Mentawai Islands
Year-round surf breaks reached by boat, plus Siberut's rainforest, Mentawai culture and traditional stilt houses.
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The Mentawai Islands are a regency of West Sumatra province, Indonesia, made up of about a hundred islands roughly 150 km off Sumatra's western coast. Four main islands are inhabited: Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai and South Pagai. Siberut is the largest, at about 64% of the regency's land area. Padang, the West Sumatra capital, lies on the mainland opposite Siberut. Fast boats from Muaro port in Padang's old town take about 3 to 4 hours; slow boats take 10 to 12 hours.
Surf is the main draw. Waves here break year-round, reaching up to about 15 ft (4.6 m), and more than 40 boats offer surf charters to international guests. Siberut is where to go for forest and village life. The Mentawai people call their homeland Bumi Sikerei, and their traditional uma houses are stilt houses with plank walls. Rain falls about 2,500 to 3,200 mm a year, and temperatures stay between 22°C and 33°C. Most ferry services run only once a week, so build spare days into your plan.
Mentawai Islands in five
- Choose a camp or charter by skill levelMany Mentawai breaks are shallow reef waves that suit intermediate and advanced surfers. Ask which breaks the camp or boat covers, how crowded they are and what the plan is if conditions drop.
- Book transport from Padang with a bufferBoats from Padang to the islands depend on sea conditions and can be canceled. Plan a spare day before any international flight, and confirm the pickup point with your operator.Padang
- Go in surf seasonThe best swells arrive roughly April to October. The rest of the year has less consistent surf and more rain, though some camps stay open.
- Insure surf, boats and evacuationReef cuts, collisions and sea sickness are real risks, and medical help is far away. Choose cover that includes surfing and evacuation.
- Visit Siberut with a local guideSiberut is known for forest villages and indigenous Mentawai culture. Go through a guide the community trusts, ask before photographing people and pay fairly for hospitality.
Need to know
- Airport
- Minangkabau (PDG) on the mainland near Padang
- Getting there
- Ferry or fast boat from Padang to Tuapejat; some charters start in Padang
- Getting around
- Boats between islands; camps arrange transfers
- Best base
- A surf camp or a charter boat
- Time needed
- 7–10 days for a surf trip
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°WetJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 435 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- FebruaryRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Wet, less surfFebruaryRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 309 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, less surf
- MarchRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°DrierMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 465 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier
- AprilRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Swell seasonAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 390 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swell season
- MayRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Swell, dryMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 430 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swell, dry
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Swell, bestJuneRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 282 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swell, best
- JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Swell, dryJulyRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 262 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swell, dry
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Swell, bestAugustRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 384 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swell, best
- SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Swell, showersSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 389 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swell, showers
- OctoberRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Swell, showersOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 384 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Swell, showers
- NovemberRain27 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°RainyNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 480 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- DecemberRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°WetDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 473 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
Average daily high and low in Padang, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Mentawai Islands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 84%
Mentawai Islands
03:41 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°24°84%Tuesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Wed30°23°81%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 81%.
- Thu31°23°92%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Fri29°23°82%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sat30°23°78%Saturday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sun29°23°88%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Mon30°22°91%Monday: Rain. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 91%.
Updated 11:29 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Padangabout 4–10 hours by boat from TuapejatThe mainland city and the usual gateway for boats and flights.Read the guide
- Siberuta separate multi-day tripForest villages and indigenous culture on the largest Mentawai island.
- Mainland Sumatraafter the boat back to PadangHighlands, markets and the rest of the island beyond the coast.Read the guide
Before you go to Mentawai Islands
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Mentawai Islands, checked
- Check visa-free or visa-on-arrival eligibility for your passport on imigrasi.go.id (Directorate General of Immigration) before you fly to Indonesia.
- Most ferry services run only once a week. Confirm sailing dates with the operator, such as ASDP, before you plan your route.
- Earthquake and tsunami risk is high here. Follow warnings from BMKG (bmkg.go.id) and note the high ground near your lodging when you arrive.
- The emergency number across Indonesia is 112. Save it, along with your boat operator's number, before you leave Padang.
- Siberut National Park protects rainforest and endemic primates. Ask the national park authority about entry and guide rules before you go into the forest.
Plan around Mentawai Islands
The mainland gateway
Read the guideSumatraJungle, volcanoes and surf, island-wide
Read the guideBanyak IslandsAnother remote Sumatran surf and beach stop
Read the guideKuta and Southwest BeachesBeginner surf in Bali
Read the guideGetting around IndonesiaFlights, ferries and boats
Read the guideAll of IndonesiaEntry, money and where to go next
Read the guideMentawai Islands FAQ
Are the Mentawai Islands only for surfers?
Mostly. Surf camps and charters dominate, and the islands are remote. Non-surfers can visit Siberut for forest culture or join a relaxed charter, but it is a long way to go for scenery alone.
When is the best time to surf in the Mentawais?
Roughly April to October, when Indian Ocean swells are most consistent. Wind and rain vary, so ask your operator about the current pattern.
How do you get to the Mentawai Islands?
Fly to Padang, then take a ferry or fast boat to Tuapejat, or join a charter that starts at Padang. Schedules depend on the sea, so allow spare days.
Are the Mentawai waves suitable for beginners?
Rarely. Many breaks are shallow reef breaks. Beginners should learn at a beach break first, for example in Kuta, and choose a camp that offers beginner-friendly waves.
Is it safe to visit the Mentawai Islands?
With an experienced operator, yes. The main risks are reef injuries, rough crossings and distance from medical help. Carry insurance that covers evacuation and keep a first-aid kit.