Macas Resort

This website was updated on 15 Feb, 2012.

Macaronis Resort Opening Special - Released Wed 08 February.

The first 4 weeks of the season (March 20 - April 19) are hereby discounted to AUD 1750 for 8 days / 9 nights OR AUD 3250 for 15d / 16n. Save AUD 540

Available for limited time only!!!

For further info see our Specials Page

Here are a few photos and 3 D drawings of the new resort. Stand by for new photos that will be posted in late February.

These shots were taken October 2011......... land scaping and interior decorating currently underway.

Above: The new lagoon jetty and a view of the main building. 16 suite bedrooms surround the circumference of the building on the second floor of the main building.

Above: Construction of opur new lagoon style swimming pool - complete, landscaping currently underway...

Above: View from bar and restaurant...

Above: View from second floor balcony - pool view accommodation suites...

Above: Great spot for a cold bintang!!

Above: The view from enterance to ensuite bathroom looking toward door to veranda. The suite rooms are now 90% complete with furniture also assembled, we now just need to add some art work and the finishing touches.

Above: Actual photo of suite bedroom, prior to completion of interior decorating - looking pretty spot on..

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Above: Artists impression of swimming pool area to the West of the cafe (landscaping in progress).

Above: Guests' suite bedroom plan. Care is being taken to ensure each suite is properly acoustically and thermally insulated with extra thick glass windows and auto-closing doors leading out onto each private balcony. The second floor elevated 9m above sea level offers peace of mind in the event of a future tsunami, plus having immediate access to the surf viewing tower on the third story 15m above sea level.

The new accommodation offers more privacy and all the luxuries of the previous villas on the water front, with comparatively better views and more breezes, whilst better utilizing space and energy efficiency.

Here is a surf movie made by Seba Carvallo at Macaronis Resort just prior to October 25 year 2011. In year 2012, we will always have a videographer at the resort, making a short film on a weekly basis, offered for sale to guests, also to be shown on this website. More moments like these to be enjoyed in season 2012, more of Seba's movies and others can be found on our Reports Page.

Macaronis surf report video 1 from seba carvallo on Vimeo.

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The Mentawai Islands off the coast of West Sumatra offer some of the best waves to surf on the planet. Five surf resorts and one surf camp are located in the Northern region closest to Padang while Macaronis Resort is the only surf resort operational in Southern Mentawai located central to a do a dozen quality surf breaks.

Mouse over the Satellite image to view pop up information
*Some browsers may not work with the interactive map below

Ambu Ambu Ferry is the most reliable and cost effective transport available between Padang and the Mentawai Islands. As the Ferry travels at night arriving in the early morning, this means little surfing time is lost and guests get to sleep while they travel.
Ambu Ambu offers 8 VIP air-conditioned cabins that are often booked up when traveling to the Mentawai capital of Tuapejat. Fortunately traveling to Sikakap cabins are readily available and for the 2009 season Macaronis Resort has reserved all 8 VIP cabins exclusively for use of Macaronis Resort guests.

The Northern region of the Mentawais offers 5 surf resorts and 1 surf camp, namely Kandui Resort, Wave Park Resort, Siloinak Resort (Mentawai Adventure), Pitstop Hill Resort, Aloita Resort and Coconuts Mentawai Surf Camp. Surf charter boats also regularly visit Playgrounds surfing area being one of the closest points of the Mentawai Islands to Padang.

Lances Right: One of the best waves in the Mentawais but also one of the heaviest, a favorite of natural footers. Don't worry it is not always this big!!

Lances Left: One of the most user friendly waves in the Mentawais, allows crowds to spread out with long rides and can hold size.
Bintangs: A good option in North winds; a short right hand barrel that can be super fun on its day located just accross the bay from Lances Left.

Bat Cave: A favorite for older guys or intermediate surfers looking for something fun but not too deadly. Can be good fun for all levels of surfing, not too critical and a very scenic area with the wave breaking off a tiny deserted island in front of the bat cave which also has high cliffs for those into cliff jumping.

Silabu Left: A good option to get away and just surf with a couple of friends. Silabu rarely gets crowded as it is a B grade wave and mostly ignored as most boat visitors prefer to surf nearby Macaronis. But on its day Silabu can provide steep take offs and fun wally sections with the occasional barrel, holding up to 6 feet in size.
Macas Right: Located just across the bay from Macaronis, but often ignored as most boat visitors are looking to surf at Macaronis. In North winds Macas Right is an excellent option for those wanting to surf a right hander on their own, can offer long rides offering plenty of opportunity for turns and various maneuvers. Under-rated, definitely a fun wave on its day, but needs off-shore winds and a mid to high tide to be worth your while.

Macaronis: Macaronis is the Mentawais most mechanical wave breaking in all tides and ridable in almost any wind conditions. Excellent for maneuvers, long barrels and arguable the best on-shore wave to surf in the world. At 2 - 4 feet Macas is best described as fun and can offer perfect cylindrical tubes. Over 4-5 feet Macas can become a dredging barrel perfect for those accustomed to late take offs and spending a lot of time in the green room.

Greenbush: An excellent left hand barrel on its day. Provides a forceful take off and in larger swells can lock you into the barrel which can fill you with adrenalin until you either pull out a safe exit at the end or get nailed on the end section. On the take off not to shallow, but if you fall the power behind the wave can knock the wind out of you. An excellent alternative to more user friendly Macaronis, good in medium swells, but winds need to be off-shore to make it worth your while.

Thunders: The swell magnet of the Mentawais, when the swell drops out usually there will still be a wave at Thunders. Handles crowds well and is off-shore in SE trade winds. Apart from the main break, some nice waves also break further up the point that can be enjoyed between you and just a few friends. Good up to 6 feet, but any bigger the wave becomes a little washy and it is then time to move on to some of the other nearby breaks that work better in a larger swell.
Rag's Right: A serious Right hand tube. Need a certain swell direction for the wave to be working, and preferably a high tide, as it is very shallow. Not surfed that often, but when it turns on it is a classic right hander with long tubes and a challenging take off, but more suited to experienced surfers.

Rag's Left: When the swell picks up from the SW and winds are SE then Rag's can turn on. Need to consider swell direction and tides, but when everything falls into place Rag's Left can be one of the most epic barrels in the Mentawais. Big walls and long sections can offer a good opportunity to pull out one of your larger boards if the place is really on fire.

'Macas Resort, a place of relaxation, friendly staff and incredible surf'...

Macaronis Resort is situated over picturesque Silabu salt water lagoon, just across the bay from legendary Macaronis wave. Tidal movement keeps the lagoon clean and cool to swim in, with an abundance of marine life viewable from your villa balcony, and magnificent sunsets that occure over the lagoon at the end of each day.

Above: View of the old Macaronis Resort at dusk heading back in from a surf in the evening. The new resort design offers a similar feeling of island paradise in the middle of no-where, just a few hundred meters from one of the world's best lefts...

Macaronis wave is the Mentawais most consistent and perfect wave breaking perfectly in all tides and ridable in almost any wind conditions. It's no wonder it has previously been officially voted the 'funnest wave to surf in the world', in fact in this survey an amazing 76% of all pro surfers and industry figure heads choose Macas as the 'funnest wave they had ever surfed' (refer to Waves Mag December 2003).

Above: Dan Fassett in the tube at Macaronis

And perhaps the biggest draw card now, is that Macas is one of only a few waves around where crowd capacity is managed under legislation released by the regional Government. As of April 20 2010, Silabu Village permits access for only 2 boats visiting daily that must book in advance using one of two Moorings provided, sharing surfing at Macaronis with maximum 18 surfer giests staying at Macaronis Resort (also avg. 9 on each visiting boat, meaning it is essentially a 50 / 50 sharing system between visiting charter boat guests and Macaronis Resort guests).

In year 2011 the Mooring system was not in play while Macaronis Resort was rebuilding, reason being, a limitation of two boats would unnecessarily inconvenience surfers visiting on boats as opposed to staying at the resort. Macas in most conditions is best suited to a carrying capacity of no more than 40 surfers in one day, considering the wave breaks in all tides and most wind conditions (eg. 12 surfers in the water 4 hours each per day).

The Mooring system is scheduled to recommence on March 01 year 2012, also with an aim to consverve the Marine environment, and providing economic benefit to the local community (Rp.300.000 usage fee for each mooring per day that goes directly back to the local community).

Macaronis Wave.... 5 min by speedboat from Macaronis Resort...

Macaronis is surfable on large or small swells, in all tides and almost any wind conditions. It has a reputation as being the most smackable on-shore wave to surf in the world and is popular with both intermediate and experienced surfers. On large swells Macas can offer some of the most epic tube riding conditions around and in smaller swells it is a perfectly shaped peeling left hander, great for all levels of surfing.

Above: Nice tube sequence Robbie Page @ Macaronis

Above: An empty early morning barrel at Macas, only 3 crew surfing !!

Macaronis Resort is located centrally to a range of other classy Mentawai waves. Greenbush is a favorite about 25 minutes away, which dishes up some of the most epic tubes in the Mentawais!!

Above: Chris Brown @ Greenbush 2010

Above: If the swell drops out or if you no longer feel like surfing, fishing trips are always a favorite past time

Above: Departing Macas Resort Cafe & small jetty, heading out for a surf at Macas.

We hope to see you at Macaronis Resort in 2012 and make your dreams of perfect waves become reality !!!

All photos by Stewart Allen, Stick Man and the Jedster.