Getting There & Away in Mentawai Islands

Good to Know

• Mandatory overnight stay in Padang required: early morning ferry departures (7-10 AM) mean arriving from Jakarta/Bali means you must spend the night before boarding
• Ferry cancellations are common: check Mentawai Fast Ferry Instagram for current schedules; rough seas and weather can force last-minute delays up to 2 days
• Plan for flexibility: ferry tickets should be purchased the day before to avoid morning chaos; have extra 1-2 days padding in your itinerary
• Surfboard logistics: If bringing boards, use ferry (not Susi Air flights); surfboard tax is 1 million IDR per board; some flights don't allow boards at all
• Return ferry timing: Last ferry leaves islands at 3 PM, arriving Padang at 6:30 PM—too late for same-day outbound flights; plan overnight in Padang before departure
• Baggage allowance on ferries is 15 kg standard; excess fees for bags over 15 kg are 230,000 IDR per additional 15 kg
• Private speedboat charters (~USD 2,000) make sense only for groups splitting cost or those with very flexible schedules
• Susi Air flights (40 min) are fastest option but prohibit surfboards and require early morning departure; book 1-2 weeks in advance as flights often fully booked
• Padang airport to harbor is 5-15 minutes by taxi; Padang city center to airport is ~30 minutes and costs 150-200k IDR
• Weather is the dominant factor: ferries are weather-dependent year-round; rough seas can cancel service without notice