 30% of the time.
Getting here is not the easiest but a surfing holiday in the Mentawais is well worth it! You will talk about it for the rest of your life!

You can start by flying into either Bali or Jakarta and then get a connection to Padang. Otherwise you can take a flight from Singapore to Padang with a number of airlines.

From Padang you get an easy 5 hour speedboat across to the Islands. You can take the ferry but this can be much much longer.
Mentawai Islands Wave Summary

Surfing Mentawais simple has it all, wherever you are staying you will have access to the most consistent surf in the planet. There are over 50 recognised spots and countless others.

The North
The largest island of the chain is Siberut. There is a huge selection of surf at the southern end of this island. The Nyang- Nyang reef points such as the world class left E-Bay and the right, Riffles ,are considered to be some of the most perfect waves in the world. Bank-vaults has now become infamous for one of the best waves around but is only for the experts.

In the same area you will also find plenty of playful less charging waves including Playgrounds, Tikis, Burger World and the fun right-hander wall Pitstops that ends on a sandy beach

Central
This island hosts Telescopes which is a consistent left that can peel for up to 200 metres and is good for almost all abilities. Scarecrows is a short, wedgy left which is best on best on a dropping tide.

In the south of Sipora you will find the well known surf breaks Lances left and Right. Lances Left is super fun and playful with a barrel section in the middle. It's beautiful turquoise water and perfect shape make it among the most photographed waves in the world, and one of the easiest to get barreled.Lances Right on the other hand is shallow, short, and advanced level only.

The South
South are the twin islands of Pagai Utara & Pagai Selatan. One of the worlds most famous waves Macaronis lies off Pagai Utauru. This ultra consistent left is a perfect deep barrel on the first section and then backs off to into a really fun wall.

Further north you have Bommie Peak which is only for the big wave hellmen.

Come Surf the Mentawais with us...


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