Hideaways
Hideaways is a reliable swell magnet in the Playgrounds zone of the Mentawai Islands, offering plenty of barrel opportunities on a quality left reef break. While less famous than neighbouring Kandui Left and Rifles, Hideaways delivers consistent waves with good tube riding potential. The break is a great alternative when the more renowned spots are crowded, providing a quieter session in one of the world's most wave-rich areas.
Hideaways surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to PDG, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Southeast Asia is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Southeast Asia — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Hideaways trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (215°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 230°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 2.4m
- Ideal size
- 1.7m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (112°)
- Offshore range
- 82° - 142°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 1.5m
Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Charter boat from Padang (~10hr) or speedboat (~4hr)
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Hideaways?
Hideaways is a reef break in Playgrounds, Mentawai, Indonesia, that mostly breaks left.
What swell works best at Hideaways?
Hideaways picks up swell from the SSW round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 2.4m, with the sweet spot around 1.7 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Hideaways?
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Hideaways, and anything from the E round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Hideaways?
Hideaways is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.5m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Hideaways?
The most reliable run of swell at Hideaways comes Apr to Oct. There's a second window in Nov to Mar too. Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
How cold is the water at Hideaways?
The water at Hideaways averages around 28°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Hideaways good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Things to watch for: sharp, shallow reef (booties help) and crowds.
How do I get to Hideaways?
The nearest airport on our list is PDG. From there you need a boat to reach the break (we estimate around $200 USD, but confirm with an operator). Charter boat from Padang (~10hr) or speedboat (~4hr).
What other surf spots are near Hideaways?
The closest breaks we track are Burgerworld (1.6 km), Kandui Left (1.7 km) and Pistols (3.1 km), handy when Hideaways isn't working. We track 6 spots around Playgrounds, Mentawai in total.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Best Apr-Oct (dry season, SE trades offshore). Swells year-round but wet season brings onshore winds.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Burgerworld
🌊 Most exposed Mentawai • Low-season barrels • Sculpted right tubes
Kandui Left
☠️ "No Kandui" • Shallow, heavy reef • Expert barrels only
Pistols
🌊 Playgrounds right • Short barrels, nice turns • Fun warm-up wave
Nipussi
🌊 Siberut easy left • Great intermediate wave • Tropical backdrop
Rifles
🎯 Flawless rights • Precision swell angle • Mentawai crown jewel
4 Bobs
🌊 Playgrounds fun right • Almond barrels • Two-turn combos