One of the most memorable trips I have ever made in my life is to visit the Mentawai islands, located just off the coast of West Sumatra. This group of islands is home to the Mentawai tribe, one of the few tribes in Indonesia that still maintains its unique way of life and traditions of animism and shamanism.
The best part is, you can go and live with them in the jungle and learn how they survive out there as I did for more than 5 days. If this isn't enough of a reason to visit the Mentawai Islands, the place also boasts some of the best surfing, snorkeling, and beach spots in Indonesia.
If you are looking for a REALLY off-the-beaten-path place to visit in Sumatra and do something wild like living in the jungle with a tribe, this travel guide is for you! From how to get to the island to a comprehensive list of things to do, here is a complete travel guide to the Mentawai Islands:
Mentawai Things to Do Itinerary Map
7 Best Things to Do in Mentawai
1. Live in the Jungle with the Mentawai Tribe
- 📍 Location: Live in the Jungle with the Mentawai Tribe [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: 360 EUR (~417 USD)
This is probably one of the most memorable and life-changing things you can do in your life, and I'm not even exaggerating. Going with the Mentawai tribe and living with them in the jungle for 5 days will really change you.
The Mentawai people have been the indigenous inhabitants of the Mentawai Islands long before the islands became a part of Indonesia. What's unique about them is their way of life, which emphasizes a cooperative lifestyle deeply connected to their natural surroundings.
Their spiritual beliefs are deeply rooted in animism, where they believe that all natural objects have spirits, and shamans play a crucial role in their society, conducting rituals and healing practices.
- Jelita Beach Mentawai (Budget)
- Crow's Nest (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- AWERA RESORT (High-End)
- Live with the Mentawai Tribe (5 days) 👍 Top Pick
They speak their own language, rely on hunting, gathering, and fishing for their food, and use makeshift equipment made from local materials like fish nets, bows, and arrows.
The best part is that they are very curious about the outside world, which is how you will be able to go into the jungle and live with them while observing their practices firsthand. It was incredible.
We took a canoe deep into the jungle, and trekked through the muddy forest to a communal longhouse called "uma", where the Mentawai people live. It is typically built on stilts and made from local materials such as wood, bamboo, and palm leaves.
We spent the next 3 days learning about their ways of life, making loincloths with a shaman, going fishing, digging tree barks for coconut worms for lunch, making poison arrows, and so much more.
We slept on the floor and went to the toilet wherever there was a bush high enough for us to squat behind. And then we would come back to the house, talk until dinner time, and go to bed. Huge shout out to my friend Ugnė from Lithuania, who made the trip awesome. I would be out of my mind if I were there alone for 5 days!
We were grouped together by the Mentawai Tribe tour company that I went with, and they helped me find the group to join as well as put me in contact with one of the Mentawai guides who took me into the jungle. Usually, each group will have between 2 to 6 people, which I think is perfect as it is not too crowded.
They also helped me organize transportation and everything I needed for the trip. I ended up spending 5 days in the jungle with the tribe and the cost was 360 EUR including a roundtrip ferry ticket between Padang and Siberut Island. If you are looking to experience the same, I highly recommend you reach out to them via email or WhatsApp.
2. Witness a Shaman Ceremony at Muntei Tourism Village
- 📍 Location: Muntei Tourism Village [Map Link]
The Mentawai people usually live in two places: one in the jungle, where life goes much slower, and another in a village near a town where they conduct trade. Muntei Tourism Village is one such village, and whenever there is a chance to celebrate or mourn, the rituals often take place here.
If you are lucky enough to be there during such rituals, jump at the chance to attend one with your guide. I was able to witness a funeral ritual where a 1.5-year-old baby had just died of natural causes and the whole village gathered around one house to perform the ritual.
It was wild! There were people crying and screaming as the shamans summoned the baby spirits, and they performed their ritual dances around the house, driving the bad spirits away and blessing the attendants.
They then slaughter a live pig and chickens before cooking and feeding the whole village for the entire day. There were drums pounding, people screaming, and shamans dancing, it was WILD! I've never experienced anything quite like it.
My guide in Bukittinggi told me I was lucky to be able to witness it, as not many people have experienced it, so if you ever have a chance to be there during one of the rituals, do not miss the chance. Just make sure you buy them some cigarettes as a thank-you gift for allowing you to attend.
3. Get a Mentawai Tribal Tattoo
- 📍 Location: Muntei Tourism Village [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: Varies by size
While at the Muntei Tourism Village, you can also get a tattoo which the Mentawai people are famous for. Their shamans are covered in some of the best-looking tattoos I've seen and many have spiritual meanings behind them, which I think is pretty cool.
Their tattoos often come in a minimalistic form, consisting mostly of line art, with each one having its meaning deeply rooted in animism. My guide, Lugi, happened to be a tattoo artist as well, so he showed me all the patterns and explained some of the meanings behind them.
They do not use any machinery to assist in the tattoo process. They do it by hand with a jar of ink, a pin tied to one stick, and another stick to poke the pin in quick succession.
I didn't get a tattoo myself, but I met a guy from Spain who did. He said it was painful at first, especially near the collarbones, but it became quite therapeutic as he got used to it. The rhythm as my guide stuck and poked the guy helped him through the process, he told me.
So if you are looking to get a tattoo from the Mentawai people, be sure to ask your guide to take you to Lugi to get one. The cost of getting a tattoo varies depending on the size of the tattoo and the tattoo artist, so be sure to ask your guide before you commit to it.
4. Enjoy the Pristine Beach of Tuapejat
- 📍 Location: Jati Beach [Map Link]
One of the best reasons to visit Tuapejat is to enjoy its incredible beach and crystal clear water. The best beach, which is right by the accommodation I recommended under the Where to Stay section, is Jati Beach and it runs along the west coast of the island starting from Tuapejat Port all the way down to Mapaddegat and beyond.
I stayed at Crow's Nest when I was in Tuapejat, and the beach is right in front of the homestay. I often jumped into the water every morning and swam around before breakfast; it was incredible. I highly recommend staying there or at Jelita Beach Resort for direct access to the beach anytime.
The sunset from Jati Beach is also incredible, and I would stroll along the beach every evening after dinner and sit and watch as the sky turns purple. During the weekend, you will also find many locals enjoying the beach in the evening, which is always good to see.
If you are looking for a more relaxing vacation in Mentawai, Tuapejat and Jati Beach are where you will want to be. Be sure to book the beachside accommodation in advance as there aren't many options on the island and it can get booked out pretty fast.
5. Go Snorkeling in Tuapejat
- 📍 Location: Crow's Nest homestay [Map Link]
Tuapejat coastline is blessed with some of the most accessible coral reefs out there, with many of them found in the shallow water right by Jati Beach. From your guest house, you can borrow snorkeling gear and go snorkeling anytime you like.
The best snorkeling area is right in front of Crow's Nest homestay, and you will find many small coral reefs running along the shallow area just before the drop-off, with plenty of fish to see.
The coral reef here is not the best I've seen; that reward goes to the Atauro Island in Timor Leste, but it is very easy to get to and doesn't require you to charter a boat out to see. Just make sure that the water visibility is good before you head out there as you won't see anything if the water is murky. I found the morning to be the best time to go snorkeling as the sun is often out, the current is stable, and the water is clear.
6. Go Island Hopping Around Mentawai Islands
- 📍 Location: Mentawai Islands [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: 600,000 IDR (~35 USD) (4h), 1,000,000 IDR (full day)
If you want to spend half a day or an entire day relaxing at beaches and snorkeling in different spots around Mentawai, you can also charter a boat and go on an island-hopping tour.
There are three main islands just off the coast of Tuapejat: Pototoga, Silabok, and Siburu. This is where many of the expensive surf camps are located, offering some of the most pristine beaches in the area. Thanks to its exotic location, you can often have these beaches all to yourself.
There are also several snorkeling spots around these islands, and your boat operator should be able to take you there. To charter a boat, you can contact your homestay the day before, and they will be able to organize one for you. The price is 600,000 IDR per boat for 4 hours and 1,000,000 IDR per boat for a full-day trip.
7. Surf at Some of the Best Surf Spots in the World
- 📍 Location: Mentawai Islands [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: 600,000 IDR (~35 USD) half-day
Last but not least, the Mentawai Islands have some of the most consistent waves in Indonesia, and if you want to surf at one of the best surfing spots out there, here is your chance.
You can either stay at one of the many luxury surf camps like Awera Resort which has many daily activities you can enjoy, or you can charter a boat out from Tuapejat for 600,000 IDR for half a day or 1,000,000 IDR for a full-day surfing trip.
I do not surf myself, but I met a French couple who chartered one of the local boats and went surfing for a day, and they seemed to really enjoy the experience. If you want to do some surfing in Indonesia, Mentawai is the place to be.
Where to Stay in Tua Pejat, Mentawai?
How Many Days to Spend in Mentawai?
This will depend entirely on what you want to do in Mentawai and the available ferry schedule as each route runs on different days. If you just want to relax on the beach, go snorkeling, and surfing, then 2 - 4 days in Tuapejat should be enough.
If you want to do the Mentawai Tribe tour, then 3 - 5 days is what I would recommend. For those who want to do both as I did, I would dedicate at least a week for the trip.
You can catch the ferry from Padang to Tuapejat on a Friday, spend 3 nights there, and then catch a ferry from Tuapejat to Siberut on a Monday. Spend 5 nights with the tribe before catching the 2:30 PM ferry back to Padang on a Saturday. That way, you get the best of both worlds.
Which Mentawai Island is the Best?
This is going to depend on what you want to do in Mentawai. If you want a relaxing beach destination to snorkel or surf, Tuapejat is where you will find it. The beaches here have crystal-clear water and many of the coral reefs are right by the beach, which makes it really easy to snorkel.
You can also charter a local boat to take you island-hopping and surfing, as Tuapejat has the best tourism infrastructure (though don't expect much) in Mentawai.
That said, if you are looking to visit the Mentawai Tribe and live with them in the jungle, Siberut Island is where you should go. Most of the Mentawai tribe people live on this island, and most tours will begin from here.
The tour company you went with should include a round-trip ticket between Padang and Siberut, and they will help organize the connection for you. Be sure to reach out to them before your trip. I went with Mentawai Tribe Company, and they were responsive and helped me get to the island on time for the tour.
Suggested Itinerary for Mentawai
- Day 0: Arrive in Padang, stay get the ferry ticket to Tuapejat, and spend the night.
- Day 1-2: Travel to Tuapejat and spend 3 nights there. Go snorkeling, swimming, island-hopping, or surfing.
- Day 3: Travel to Siberut Island, and ask the Mentawai Tribe Company to find you an accommodation there (there is none available to book online).
- Day 4-7: Spend the next 5 days with the Mentawai tribe in the jungle.
- Day 8: Travel back from the jungle and take the 2:30 PM ferry back to Padang.
- Day 9: Fly out of Padang.
When is the Best Time to Visit Mentawai?
The best time to visit Mentawai is between May and September when the weather is relatively dry, which makes for a great island experience and the surf conditions are excellent.
If you are going to live with the Mentawai tribe, the trails in the jungle will also be less slippery (mind you, it's still muddy as hell), which will make it much easier to explore.
That said, since you are on an island, the weather can be unpredictable at times with rain showers occurring at random intervals, so be sure to pack a rain jacket even if you are visiting during the dry season.
Also, the ferry may get canceled due to unpredictable weather even during the dry season, so be sure to consult Mentawai Fast Ferry official Facebook page before your trip.
How to Get to Mentawai?
To get to Mentawai, you will first have to fly into Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra. There is an international airport there, but you can only fly there via Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia or via Medan in North Sumatra.
Your best bet is to fly into Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and then catch an AirAsia flight to Padang. Once you arrive in Padang, you can then hail a Grab taxi to get to your accommodation or catch the DAMRI Airport Bus to town. The taxi should cost about 120,000 IDR while the bus should cost 35,000 IDR per person.
To get from Padang to Mentawai, you will first have to see which Mentawai island you will be going to because the ferry to some of the islands does not run every day.
If you want to spend some time at the beach and go surfing, Tuapejat is where you will likely be heading whereas for the tribe, Siberut is where you should go, so make sure you consult the schedule shown above or look out for updates at Mentawai Fast Ferry official Facebook page.
The ticket price for Padang to Tuapejat/Siberut is 350,000 IDR per person and it should take about 3.5 hours, while the ticket for Tuapejat to Siberut is 175,000 IDR per person and it should take you about 2 hours.
If you align your visit carefully, such as going to Padang to Tuapejat on a Friday, spending 3 nights there, and then catching a ferry from Tuapejat to Siberut on a Monday, you will be able to have time to enjoy the beach, go snorkeling/surfing, and visit the Mentawai Tribe all in one go. That's how I did it, and I was able to spend 5 nights with the tribe before catching the 2:30 PM ferry back to Padang on a Saturday.
How to Get Around Mentawai?
By Walking: There are not many options for transportation within Tuapejat and Siberut, as most locals get around by scooter. You are likely to be bound to where you stay and will need to walk to nearby places.
You can try asking your homestay if they can rent a scooter for you, but not every homestay has them readily available. It's best to book your accommodation near a nice beach, so you don't have to walk far to get there.
By Chartered Boat: For day trips around Tuapejat, you can charter a local boat to take you island-hopping or surfing for around 600,000 IDR per boat for 3 - 4 hours or 1,000,000 IDR for a full-day trip. You can ask your accommodation to organize this for you.
By Fast Ferry: To get around each island, such as from Siberut to Tuapejat, you will have to rely on the Mentawai Fast Ferry service. The schedule can be found on their official Facebook page and the price should be around 175,000 IDR to travel between each island.
By Tour: To get to the Mentawai jungle and live with the tribe, you will have to go on an organized tour. I went with Mentawai Tribe and they helped organize the entire trip for me from boat connection to places to stay in Siberut, and more. They were great and I highly recommend you do the tour with them.
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