World-class waves
Among the world's most famous.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/colmsurf/ — CC BY 2.0 · https://www.flickr.com/photos/colmsurf/ — CC BY 2.0 · Pathofkarma — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Naila Fathinah — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Mentawai archipelago is one of the world's most famous surf destinations: its reefs catch the long, regular swells of the Indian Ocean, forming dozens of near-perfect waves around the islands of Sipora and Pagai that have drawn professionals and amateurs from Australia, Brazil and Europe since the 1990s. Visitors stay at surf resorts and camps on the islands, or on charter boats that move between breaks for days. Beyond the waves, the islands are a quiet paradise: white-sand beaches and palms, clear turquoise water for snorkelling, small fishing villages and sunsets over the ocean. Every foreign surfer must pay the official surf tax, IDR 2 million valid for fifteen days since 2024, usually through the resort; non-surfers do not pay it. Resort stays are expensive. The best waves run from April to October. Get there by fast ferry from Padang to Tuapejat on Sipora, then by boat to the resort. The region is prone to earthquakes, so know the evacuation routes where you stay.
Among the world's most famous.
Between the breaks.
Beaches, palms and snorkelling.
Sipora and North and South Pagai, Mentawai
Yes if you want calm and sea: resorts offer snorkelling, fishing and paddling. But getting there is long, costs are high, and life revolves around the waves.