Hideaways

Hideaways breaks as a steep, hollow barrel that opens into a shoulder bowling left toward the channel. The wave performs best on SW to W swell with a short period, particularly when coupled with light south to southeast winds that keep the face clean. It holds together most consistently at high tide; surfing at low tide is inadvisable due to the sharp coral reef and shallow sections that have proven hazardous. The wave transitions between a mechanical barrel on some days and a cruising shoulder suitable for longer boards on others, making it unpredictable beyond these parameters.

The Mentawai Islands' modern surf tourism began with the 1992 Indies Trader expedition, when photos of these breaks first reached the wider world, with legends like Martin Daly and Chris Scurrah instrumental in establishing the charter and camp infrastructure. WavePark Mentawai, positioned directly in front of Hideaways on a private 80-acre island, became the first dedicated surf camp in the archipelago, marking Hideaways' emergence as a key destination in early Mentawai exploration.

Access requires a boat ride from nearby islands—southwest of Masokut Island or north of Karangmajat Island—unless staying directly at WavePark Resort. Most established surf camps and charters in the Playgrounds area offer trips to the break, which sits on the western shore of Siaim Island in Mentawai Islands Regency.