Telos is Indonesia's best kept secret. Uncrowded reefs, endless variety and waves that work for every level — from playful walls to world-class barrels. Less known than the Mentawais, but no less perfect.
A Frames
A fun, symmetrical peak that offers a workable left and a punchier right from the same take-off spot. Sitting close to Rifles, it catches the same swells but breaks over a slightly deeper section of reef, making it a more forgiving option. Great for surfers looking to progress their tube riding in a slightly less committing environment.
Bat Cave
One of the quiet gems of South Pagai. Bat Cave is a consistent, well-shaped left reef break that delivers a satisfying combination of barrel sections and open walls. It responds well to solid SW swells and holds offshore in south-east winds. The remoteness of its location keeps crowds to a minimum, rewarding surfers who make the effort to reach this corner of the archipelago.
Bankvaults
A powerful, bowling right-hander that sculpts any S-SW swell onto a shallow reef, producing thick, square barrels. On smaller days, it offers fun, punchy walls with room to manoeuvre. On bigger swells, it becomes a serious wave with strong currents and very little margin for error. A solid choice when you want quality without the crowds.
Beng Beng
A long, predictable left that peels over a deep and forgiving reef — by Mentawai standards at least. The walls are open and well-shaped, giving surfers time to set up turns and practise carves without the constant threat of a shallow hold-down. When a little more W comes into the swell, it can throw up some surprisingly snappy barrel sections too.
Bintangs
A short, punchy right-hander across the channel from Lance’s Left. Bintangs breaks over a sharp reef that causes the bottom to drop out suddenly, producing a hollow, round barrel from the moment you take off. Its best trick: it stays offshore when north winds kill everything else on Sipora, making it the unlikely hero of blown-out days.
Burguers World
An exposed, swell-hungry right-hander that lights up on any S-SW pulse from the Indian Ocean. The wave pushes onto the reef at Palau Dodiki and produces sculpted, sectiony tubes framed by a palm-topped headland. In smaller surf it’s a playful, fun wave with long walls. Ramp up the swell and it transforms into a heavy, grinding barrel demanding full respect.
Cobras
A short slab of a wave sitting just up the reef from Lance’s Left. Cobras fires into action on a pure S swell and delivers a near-constant barrel from a tricky, shallow take-off zone straight into the channel. There’s no shoulder to hide on and very little room to correct mistakes. Uncrowded almost always — for entirely self-explanatory reasons.
E Bay
One of the most visually stunning waves in the Playgrounds — a heavy, hollow left with two rock sections and water that turns an extraordinary shade of emerald green in direct sunlight. The first section barrels hard and the second drains even shallower. A world-class wave that earns its crowds, but respect the reef.
Eret
A raw, powerful reef break tucked into the Sipora coastline between Scarecrows and Ombak Tidur. E Ret breaks with a sharp, hollow wall that demands a committed take-off and rewards surfers who can hold a high line through the barrel. It rarely appears on itineraries, which keeps the line-up uncrowded for those in the know.
Four Bobs
A deceptively rewarding reef break in the heart of the Playgrounds zone. On smaller days Four Bobs peels nicely for two or three solid turns. On the right swell angle it throws up a succession of almond-shaped barrel sections that link together beautifully. The wave handles a crowd well thanks to a generous take-off zone and multiple peaks to spread across.
Good Times
The name is no accident. Good Times delivers exactly what an intermediate surfer needs — long, open walls with predictable sections that invite full-rail carves and the occasional makeable barrel. The reef is relatively forgiving and the wave shape is consistent session after session. One of the finest intermediate lefts in the archipelago.
Green Bush
Where Macaronis is all flow and fun, Greenbush is its savage neighbour. A hollow freight train that detonates over a very shallow coral ledge at the eastern edge of a wide bay, it produces one of the most square, powerful barrels in Indonesia. Framed by dense tropical forest, the scenery is breathtaking. The wave itself is humbling. Expert surfers only.
Hideways
Tucked on the north side of a small island, Hideaways is a wave of two moods. At lower swell it rolls in as a long, cruisy left with plenty of time to link turns. When bigger swell hits it becomes a piston-like barrel that unloads over a shallow section before spitting into the channel. Crucially it stays offshore when south-east winds ruin every other spot.
Iceland
A powerhouse wave that acts as a magnet for any available swell and handles size that would close out most other spots in the Mentawais — sometimes reaching 20ft on big days. Iceland throws thick, heavy barrels with powerful peaks that shift unpredictably across the reef. Works best on a moving tide with east or north-east winds. Strictly for surfers comfortable in serious conditions.
KFC
A lesser-publicised Playgrounds left that rewards surfers who seek it out. KFC breaks over a consistent reef with a workable shoulder, delivering a mix of barrel opportunities and open-face sections. It rarely gets as busy as the main draws in the area, making it a smart choice when you want quality and a bit of room to breathe in the line-up.
Lances Left
Sitting just around the corner from Hollow Trees, Lance’s Left faces more directly south-west and can be surfed even when the right is blown out. It’s a down-the-line wave with open, generous walls and the occasional tube section on the inside. Less famous than its neighbour but genuinely world-class in its own right.
Lances Right
Hollow Trees — HTs — is the most iconic wave in the Mentawais and one of the most photographed right-hand barrels on Earth. It fires on a very specific combination of SW swell and W-SW wind, and when it does the wave produces front-lit, perfectly round tubes over a shallow reef. The surgeon’s table section near the end is notoriously unforgiving. Expert only, and even experts come away humbled.
Macaronis
Universally acclaimed as the planet’s most fun wave. Macaronis is a mechanically perfect left-hander that reels across a deep-water reef with extraordinary regularity, delivering long, high-performance walls and an inside barrel section that kicks most surfers out with a grin. It suits intermediate surfers wanting to push their limits but also rewards the most experienced. Deservedly bucket-list.
Nipussi
One of the very few beginner-accessible waves in the Playgrounds. Nipussi breaks over a deeper section of reef, slowing the wave down into a gentle, rolling left with a soft shoulder. The scenery — lush islands, calm turquoise water — is impossibly beautiful. Ideal for longboarding, learning footwork, or simply catching your breath between more intense sessions.
Nokandui
Also known as Kandui Left — one of the fastest, most committed left-hand barrels anywhere on the planet. The wave pitches hard off a shallow reef section and barely gives you time to set your line before the lip comes down. It rewards a high front foot and a deep barrel stance. Chargers only.
Ombak Tidur
Ombak Tidur means ‘sleeping wave’ in Indonesian — and it earns the name. It sits quiet and unassuming until the swell angle and size align perfectly, at which point it wakes up into a long, hollow left barrel that surprises everyone in the line-up. The reef drains shallow at low tide, producing fast, committed tube sections. One of the more underrated waves on Sipora.
Pitstop
Pitstop is one of the most crowd-pleasing waves in the Playgrounds — a consistent, rippable right-hander breaking over a mixed sand and reef bottom right in front of several surf camps. The take-off is straightforward, the walls are long enough to link moves, and the wave has just enough punch to keep things interesting. A go-to when the bigger spots are too heavy.
Rags
Two waves sharing one bay. Rags Left is a long, hollow left that fires with real intensity during big S-SW swells, delivering extended tube rides of over 100 metres when conditions align. Rags Right is a slabby, barreling reef break with almost no margin for error at low tide. Together they form one of the most potent double acts in the southern Mentawais.
RedNut
A sharp, fast left that breaks over a distinctive section of reef south of Lances. RedNut is deceptively quick — what looks like a manageable wall from the channel transforms into a fast, committed barrel the moment you drop in. At low tide the reef is very shallow and exits are limited. A genuine challenge for advanced surfers chasing an adrenaline hit away from the crowds.
Rifles
The most photogenic right-hand barrel in the Mentawais. Rifles reels off over a very shallow reef with blistering speed, giving very little room to think once you drop in. The take-off is critical, the barrel is long, and the exit even shorter. Not a wave for experimenting — come prepared or watch from the boat.
Roxys
A super fun right-hander sitting about 45 minutes south of Macaronis by boat — sometimes described as Macas in reverse. Roxys breaks over a consistent reef with peeling, workable walls that suit a wide range of abilities. On smaller swells it’s a classic performance wave; increase the size and it produces proper hollow barrel sections. A welcome right-hand option in a heavily left-dominated stretch of coastline.
Scarecrows
A bowling, powerful left that sits just south of Telescopes and picks up similar swell but with noticeably more punch. The take-off zone is shifty and the barrel section on the inside is fast and unforgiving. On a good day the outer section offers big carving walls before the wave slots into a proper tube. A step up in intensity from its northern neighbour.
Shipwreck
Named for local navigational landmarks, Shipwreck is a hollow, moody left that breaks over a shallow reef just off the Sipora coastline. It lacks the consistency of the big-name spots nearby but on the right swell and tide it produces long, fast barrels with a powerful inside section. The relative anonymity keeps it empty — one for explorers and those willing to wait.
Telescopes
The standout wave of North Sipora and a regular first stop for charter boats working their way south. Telescopes is a long, barreling left that peels with impressive consistency over a well-shaped reef. On mid-sized swells it offers fast walls ideal for linking turns. When a heavier W swell hits it can throw proper square barrels. Accessible to confident intermediates and loved by all levels.
The Hole
The southernmost major break in the Mentawais and one of the most raw. The Hole is a steep, draining slab that needs a direct S swell to wake up, but when it does it delivers some of the longest, most rippable walls at the end of the chain alongside violent, heaving barrel sections. The remoteness means the line-up is almost always quiet — though the wave itself makes sure only the committed stay.
Thunders
A swell magnet of a wave that earns its name on bigger days. Thunders is one of the most consistent breaks in the entire Mentawai chain — a heavy, bowly left that shifts and peaks unpredictably across a wide section of reef. On higher tides it produces thick, powerful barrel sections; lower tides expose the reef and sharpen the consequences. Charter boats flock here when it’s the only thing working.
Yanto
A locally beloved right-hander carrying the name of a respected figure in the Mentawai surf community. Yanto offers a consistent, fun-to-surf wave with long walls that lend themselves to full-rail turns and relaxed, flowing surfing. It handles a range of swell sizes well and rarely gets crowded, making it a perfect pick for intermediate surfers who want quality without pressure.
Secrets
Location, swell window, tide and conditions — all classified. What we can say: these waves works rarely, always empty when it does, and those who’ve surfed them don’t forget it. Ask your local surf guide when the time is right.