Mentawai Islands - Playgrounds

Those willing to make the long pilgrimage to this remote outpost of Sumatra will have access to the most wave dense surf regions on the planet. Surfers can choose to surf waves that suit their level, thanks to more than 20 world class waves all reachable within a 40 minute (max) boat ride. 

Travel to the islands is via the city of Padang, West Sumatra. Daily flights to Padang Airport are best reached via Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. At least 1 night will need to spent in Padang (when staying at a surf camp) in order to take the morning Fast Ferry to Siberut, departing around 6:30 am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The crossing takes 3-4 hours. Guests can return back the same day, arriving into Padang around 6:15 pm.

Those opting to take a Charter Boat to explore the whole of the Mentawais can usually expect to spend at least 2 or 3 days in the area. One bonus is that charter boats typically depart around 6:00 pm and so guests can avoid spending anytime in Padang.

Challenging, hollow, heavy and often perfect. This right-hander breaks thick, hard and square and is ideally surfed with a bit of extra foam so you get into the wave nice and early. Bank Vaults can handle up to triple over-head, but also works from around head high. It’s a wave capable of delivering the best barrel of your life. Surfers should watch out for the sets, it's a big reef and breaks in 2 or 3 areas, so choose your spot wisely, sit, wait and be patient! Wide sets will usually catch out most surfers - and they always turn up. Getting caught on the inside means long hold downs in very turbulent water but doesn’t dish out the reef cuts some might think, which is certainly a welcome relief to the rest of the shallow reefs in the area. 


The wave is centrally located in the area, most the camps/resorts are within a 10-15 minute speedboat ride away.

Breaking just 200 yards from Pitstops is Emerald Bay, a perfect, hollow left-hander that breaks best between head high to double or even triple overhead. Although fickle, when it's on, the wave is worth the wait. It barrels from start to finish with the main tube section found straight in front of two large pieces of reef that stick out of the water. The bigger it gets the hollower it get and the heavier it gets. Certainly one of the best waves in the area!

Closest camps Beng Beng Surf Camp (overlooks it), Driftwood (3 minute walk) & Mentawai Surf Retreat (5 minute walk).

This right-hander is a really fun wave that breaks off a sandy reef and runs onto a golden beach. The wave offers a fast and hollow tubing take-off, followed by a great rippable wall. This is a great wave for speed, barrels, and airs. The ideal size is around head high as the bay will close out when it gets much bigger. Pitstops is an excellent way to ease into the Mentawai experience, working on all tides and in small conditions; it’s a pretty consistent break as it even works when its waist to chest high. When most other spots are blown-out, you can usually count on Pitstops.

Closest camps Mentawai Surf Retreat (overlooks it), Beng Beng Surf Camp (5 minute walk) & Driftwood (5 minute walk) 

Kandui is truly a world class, freight train, left-hand barrel. Hollow, fast, and heavy. Hence the nickname "No-Kandui", it’s hard to out run, but if you do you’ll never forget it. Even expert surfers are humbled by this wave when it’s pumping. Some incredibly long barrels have been recorded at this break and it can handle up to triple overhead. Kandui breaks with ferocity and intensity and should only be surfed on the fuller tide and at least head high in size. In fact, although it breaks with more consequence on a bigger swell, it actually becomes more makeable and easier to surf especially when riding a slightly longer board.

Kandui Villas  (overlooks it), Umata Village (5 minute boat ride) & Kandui Resort (6 minute boat ride)

Once a secret spot, it seems that the lid on Dogs was blown in recent years. Hardly surprising given that it’s located on a regularly used "rat run" between the islands and Maura Siberut. That said, it’s a very inconsistent wave and needs specific conditions like a strong southerly swell combined with North winds. On its day, the short right offers a barrel on take-off leading into a 2 maybe 3 turn shoulder before fading out. The left on the other hand, although still short, offers a horse-shoe bowl with perfectly forming barrels before closing out onto its super shallow inside. 

Closest camp: Shadow Surf Camp (3 minute boat ride)

When most of the Mentawai Islands are flat, you can rely on Burger World to dish up something tasty. Not a highly rated wave for the region but when it’s working, this wave-magnet runs down the point offering numerous sections to work with as well as some nice barrel sections. It never truly breaks to its potential in the main season (and is usually crowded), preferring the small long range singular swells of the off season. Larger swells have a tendency to "burger-out" and go fat. Ideal around head high to a foot over head, Burgers prefers a lower tide and a wind with West/North-West in it. Great for the ripper or the cruiser, this magical spot has an incredible back drop that has graced numerous magazines over the years. 

A mind-blowing right that looks just like the cartoons you drew on your old school books. Without question, it’s one of the best waves on the planet. Rifles works from around head high and can hold size, breaking mechanically long, hollow, and fast. Conditions have to be just right, Rifles needs a swell with a distinct south direction in it and winds with some west and not too strong. Surfers have been known to log over 6 barrels on one wave at Rifles, and many say if you are lucky enough to score an epic day here it could truly be the best session of your life. 

Closest camps: Kandui Resort (5-7 minute boat ride), Umata Village (7 minute boat ride) & Kandui Villas  (7 minute boat ride)

Just a stone's throw away from Bank Vaults, set in a very scenic bay lies Nipussi. The wave is regarded as the safer and lighter option to its more popular neighbour. This wave-magnet works best on small and medium swells and breaks on all tides. Around head high is the ideal size where it wraps from the tip of the point all the way down into the bay. At this size it can offer barrels, perfect walls and plenty of speed for good measure. On larger swells, two defined peaks will show and although some steep drops are on offer, the wave tends to fatten out a little. Surfable on all tides, watch out for the inside that gets shallow when the tide is low.

The wave is centrally located in the area, most the camps/resorts are within a 10-15 minute speedboat ride away.

There's always time for a Beng Beng's session. A reasonably long wave that offers a succession of feathering sections for both down the line and top to bottom hits. The wave is best known for its rippability; and under the right conditions can provide the occasional barrel section. Set in a very scenic and tranquil bay, Beng Beng's is always worth a look but is ideal from chest high to just over head high. When the swell maxes it out, it’s time to head to Ebay. Certainly a great warm up location that’s protected from the southerly winds, works on all tides (which is a bonus) - and is very consistent.

Closest camps: Luluni Bungalows (overlooks it), Mentawai Surf Retreat (5 minute boat ride), Beng Beng Surf Camp (5 minute boat ride) & Driftwood (5 minute boat ride) 

When thoughts are made of a perfect Indonesian wave - Hideaways would probably be the reality. It’s a stunning wave set in translucent blue water, peeling mechanically a few hundred feet off a pristine island. The wave can offer a tube of a life time - but punishes surfers who get greedy. Although surfable at lower tides - any mistakes will mean you'll be taking home some form of Mentawain tattoo, courtesy of the fire coral that lurks below. Most will surf the wave only on the higher tide. A real plus side to the break is that it can handle Southerlies (Devil wind) that can be the Achilles Heel of the region meaning it’s a pretty consistent spot in the area.

The wave is centrally located in the area, most the camps/resorts are within a 10-15 minute speedboat ride away.

Another semi secret spot that has slowly become more frequented by more camps and the occasional charter boat. Good Times is a very long left hander found in the region, with 200-300 yard long lefts available when a medium sized pulse is combined with an East wind. It certainly has its off days, in fact more often than not it’s a frustrating pig of a left with a fat take off causing many waves to go unridden. Many surfers swear it’s not even worth a look. But that said, once in a while it’ll turn on. And when it does, you’ll certainly have a good time!

Closest camps: Mentawai Surf Retreat (7 minute boat ride), Beng Beng Surf Camp (7 minute boat ride) & Driftwood (7 minute boat ride) 

Just to the north of Four Bobs you’ll find Karambat Left, located in the middle of the "Playgrounds" surf zone. The wave is best on a solid south swell & breaks for around one hundred yards. On offer are some playful walls for intermediate, even beginners surfers to progress on before taking on some of the areas more consequential waves. Often overlooked by intermediate and advanced surfers, it will only usually get good when other "better" waves are working properly. It’s also fairly exposed to the wind.

Closest camps: Kandui Resort (2 minute boat ride), Umata Village (3 minute boat ride) & Kandui Villas (5 minute boat ride)

A fun, rippable right-hander situated on the East side of Karangmajat island. Looking at any aerial map of its location, you’d think it was extremely fickle! However, although relatively short, it’s pretty consistent and always a fun spot to ride. Breaking over a shallow reef (watch out for the "four bobs" of reef at low tide) the wave offers two to three opportunities for turns. Although Four Bobs isn’t the reason you’d travel to the Mentawai islands, it’s certainly a fun and playful wave at least for a surf or two.

Closest camps: Kandui Resort (1 minute boat ride), Umata Village (3 minute boat ride) & Kandui Villas  (5 minute boat ride)

Often overlooked, The Clit is just a short paddle from Nipussi and a 3 minute boat ride from Bank Vaults. A short, thick intense tube that gets pretty good, dishing out some in and out nuggets for those willing to take it on. Somewhat of a novelty wave, its usually overlooked due to it's intensity, but more so because it breaks extremely close to the reef. Averagely consistent, its always worth a look if you're willing to put your body on the line for the inevitable shack ahead. Donavon Frankenreiter makes it look darn easy.

Pistol's is a very good option when the swell is small and the wind is from the North. And on the smaller days, it's also a good alternative to Burger World that can often get crowded in the main season. Located at the very southern tip of the Playgrounds surf zone about half a kilometre further around from Rifles, Pistols can be a little wind sensitive & prefers a South swell. When it's on though, it'll dish up crystal clear barrels & some fun wedgey walls. Like many of the local shallow reefs, it's even more amplified by the transparency of the water, but it’s certainly manageable.

Closest camps: Kandui Resort (7 minute boat ride), Umata Village (10 minute boat ride) & Kandui Villas  (10 minute boat ride)

When Kandui Left is huge and only the hardest of chargers are taking it on, most surfers will opt to take the five-minute paddle down the reef to Baby Kandui. Less than a handful of times a year, Baby Kandui lights up to produce a 300 yard tubing left hander, with 3 or 4 barrel sections on offer. When smaller, it's a long, whackable left, that is ideal for turns and breaks with much less consequence. It's pretty unlikely that you’ll get to surf this wave breaking to its full potential, so if you do consider yourself lucky!

Kandui Villas  (overlooks it), Umata Village (5 minute boat ride) & Kandui Resort (6 minute boat ride)

Certainly not the best wave in the region, this left hander is situated round the backside of Burger World. Certainly a wave with many faces, working on a smaller swell - it will occasionally deliver some fun sessions with carvable sections to be had across 2 sections of reef. Far less superior in quality to the right round the corner - it’s often a nice option when you've made the effort to go to Burgers - and it's packed out due to lack of swell. If nothing more, the back drop is mesmerising and a quick dip away from the masses is always welcomed.

Situated in front of a jaw-dropping tropical island, this peaky and consistent, A-frames can handle size and is made up of two main sections. The outside throws up challenging shifting peaks, that can real both left and right and continue through to the inside offering both tube sections and playful walls. But although this wave seems to tick the boxes, the shiftiness of the take-off spots can prove not only difficult to locate but can also prove frustrating, especially if you only get to surf the spot once or twice.

Closest camps: Kandui Resort (3 minute boat ride), Umata Village (5 minute boat ride) & Kandui Villas  (5 minute boat ride)

A semi secret spot that only lights up on south swells. Certainly not for the faint hearted, this pretty epic right hander is extremely hollow with freight train rights on offer for those willing to dare. Expect some punishment from your efforts; this wave can dish up the good, bad and the ugly. When this wave is really working, many of the regional classics will be pumping too, meaning that it never gets too crowded. 

Closest camp: Shadow Surf Camp (2 minute boat ride)