Mentawai Surf Retreat: A Playground Surf Adventure in Paradise

Location

Mentawai Surf Retreat is located on Masokut Island off the coast of West Sumatra, Indonesia. To get there, you fly to Padang Airport, and the resort takes care of transportation by speedboat to the resort. This is a remote area of Indonesia, but there are quite a few surf camps and charter boats so you will never feel alone. The island itself has no infrastructure — all transportation is by walking or boat. There are at least five quality waves to surf on the island of Masokut itself, with two (Ebay and Pitstops) within less than five minutes walking. All the other waves require access by boat, which is part of the beautiful experience of the Mentawai Islands!

Accommodations

Mentawai Surf Retreat is a small, boutique surf camp hosting a maximum of 12 guests per trip. There are three bungalows with 4–6 beds and a private open-air bathroom. Beds have mosquito nets and fans. Be aware that there is no air conditioning in the bungalows because they are open to nature. Each bungalow has a large desk with hammock and day bed with direct views of the waves and sunset. You are literally steps away from the ocean. The bungalows have outdoor showers and surfboard storage racks, which come in handy since you will be surfing for hours each day. Overall, the accommodations are basic, rustic and comfortable — everything you need to rest and relax between surf sessions.

Property:

In addition to the bungalows, there is a larger two-story bungalow that serves as the common area, bar and dining room. As with the bungalows, the views from here are amazing — you can (and I did) spend hours relaxing and watching the waves. The property itself is situated along a rocky shoreline with a small sandy beach, and is nestled among palm trees that fill the island.

Dining:

All meals, snacks and beverages are included in the retreat (alcoholic beverages and sodas are an extra charge), as there are no other facilities available. The meals are a blend of western and local Indonesian cuisine, made with fresh and often locally sourced ingredients. The meals are one of the best parts of the trip. They are both delicious, plentiful, and served with a presentation that shows how much the kitchen staff cares about their work. On the daily surfing boat trips, the crew packs a cooler with snacks and cold beverages so you will never go hungry or thirsty!

Surfing:

The main reason to come here is to surf. In fact, non-surfing partners and friends will probably be bored and not find much else to do, even in such a beautiful setting. With Mentawai Surf Retreat, you have access to over 25 waves in the Playground region. Pitstops is right in front of the resort with a short paddle out from the sandy beach. Most other waves require boat trips. The resort sends boats out typically each morning and each afternoon. There are two boats on each trip, so you can generally choose whether you want to go to challenging spots or more intermediate ones. On my two trips here, I have found that the guides are very good at finding surf spots that match your interests and abilities. They know the area and are experts in wave conditions — trust their guidance and you will definitely score the best waves available each day!

It is a long journey to reach the Mentawai Islands — you will be glad you made the journey after spending a few blissful weeks at Mentawai Surf Retreat. You will surf as much as your body will allow, soak up some of the most beautiful tropical scenery in the world and recharge your mind and soul. Even if you leave tired from the constant activity (I did), you will feel immersed in the routine of surfing, eating, sleeping and repeating — which as surfers know, is exactly what you came for!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Indonesia. In need of further inspiration? Check out Lita Talisman’s guide, The Perfect Honeymoon in Indonesia.