Best Time to Surf

in the Mentawai Islands

The waves don’t stop, but the rhythm shifts.

Here’s how to move with it.

The Mentawai Islands are more than a surf destination—they’re a dance with the ocean.

Swells arrive like clockwork, shaped by deep water and reef, kissed by trade winds and tides.
But even in a place this consistent, timing still shapes the experience.

Some come for barrels and stories that echo for years. Others for slower mornings, smaller crowds, and long rides that ask for nothing but joy.

Knowing when to go is less about chasing numbers—and more about tuning into the islands’ natural pulse.

When the best time

The Surf Calendar

to surf in Mentawai Islands

March - April

The Quiet Start

The season begins in a hush. Swells start to stir in the south, and the Mentawais stretch awake from their tropical slumber.

  • Swell size: 3–6 feet, playful and clean

  • Winds: Light and variable, glassy mornings

  • Vibe: Uncrowded, relaxed, wide open

  • Ideal for: Intermediates, solo surfers, and early birds

Why it works:

You’re early to the party. The lineups are loose. The water is warm. It’s the season for carving, cruising, and shaking off the rust. And when a bigger set does roll through, it feels like a gift.

May - September

The Main Event

This is the Mentawai heartbeat. Southern Hemisphere storms send wave after wave through the Indian Ocean—powerful, clean, and relentless.

  • Swell size: 6–12 feet, with bigger pulses

  • Winds: Predictable trades, many spots stay protected

  • Vibe: Charged, focused, full of energy

  • Ideal for: Advanced surfers chasing performance waves

Why it works:

Every reef seems to light up. If you’re here for ten days, you’ll score. Rights, lefts, barrels, shoulders—it’s all on offer. The guides have options, the surfers have stories, and the ocean rarely lets up.

October - November

The Exhale

After the fireworks of peak season, the Mentawais settle into something softer—but no less beautiful.

  • Swell size: 3–8 feet, smooth and steady

  • Winds: Light offshore, mellow patterns

  • Vibe: Unhurried, soulful, spacious

  • Ideal for: All levels, especially those seeking flow without the fuss

Why it works:

The crowds thin out. The breaks keep working. You might surf alone at spots that were buzzing weeks before. It’s a slower rhythm, but one that still moves.

December - February

The Pause

This is the season the islands take a breath. The rain comes. The wind shifts. The swells turn moody.

  • Swell size: Inconsistent, some windows but hit or miss

  • Winds: Onshore and gusty, more rainfall

  • Vibe: Quiet, off-grid, introspective

  • Ideal for: Non-surfers, slow travelers, digital detoxers

Why it works (if it does):

You’re not here to chase waves. You’re here to unplug, to walk barefoot, to fall asleep to rain on the roof. Some days are surfable. Some days you read, stretch, and let the ocean be.

What you

should know

about the waves and its best time.

  • Direction matters.

    SW to SSW swells are the magic key—long-period energy that hits the reef with precision.

    Wind is your window.

    Most mornings are calm. By midday, trades pick up, but many breaks hide behind island curves and coconut groves.

    Tides change everything.

    Some waves only work at high. Others need the drain of low tide. Having a local surf guide (like the team at La Isla Mentawai) makes the difference between guessing and scoring.

  • Apps and surf charts help—but the Mentawais are wild. Things shift fast. Here’s what locals really watch:

    • Swell period: Look for 14–20 seconds—these are the sets that travel far and hit hard.

    • Wind direction: East or northeast is gold—groomed faces, easy takeoffs.

    • Multi-day consistency: When the swell sticks around for a few days, you chase different breaks without racing the clock.

    Still, no chart beats a good guide and a well-tuned instinct.

    • Barrel chaser: June–August – bring your step-up, your courage, and an appetite for adrenaline

    • Style surfer: March–April or October–November – flowy waves, quiet lineups, longer rides

    • Off-grid dreamer:December–February – maybe not for waves, but definitely for the soul

Services

Additional

At La Isla, we go beyond just providing world-class waves.

Enhance your surf experience with our range of additional services, including board rentals, expert surf coaching, and professional surf photography, ensuring every moment is unforgettable.

Surf Board Rental

We have a small but cool array of surfboards and wave ridding machines ranging from high performance shortboards, retro twin fins, twin pins, funboards, soft tops and longboards. 

  • Half day > 20.00 Usd

  • Full day > 35.00 Usd

*Any damage to the rental surfboard will be charged separately

Surf Coaching

We always have 2 surf guides/coaches on location.

If you need any special one on one coaching sessions our trained professional staff will be happy to assist.

Surf coaching sessions and private surf lessons have an additional cost.

Surf Video & Photography Package

Surf video and photography packages are available with our team of professional surf images and footage hunters.

You can request it on site and also have an extra cost that varies depending on length of stay and quantity of material.

Every two or three days we will review the material in a cool evening happening.

Ultimate

Exploration 

Surf

Vehicles

At La Isla we have a fleet of three aluminum boats designed and crafted by Etamax Sumatra.

A company with years of experience in the Mentawai Islands supplying the local surf industry with excellent quality boats crafted to engage on fun cruising and surf exploration. 

Our two small aluminum boats, the 140L and 140L HD can take 2 - 6 passengers and our bigger aluminum craft, the 7.2 m Maxcraft, can take 4 -12 passengers to the surf with comfort, speed and style.

Surfboards

and

Gear

The surf in the area offers a wide range of possibilities, with wave setups changing significantly depending on the swell size, wind, and direction.

The ideal board size will vary based on your size and skill level.

We recommend a good all-around board for average days and a step-up or hybrid surfboard for the better days. If the swell gets serious, a proper gun is a smart choice.

On bigger days, extra volume is always appreciated—you don’t want to be under-gunned when the conditions heat up.

Board snaps are common here, so bringing a backup is always a wise idea.

  • Boardshorts

  • Surf shirt or jacket for sun protection

  • Proper Sun protection

  • Surf Cap

  • Sun glasses

SUGGESTED GEAR

  • A wet bag for your phone and gear

  • Rain jacket

  • Wax

  • Extra leashes

  • Fins Key

earthy and rooted

we are

OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A SPACE FOR UNWINDING, RESETTING, AND RECONNECTING WITH THE OCEAN AND THE FOREST

Whether you're chasing your first green wave or looking to score the ride of your life, Mentawai delivers. And at La Isla, we make it effortless.

You bring the stoke—we'll handle the tides, the guides, and everything in between.

Ready to surf paradise?