The beautiful Mentawai Islands are a small archipelago that sits off
the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. They are famous for their
surfing conditions, being on of the
top 10 surf spots in Indonesia. It even rivals those found in the surfer’s paradise of Bali.
As such, many surfers come to the Mentawai Islands after the surf
season in Bali has finished. But surfing is not the only activity on
offer here. Many of the islands provide delightful opportunities for
trekking as well as fishing and snorkeling. If none of these appeals,
then you can also spend time relaxing on the beaches here or learning
more about the Mentawai culture.
Where is it
The Mentawai Islands are located around 150
kilometers off the west coast of the island of Sumatra. They consist of
Pulau (island) Siberut, Pulau Sipura Pulau Pagai-utara and Pulau
Pagai-selatan. To visit here, you will have to first go to Padang in
West Sumatra before making the journey across by boat.
Map of Mentawai Islands
Why go
If you are a surfing aficionado, then the
Mentawais offer some of the best surfing in the country. These islands
are not to be missed as part of your wider surf trip in Indonesia. If
surfing is not your thing, the Mentawais still offer you the chance to
see a far less touristy side of Indonesia, with a fascinating culture
that many visitors don’t get to see. With relatively good travel links
to Padang, the Mentawais are also quite easy to visit, especially for
intrepid travelers looking for some adventures a little off the beaten
track.
Surfing the waves of Mentawai Islands. Photo by
Colm Walsh
When to visit
The best time to visit the Mentawai Islands is after the rainy season,
which starts around November or December and then runs until
approximately March or April. During this time it can rain every day,
and if you want to spend time surfing or sunbathing then, this can be a
rather damp time to visit.
Months like September and October are good picks as the weather is pleasant and this is also
low season
after the summer holidays and before the winter rush for Christmas and
New Year. The flight tickets and accommodations are often discounted
during this time. The overall general best time to visit the Mentawai
Islands is during the dry season of May to October.
What to see
The Mentawais are islands of sand and surf so bear in mind that most of the things to see here are focused on beach life.
Siberut Island – the biggest of all the islands and
where most of the population lives. Most of the island is made up of
tropical rainforest, and for this reason, it is a UNESCO reserve. It is
also the spot where you will find Siberut National Park where you can go
trekking and explore the unique flora and fauna of these islands.
Sipora Island – If you want to see a more developed
side of the Mentawais then head over to Pulau Sipora. It is the home of
the ‘capital’ city of the Mentawais called Tua Pejat. The local
government offices are also located here and it is the urbanest of all
the Mentawai Islands.
Pagai Islands – separated into Pulau Pagai Utara in
the north and Pulau Pagai Selatan in the south. Travelers hardly ever
make it out that far, but you can charter a boat and cruise around the
waters here if you want to explore further afield.
What to do
If you like islands and beaches then you will find much to do on the Mentawais.
Surfing – the top activity here with consistent surf
breaks. Some of the popular surfing spots here are E’bay, Beng-beng,
Nipussi and Pitstop. Here you can get many islets and flawless reef with
sun blue waters, and also offshore winds and spitting tubes.
Fishing – the usual fishing using a rod, or spear
fishing using a spear gun are both popular on the Mentawais. You will
find a huge number of fish living in the shallow reefs around the
islands.
Snorkeling – also a great activity on the islands
and the visibility here is excellent. You can rent snorkeling equipment
easily from many guesthouses and hotels.
Trekking and hiking – For anyone who prefers to stay
on dry land, these are the best activities to do on the Mentawai
Islands. There are treks to suit all levels of ability and you can
either take a guided tour that lasts for a full day or go for an easy
hike independently for a few hours. One of the popular trekking places
is the Siberut National Park
Shaman traditional ceremony – If you are looking for
a bit of local culture then make sure not to miss out on this. The
indigenous people of the Mentawais are the Sikerei tribe. You will find
the traditional performances information in hotels and guesthouses on
the islands.
Where to stay
The most choices of places to stay on Mentawai Islands would be on the big island of
Pulau Siberut *. You may also find some remote and luxurious choices at Sipora Island, for example, the
Simakakang Villa *.
How to get around
The Mentawai Islands are easy to get around.
You may be able to walk around on foot if you are just going from your
guesthouse to the beach. If you want to explore further, however, then
it is a good idea to rent a scooter or a bicycle which can be easily
arranged from a local hotel or guesthouse.
How to get there
To get to the Mentawai Islands, you first
need to travel to the city of Padang in West Sumatra. There are flights
from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta to Padang. There is also a range of
domestic airlines that make the journey from other parts of Indonesia.
Some of the local airlines that travel to Padang are Garuda Indonesia,
Air Asia Indonesia and Lion Air.
Once you have travelled to Padang, you will need to get a boat to the
Mentawai Islands. One of the best ways to do this is to take a fast
ferry that leaves every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Note that the
ferry leaves at 7 am from Padang Harbor, so you will need to come to
Padang the night before. The ferry will then travel to Sikabalua Port
arriving at 10 am and then on to Siberut at 12 pm where the majority of
hotels and guesthouses are.
Where to go nearby
Padang – a coastal city with Dutch colonial buildings and fishing boats
Pekanbaru
– the capital of Riau and well known for its modernity and cleanliness
while maintaning the many of its unique heritage architectures.
