The Mentawai Islands, a remote archipelago off the coast of West Sumatra, Indonesia, are a surfer’s paradise.

Renowned for perfect waves, warm turquoise waters, and pristine jungle landscapes.

From soft, forgiving peelers for beginners to heavy, barreling waves for seasoned pros, these islands offer something for every level of surfer.

Whether you’re chasing your next big wave, learning to surf in crystal-clear water, or simply exploring this hidden paradise.

This guide highlights the best surf spots in the Mentawai Islands and offers essential tips to help plan your ultimate surf adventure.

1. Macaronis (Macas) – Pagai Utara

Why go: Often ranked the No. 1 wave in Indonesia, Macaronis is a dream for high-performance surfing.
What to expect:
A hollow, easy take-off leading into a long left-hand wall
Ideal for carves, snaps, and barrels
Works in almost any swell from 2–6 ft
Good to know: Best at mid–high tide with light winds.
Intermediates and pros will love its machine-like perfection.

2. Macaronis Right – Pagai Utara

Vibe: The quieter sibling of Macas.
When it’s good: Solid south swells + northerly winds + high tide.
Why surf it: Smooth right-hand walls with hardly any crowd — perfect if Macas is too busy or heavy.

3. Mini Macas – Pagai Utara

For: Beginners, longboarders, cruisy sessions.
Where: Inside Macaronis Bay.
Wave style: Soft left with gentle shoulders, easy take-off.
Tip: Paddle out at high tide for the friendliest conditions.

4. Silabu Left – Pagai Utara

Scene: A little-known left tucked away from the crowds.
Best for: Intermediates working on reef confidence or anyone logging water time.
Conditions: Mid–high tide, protected from southerly winds.
Extra: Plenty of paddling between sets — great for fitness.

5. Bat Caves – Pagai Utara

Setting: Jungle-fringed coastline with a playful right-hander peeling along the reef.
Wave personality: Long, rippable walls with a few sneaky barrels.
Who it suits: Intermediates and advanced surfers who want a break from heavier reefs.
Bonus: Combine with snorkeling, cliff jumping, or a beach picnic for an epic day.

6. E-Bay – Siberut Island

Why surf it: A jewel set on tiny Masokut islet, E-Bay combines postcard scenery with perfect, hollow lefts when everything aligns.
Character: Fast, barrelling take-off into a racing wall. Not for the timid.
Best conditions: Clean S–SW swell, light winds, mid tide.
Extra: One of the most photogenic waves in the islands — a favourite with surf shooters.

7. Bankvaults – Siberut Island

Vibe: Heavy, consistent right-hander around Masokut’s southern tip.
Wave personality: Thick barrels, handles anything from waist-high runners to double-overhead bombs.
When to go: SW swells with NE trades or light offshore breezes.
Heads-up: A step up from E-Bay in power — bring a solid board and your A-game.

8. Nipussi – Siberut Island

Why it’s special: A reliable, forgiving right on Masokut’s east coast.
Who it suits: Intermediates chasing open-face turns, or anyone wanting an easy paddle.
Good to know: Works on every tide and loves north winds when other breaks blow out.

9. NoKandui (Kandui Left) – Siberut Island

Reputation: Arguably the heaviest left in the Mentawais. Famous for perfect tubes and jaw-dropping videos.
Personality: Long, deep barrels that demand late drops and strong legs.
Best time: Solid S–SW swell, glassy or light E winds.
Warning: Experts only — the reef here is shallow and unforgiving.

10. Rifles (Kandui Rights) – Siberut Island

What to expect: Endless, ruler-edged rights with multiple barrel sections.
Skill level: Advanced surfers who thrive on speed and precision.
Tip: Wait for the right set and line up properly — patience is key for scoring its legendary tubes.

11. Lance’s Left – Sipora Island

Overview: A Mentawai mainstay offering long, versatile lefts over reef and point.
Why go: Handles a range of swells, with open-face walls for carves and hollow sections on bigger pulses.
Crowd factor: Popular with boats, but several peaks spread riders out.
When: Any SW swell with light winds; mid tide is often best.

12. Lance’s Right (Hollow Tree) – Sipora Island

Backstory: Discovered in the early ’90s by Martin Daly — only to find Aussie adventurer Lance Knight had beaten him there, living with locals and paddling out by canoe.
Why surf it: Perfect, ruler-straight right-hand barrels breaking over shallow reef. One of the world’s most photographed waves.
Best for: Advanced surfers chasing a once-in-a-lifetime tube.
Tip: Mid-to-high tide with clean S–SW swells. The crowd can be heavy, so stay patient and respect the lineup.

13. Cobra – Sipora Island

Wave type: A technical, hollow left-hand slab about 100m from Lance’s Left.
Vibe: Shifty and powerful, with a wedgy drop into multiple barrels — sometimes linking up with Lance’s Left.
Conditions: Loves mid tide and smaller crowds. Be ready for moving water and big tide swings.
Skill level: Experts only.

14. Bintangs – Sipora Island

About: A short, slabby right that packs a punch when 3–4ft. The takeoff is steep, sucking below sea level straight into a tight barrel.
Personality: Doesn’t handle big swells but perfect for intermediates under 3ft, with a deep-enough reef to build confidence.
Vibe: A fun, sneaky wave that rewards quick reflexes.

15. Mini HTs – Sipora Island

What it is: A playful peak offering both lefts and rights, just 10 minutes’ walk from Villa Onu.
Why it’s loved: Soft, forgiving walls and warm, clear water — ideal for longboards, funboards, or your bigger shortboard.
Bonus: A go-to for beginner lessons and loved by local kids. Best with a north wind and high tide.

Also Read How to Get to the Mentawai Islands from Padang: A Comprehensive Guide

16. Beach Break 1 – Sipora Island

Setting: A postcard-perfect bay with mellow waves peeling over shifting sandbanks.
Wave style: Friendly reforms and soft walls — with a small reef corner that sometimes produces a running left.
Who it suits: Beginners and cruisers looking for a relaxed session.
Extra: A dreamy spot to watch the sunset after your surf.

17. Beach Break 2 – Sipora Island

Why go: A pristine stretch of white sand offering playful, sand-bottom peaks.
Wave personality: Crisp walls and mini barrels when the banks line up.
Best for: Turns, little tubes, and casual sessions.
Conditions: North-east winds and low tide bring out its best.

18. The Point – Sipora Island

Overview: A classic right-hand reef/point with long walls and easy entry.
Vibe: Smooth, rippable faces with the odd barrel on bigger sets.
Crowd factor: Much quieter than HT’s despite similar conditions.
Skill range: From beginners and longboarders (on small days) to performance surfers when it’s shoulder- to head-high.
Tip: Best with NW winds and a medium-to-high tide.

19. Monkeys – Sipora Island

Why it’s special: A true swell magnet, always worth checking when other spots go flat.
Wave type: Left-hand reef with a mix of barrels, steep pockets, and soft shoulders.
Personality: No two rides are the same, making it fun for experimenting with lines and maneuvers.
Bonus: Rarely crowded. Loves NE winds and works on all tides.

20. Tikus – Sipora Utara

About: Gentle lefts running across three playful sections.
Who it suits: Beginners and intermediates most days; advanced surfers when bigger swells add speed and hollow sections.
Conditions: Mid-to-high tide for small days, all tides when bigger. Thrives on S or SE winds.
Extra: Great for logging thanks to its long, even walls.

21. Hookers – Sipora Utara

Setting: A scenic, palm-fringed cove with a winding left-hander.
Wave personality: Fast walls, smooth turns, and on clean SW swells, an impressively long ride.
Conditions: Needs SE winds to show its best face.

22. G4’s – Sipora Utara

Overview: A speedy, overlooked left with long, tapering walls.
Why surf it: Perfect playground for intermediates to practice high-speed carves and top turns.
Best time: Lower tides with a straight southerly breeze.

23. Iceland – Sipora Utara

Why surf it: A powerhouse left-hander with thick barrels and strong peaks.
Skill level: Challenging for intermediates at small sizes; a beast for experts when big.
Conditions: Works with E, NE, or SE winds on a moving low to incoming tide.
Vibe: Heavy, punchy, and perfect for tube hunters looking for a thrill.

24. Ombak Tidur – Sipora Utara

Wave type: Complex right-hander with multiple peaks.
Personality: Fun peeling sections and forgiving reef, but getting caught inside can be tricky.
Best conditions: West swells with glassy or N–NE winds at higher tides.
Skill level: Intermediate to advanced.

25. Suicides – Sipora Utara

Wave type: Fast, shallow right-hander with hollow barrels from takeoff.
Best for: Advanced surfers seeking adrenaline-packed sessions.
Tip: Works best on mid-to-high tides with N or NE winds. Not for beginners.

26. Greenbush – Pagai Utara

About: One of southern Mentawai’s most revered waves. Shallow, steep, and hollow — a magnet for barreling lefts over three intense sections.
Skill level: Advanced only; requires commitment and skill.
Best conditions: Solid south swells with the right tide.
Extra: Stunning, photogenic, and uncrowded — a true Mentawai classic.

27. The Hole – Pagai Selatan

Wave type: Heavy left-hander, isolated and powerful.
Skill level: Advanced surfers only.
Vibe: Less crowded than Greenbush, ideal for serious barrels and adrenaline-seekers.

28. Rags Left – Pagai Selatan

Why go: Long, hollow lefts that fire on big SW swells.
Wave personality: Extended tubes over 100m with powerful sections.
Tip: Sensitive to tide and wind; not crowded unless conditions demand it.

29. Rags Right – Pagai Selatan

About: One of the heaviest rights in southern Mentawai.
Wave style: Slabby, barreling reef break with minimal margin for error.
Skill level: Advanced surfers only.
Safety note: Low tide is dangerously shallow; watch for coral heads.

30. Rednuht – Pagai Selatan

Wave type: Short, heavy right with a punchy barrel off the take off.
Personality: Intense, memorable, and ideal when timed with guides for the right swell and tide.

31. Fish Fingers – Pagai Selatan

About: Gentle, sand-bottomed wave for learners and kids.
Why go: Mellow peaks, soft boards, and surf coaching available.
Skill level: Beginner-friendly.
Perfect for first waves before progressing to reefs like Mini Macas or Silabu.

32. Roxies – Pagai Selatan

Wave type: Fun right-hander just south of Macaronis.
Personality: Rippable walls that turn into hollow barrels at 4–5ft.
Vibe: Great alternative for rights without the Macas crowds.

33. Thunders – Pagai Selatan

Wave type: Consistent left-hander, producing heavy barrels on bigger days and mellow sections when small.
Best conditions: Works on all tides and is often the go-to when other breaks are flat.

The Mentawai Islands offer some of the most consistent, high-quality surf anywhere on earth.

From beginner-friendly beach breaks to legendary barrels like Macaronis, Rifles, and Lance’s Right, there’s something here for every level of surfer.

A surf trip to the Mentawais is more than just chasing waves — it’s about remote beaches, vibrant jungle, friendly locals, and the thrill of exploring one of the world’s last true surf frontiers.

Pack your boards, respect the islands, and prepare for an unforgettable adventure in one of surfing’s greatest playgrounds.