Last Updated: January 13, 2026
The Mentawai Islands receive consistent surf year-round, but timing your trip can mean the difference between perfect offshore barrels and onshore slop. Understanding the seasons, swell patterns, and crowd levels will help you plan the ultimate surf adventure to Hollow Trees and beyond.
For most surfers, May through September is the best time to visit the Mentawai Islands. This period offers consistent large swells (6-10ft), reliable offshore SE trade winds, and blue-sky tropical weather. However, it's also the most crowded and expensive time to visit.
Swell: Consistent 6-10ft+ SW swells
Wind: Reliable SE trade winds (offshore at most breaks)
Weather: Dry season, sunny days, minimal rain
Water Temp: 27-28°C (80-82°F)
Crowds: Most crowded, especially June-August
Cost: Highest prices for resorts and boat charters
Best For: Experienced surfers seeking consistent, powerful waves with perfect conditions. If you want guaranteed surf and don't mind crowds, this is your window.
Swell: 4-8ft, still very consistent
Wind: Variable but often good
Weather: Transition period, some rain possible
Water Temp: 28°C (82°F)
Crowds: Moderate, much less busy than peak
Cost: 15-30% cheaper than peak season
Best For: Value seekers, intermediate surfers, and anyone wanting quality waves without crowds. March and April are particularly good.
Swell: Smaller (3-6ft), less consistent
Wind: Often light or variable, can be onshore
Weather: Wet season, frequent afternoon rain
Water Temp: 28-29°C (83-84°F)
Crowds: Very few surfers, near-empty lineups
Cost: Cheapest rates, many resorts offer big discounts
Best For: Budget travelers, beginners/intermediates who want smaller waves, and anyone seeking total solitude. Christmas/New Year at Macaronis Resort is popular despite off-season.
Wet season brings smaller swells and variable winds. Waves typically 3-5ft, perfect for intermediates. Frequent afternoon rain showers. Near-empty lineups. Cheapest time to visit. Some resorts close during this period.
Shoulder season begins! Swells pick up to 4-7ft. Weather improving with less rain. Winds becoming more consistent. Excellent value with 20-30% cheaper prices. Still relatively uncrowded. One of the best times for value seekers.
Peak season arrives! Consistent 6-10ft swells. SE trade winds offshore at most breaks. Dry weather and sunny days. Crowds building but manageable in May. June sees significant increase in surfers. Book 6-12 months ahead.
Prime time! Biggest, most consistent swells of the year (8-12ft+). Perfect offshore winds. Surfline rates August as "Best Bet" globally. Most crowded months. Highest prices. Must book 9-12 months in advance. Epic conditions if you can handle the crowds.
Still peak season with excellent conditions. Slightly fewer crowds than July-August. Swells 6-10ft with reliable winds. Last chance for guaranteed perfect conditions before shoulder season.
Shoulder season transition. Swells decreasing to 4-8ft but still very surfable. Weather transitioning with occasional rain. Crowds thinning significantly. Prices dropping 20-30%. November is particularly quiet. Excellent value period.
Off-season begins. Smaller swells (3-6ft). More rain. Light winds. Very few surfers. Cheapest month. Christmas and New Year's week at Macaronis Resort is an exception - gets booked out with special rates.
Even during peak season, you can escape crowds by:
Mentawai Islands primarily receive SW and SSW swells from low-pressure systems in the Southern Indian Ocean. These swells travel thousands of kilometers, arriving with long periods (12-18 seconds) and clean faces.
Peak Season (May-Sept): Consistent large SW swells, 6-12ft faces
Shoulder Season: Moderate swells, 4-8ft
Off Season: Smaller, less frequent swells, 3-6ft
SE Trade Winds (April-October): Blow offshore at most breaks including Hollow Trees, Lance's Left, Telescopes, and Playgrounds area. This creates clean, groomed faces perfect for barrels.
Variable/Light Winds (Nov-March): Less predictable. Can be onshore, offshore, or glassy. Morning and late afternoon often offer best conditions during this period.
Resort prices: $200-450+ per person/night
Boat charters: $2,500-5,000+ per person for 10-12 nights
Book 9-12 months in advance
Resort prices: $150-300 per person/night
Boat charters: $2,000-3,500 per person
Book 4-6 months ahead
20-30% savings vs peak
Resort prices: $100-200 per person/night
Some resorts closed or running reduced schedules
Book 2-3 months ahead
30-50% savings vs peak
Best Time: March-April, October-November, December-February
Smaller, more manageable waves. Less intense crowds. Opportunities to build confidence before tackling bigger swells. Consider resorts with beginner-friendly waves like Thunders or Lance's Left inside section.
Best Time: May-September (especially July-August)
If you want to score Hollow Trees at its best with 6-10ft perfect barrels, peak season is worth the crowds and cost. Book early and consider boat charters to escape busy breaks.
Best Time: March-April, November
Best balance of good waves, decent weather, manageable crowds, and affordable prices. March and April especially offer near-peak conditions at shoulder season rates.
Located in South Pagai, Macaronis wave works best in smaller swells. December-February can actually be excellent here when everywhere else is too big. The resort offers special Christmas/New Year packages and is the only place open in South Mentawais during off-season.
North Sipora (Awera, Aloita, etc.): Less crowded year-round. Better for families and non-surfers with luxury resort options.
Playgrounds/Nyang Nyang: More surf camps, more surfers, but better wave variety. Crowded in peak season.
HT's works in a wide range of swells (4-12ft+) but is best with 6-8ft SW swell and light SE winds. Avoid very low tides when "Surgeon's Table" section becomes dangerously shallow. Peak season offers most consistent conditions.
June, July, August - Book 12 months ahead. Expect crowds but perfect conditions.
March, April, May, September, October - Book 4-6 months ahead. Best value overall.
November, December, January, February - Book 2-3 months ahead. Cheaper, smaller waves, very uncrowded.
Late April/Early May or September/Early October - Transitional periods with great waves, fewer crowds, and reasonable prices.