Mentawai Checklist

Mentawai Checklist

Here is our checklist for your trip to Mentawai. This is a basic guide designed for people who haven't visited Mentawai before. It will be a good reference point to get you prepared for your first trip to the Islands

Passport and all travel documents with photocopies, Passport, Travel Insurance, Airline ticket (Passport over 6 months expiry). Keep all your important documents safe in a small carry bag. 30 day Visa on arrival is available at the airport and costs about 35USD. You can also apply for the E-visa online.

Health Precautions check with your doctor regarding malaria medication and any other vaccinations needed. (Hepatitis A and Tetanus Vaccines). Make sure you tell your charter operator about any serious health conditions. The mandatory Covid vaccine restrictions were revoked June 9th 2023. Bring all your usual first aid supplies

Hooded Rash Vest and surf hat for them long days in the water. With the hooded vests even if you don't like wearing the hood it gives you good sun protection on the back of your neck.  A rash vest will also protect your skin from irritants like saltwater, sand, and wax. Might even be worth considering a 2mm vest to help with extra buoyancy and protection from the reef.

Lightweight Clothing Pack breathable, quick-drying clothing suitable for tropical climates. Long-sleeved shirts and pants can provide additional sun and insect protection.

Leash - No comp leashes. Get a decent leash and don't use an old one. Try get a quick release system just in case you get caught out on a coral head. Look for a leash 5mm or thicker and around 6 foot long. Always good to have a few spare packed in your bag.

Reef Boots - Boots will help protect your feet from the sharp coral reef. It's worth having a pair packed even if you don't use them for surfing. We like the split toe boots with the thicker sole. Perfect for scratching up the reef to collect your surfboard if your leash breaks.

Wax - Tropical surf wax, warm water wax. Normal wax is useless. Tropical wax is typically harder and more durable than standard surf wax, which can melt or become too soft in warmer water temperatures Clean your wax off your boards before the trip. 

Fins - Bring a variety of fin sizes and a spare fin key. Always good to have a couple of sets of fins on standby. Pack some large fins for them bigger days. Double check your fin system before purchasing fins. (FCS or Future)

Sunglasses - Good, polarized sunglasses, sun hat and a long sleeve shirt for fishing trips. Get a strap for your sunglasses so you don't lose them over the side of the boat.

First Aid Kit - Bring a small first aid kit with you, Include items like adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, medical tape, tweezers, scissors, antiseptic cream and alcohol wipes. 

Medication painkillers, ibuprofen and antibiotics are a must. Make sure you have a doctors note for any subscription drugs. Triple antibiotic ointment for your reef cuts and oral antibiotics (Amoxicillin or Ciprofloxacin) for skin infections etc..

Sea Sickness can be a real problem, Bring some Dramamine or motion sickness medication. Sea sickness can end a trip so make sure you bring something to help if you are affected. 

Extra cash & Credit card for emergency. (IDR Indonesian Rupiah) Its always handy to have spare cash for transit, extra beer money tips for the crew etc... You can get cash from the ATM or one of the banks in Padang but might be easier to change your currency to Indonesian Rupiah before you arrive.  A good tip for the crew is around 150 USD per guest and an extra carton of Bintang costs about 35 USD. Visa on arrival costs 35 USD. You also need to check if your Mentawai tax has been paid. (2million IDR)

Malaria - Mosquito Repellant for day trips ashore. Mosquitos aren't usually a problem onboard but always good to have repellant for transit. If you are worried about malaria, please check with your doctor regarding best practices and medication. The majority of our guests don't take Malaria medication.

Hard drive - Bring a hard drive for photos from your trip. You can easily fill a 256 GB USB stick with photos and videos from your trip. Check your other electronics like phone and charger. Check what electrical sockets are on your charter boat. Might have to get a travel adapter.

Board Shorts - Most your days are spent in your board shorts.  Make sure you choose a decent set that are comfy and fit well. Get a couple of spare sets for the trip, we recommend at least 3 pairs.

Rain Coat - Lightweight raincoat for the stormy wet days exploring the Jungle. Not essential but always handy to have a rain jacket in Indonesia. Good if you plan to spend any time on land.

Supplements - Eat well on your trip and stay hydrated. If you're going to spend a lot of time in the surf its worth bringing some extra supplements like Vitamins, Magnesium, Zinc and Electrolytes.   

Snacks: While meals are provided, bringing your favorite snacks can be a good idea to have onboard. Protein and energy bars are popular with lots of our guests. 

Ding Repair Kit - Solar resin and ding tape for any emergency board repairs. Most surf charters have a kit onboard but always handy to have the basics.

Contacts Leave the charter operators contact details with family at home. Check the boats sat phone number so friends and family can contact you from home in an emergency. Update your voicemail so work know your away on holiday.

Dry Bag - To keep all your valuables (Passport, paperwork, handphone & cash) Good to have a small bag for them days you're heading ashore to explore. 

Ear Plugs Aqua ear and ear plugs or blue tack. Antibiotic ear drops. Ear infections are commonplace in the tropics so make sure you protect them. A few drops of hydrogen peroxide can help with blocked slightly infected ears.

Surfboards 2 standard thrusters and one step up, depending on surf forecast. We always recommend getting a little extra volume or length in your boards. Having that extra paddle power is really important. Make sure you pack your boards well to avoid damage in transit or another option is to get custom surfboards made in Bali and get them shipped to Mentawai before your trip

Accessories Here are some other accessories you might want to consider bringing. Water bottle, head lamp, books, super glue, go pro camera, headphones, journal, small binoculars, fishing lures and a towel.  A bottle of alcohol from the duty free and a sleeve of cigarettes for the crew will always come in handy.

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