A Mentawai surf trip is not cheap, but where your money goes is easy to understand. You pay for three things: getting to Padang, getting from Padang to the islands, and where you stay. The last one is where your budget really moves, from about US$50 a night in a basic local homestay to around US$500 a night at the most luxurious resort in the region.
We run Hidden Bay, a Mentawai surf resort in a private bay in the northern Mentawais. This is the honest breakdown we give our own guests before they book.
Mentawai surf trip cost at a glance
| Cost | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Jakarta – Padang | about US$130–200 return | Daily flights from Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, three a week from Singapore |
| Transfer Padang – resort | about US$350 return with Hidden Bay | Door to door: airport, hotel and harbor transfers, Mentawai Fast or speedboat, and our private boat to the resort from Siberut. Via Tuapejat, the boat costs about US$100 more |
| Mentawai surf tax | IDR 2,000,000 (about US$120) per surfer | Set by the Mentawai regency |
| Accommodation | US$50–500 per night | From local homestays to luxury surf resorts |
| Boat charter (alternative) | about US$3,300–3,900 per person for 11–12 nights | Shared boat, usually 10 to 12 surfers, surf tax usually extra |
| Hotel in Padang | about US$65 per night at Hotel Santika, the option we recommend | 0 to 2 nights, depending on how you transfer (see below) |
Getting there: why Mentawai logistics cost more than you think
Every trip starts with a flight to Padang (PDG) in West Sumatra. The easiest connections are Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, with daily flights, or Singapore, three times a week. From there you have four ways to reach the islands:
- Mentawai Fast ferry. The cheapest option, about 3.5 to 5 hours depending on the port. It leaves Padang early in the morning and comes back in the late afternoon, so you need a night in Padang before your trip and another on your last night. It runs to Siberut on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and to Tuapejat on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Ferry boat. The slow public ferry takes about 11 hours. For air-conditioning and a little privacy you need to rent a cabin, and then the price ends up almost the same as the fast boat.
- Private speedboat. Faster and more flexible, arranged by your resort or charter.
- Susi Air. Small planes from Padang to the islands. Fast, but they leave little or no room for surfboards, which rules them out for most surf trips.
Those two Padang nights add hotel costs, airport transfers and two days that are not surf days. You can find rooms for US$30–50, but we recommend Hotel Santika at about US$65: the quality is much better and breakfast starts at 5 am, so you eat well before the early ferry. From March 2027, Hidden Bay’s Featured Trips remove them with a chartered speedboat: arrive in Padang by midday and go straight to the resort. On the way home you leave early and catch an afternoon flight the same day.
North vs. south and central Mentawais
South and central (around Katiet and Hollow Trees). These are the cheaper areas. Many waves can be reached without a boat, there is electricity, and the villages feel like small towns. The trade-off is the crowd: many more surfers share the same waves.
North. This is the cherry on top. The northern Mentawais have the most consistent waves, facing every direction, so there is almost always a wave working for the swell and wind of the day. In our experience, on a 10-day trip you surf at least 9 of them on average. It costs more because every session needs a boat and a well-run operation behind it.
Where you stay is where your budget really moves
There are hundreds of places to stay in the Mentawais, from very basic local homes to luxury resorts. Roughly:
- Local homestays and surf camps: from about US$50 a night. Simple rooms, basic food, often shared boats or no boat.
- Mid-range resorts: a private room, proper meals and daily boat trips to the waves.
- Luxury resorts: up to around US$500 a night, with full service, chef’s meals and guided sessions.
- Boat charters: from about US$3,300 per person for 11–12 nights, on a shared boat.
The cheapest option is not always the best value. You will spend thousands of dollars and several days on flights and transfers to get here. It makes little sense to save at the end and then not be able to enjoy the waves to the full.
What popular Mentawai charters cost (2026–2027 listings):
| Boat | Price per person | Trip | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seriti | from about US$3,500 | 11–12 nights, 12 surfers sharing | Surf tax, photos |
| Star Koat 2 | US$3,300–3,900 | 11–12 nights, up to 12 surfers | Surf tax, photos |
| Sibon Jaya (Sibon Charters) | On request, premium catamaran | 11 nights from 2027 | Surf tax, photo and video |
For comparison, a 10-night Featured Trip at Hidden Bay costs US$2,520–2,820 + 10% government tax, with the surf tax, transfer and surf video already included.
How long should a Mentawai surf trip be?
Long enough to get comfortable. The first time you surf a new wave, you never feel at home. The second time, you already know how to position yourself and where to sit. From there, every session gets easier and more fun.
That is why we built our Featured Trips around 10 and 11 nights (11 and 12 days). It is enough time to surf most of the waves around the resort more than once, and to leave feeling you really surfed them, not just visited them.
What a trip to Hidden Bay costs
Hidden Bay sits well above the regional average for quality, facilities and operation, and still costs less than many comparable resorts. On the offers below, Featured Trips are priced per person with everything included: room, chef’s meals, Surf Pack, Padang transfer, surf video and the Mentawai surf tax.
| Trip | Book by | Price per person, 10 nights sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Low season offer, January–February 2027 | 31 December 2026 or while spots last | US$2,520 + 10% government tax, everything included |
| 2027 early bird, March–October | 31 December 2026 or while spots last, first 4 rooms of each trip only | US$2,820 + 10% government tax, everything included |
| Regular rate, bookings from 1 January 2027 | — | US$2,700 + 10% government tax for room, meals and Surf Pack (US$180 + US$90 per night). Transfer US$175 each way, surf tax US$120, surf video US$250 optional |
The early bird saves about US$600 on the same trip, but it ends on 31 December 2026, or sooner if the spots run out, and only the first 4 rooms of each trip get it. If you already know your dates, it pays to book early.
On the offers, the only things left to add are your flights to Padang and travel insurance.
See Featured Trip dates · Chat on WhatsApp
Still choosing a place? Read our guide on how to choose a Mentawai surf resort and our month-by-month guide to the best time to surf Mentawai.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Mentawai surf trip cost?
Accommodation ranges from about US$50 to US$500 per night. Add your flights to Padang, the transfer to the islands (about US$350 return with Hidden Bay, door to door from the airport) and the Mentawai surf tax of about US$120.
Do I need to stay a night in Padang?
With the public ferry, yes: one night before and one after your trip. From March 2027, Hidden Bay guests on Featured Trips can go straight from the airport to the resort and back.
Is the surf tax included?
It depends on where you stay. At Hidden Bay it is included in the low season offer and in 2027 early bird bookings; otherwise it is US$120 per surfer.
Is the low season cheaper?
Often, yes. Hidden Bay’s January–February 2027 offer starts at US$2,520 for 10 nights, everything included.
Sources
- Padang flight prices: Indonesia Travel
