Aloita Resort & Spa

Aloita Resort & Spa - the most refined, classy and comfortable resort ever built in Indonesia's Mentawai Islands. Aloita is located on a small island called Simakakang, less than 10 minutes away by speedboat from Tua Pajet, the capital of the Mentawais. The location was strategically chosen for its beauty, convenience, and proximity to world class surfing and diving locations.

Because Aloita is so close to Tua Pajet, they are optimally positioned to make it as easy as possible for our guests to reach us by ferry or plane.  In other words, no other resort in the Mentawais is easy to get to as Aloita.  The Ambu Ambu ferry, the most reliable and comfortable ferry in the islands, drops guests off at the harbor less than 10 minutes for our resort, and drivers are there to quickly pick you up and whisk you away by speedboat.

However, although they are close to Tua Pajet, Aloita is tucked away behind other small islands, away from any hustle and bustle of ferries, charter boats, or business of a major city or port.  This means that the privacy and serenity of our guests is secured, and you can enjoy the full beauty of this island oasis.  And when you pull up to their private pier, that beauty hits you straight away, as you see their amazing A Bar extend over the long, private, white sand beach. That’s just the first of many amazing sites you’ll see at this little island paradise.

But of course, one of the main attractions of the Mentawais is the surf, and Aloita is uniquely situated to take full advantage of it. There are several world class waves just a short speedboat ride away from the resort, including the famous lefthander Telescopes. There are waves that suit all levels of surfers, from the hardcore ripper to a total beginner. There are even a couple fun waves that break right off our island. But Aloita is also located about halfway to the waves of the Playground area to the North and Peninsula (Lance’s) area to the south. No other resort is so well positioned to capitalize on such a broad range of surf, a range that covers roughly 70% of the Mentawais.

Aloita is also located near some of the best reefs for diving and SCUBA in the Mentawais. In fact, some beautiful reefs are just out in front of our own beach.  A very short speedboat ride away is Setan Island.  Amazing sheer cliffs drop down to the ocean floor, where a wide area of sea life and spectacular reefs can be enjoyed by the keen diver.

Aloita is home to seven spacious double cottages and one even larger “Family” cottage. Each bungalow is an entirely separate residence, completely detached on all sides for added privacy and security. Though the amenities vary slightly from bungalow to bungalow, all are clean, new, and extremely well appointed.  All bungalows are constructed of the highest quality materials, including the same local hardwoods you’ll see throughout the resort.

Upon first viewing, you’ll notice each bungalow has its own large lanai and private path to our extensive white sand beach. Once inside, the chill coming from the pumping A/C will cool down your hot skin after a day’s activities in the sun. Or, if you’re already acclimatized, one of the various settings on the overhead fan will provide you just the proper amount of ventilation.

Every day the staff will clean your bungalow and make your beds, which are ample and very comfortable. The bathrooms are highlighted by more local hardwoods, and are very well thought out. Each bungalow has a safe, a mini fridge, and plenty of closet and storage space.  In addition, each has its own private outdoor courtyard and storage area in the rear of the residence, complete with outdoor shower and shaded racks for your surfboards.

The “Family Bungalow” is perfect for larger groups or couples who want to bring their little ones along. The bedroom on the first floor is larger and has a separate entrance, giving the folks added peace and quiet if their little ones decide to get rowdy. There is an additional private bedroom on the second floor as well. An additional bed can be brought into the living room for larger families.

Restaurant and Bar

Beautifully constructed from entirely local hardwoods, Aloita’s gorgeous open air restaurant is a wonderful place to enjoy a meal and reflect on the day’s activities. And seeing as several of the owners of Aloita are Italian, it should come as no surprise that we take a great level of pride and care in the preparation of the meals for guests. Three delicious buffet style meals are served daily which are designed not just to delight your taste buds, but also replenish and refuel your body.  They specialize in a variety of seafood dishes using fresh produce caught in local waters, but they certainly don’t limit you to fish. You can expect anything from pasta dishes to pizza to steaks to chicken – you name it!  And all meals are complemented well with a variety of vegetable, rice, fruit dishes, etc. – all high quality, high energy, and healthy.

One of the true highlights of the resort, Aloita’s “A Bar” has to be seen to be believed. Sitting right on the beach with a beautiful front deck that projects literally over the water at high tide, the A Bar is without a doubt the coolest place to have a drink, watch a DVD, or do absolutely nothing in the Mentawais. Like their restaurant, the A Bar is constructed entirely from local woods, and was built in an open air rotunda fashion. This gives you complete views of the ocean, resort, and all its surroundings during the day, and allows it to take full advantage of the sea breezes at night.

The circular design is also great for the social aspect of the bar. The A Bar is quickly becoming known as THE place to catch a footy game on our large flat screen TV if you’re in the area, and the rounded set up makes it easier to view all your mates and heckle them from across the room. The A Bar also comes complete with big couches and chill out areas, cool tunes, a separate bar snack menu, and the full gamut of beers and mixed drinks. They have also recently added a ping pong table if you actually want to get up and actually do something.
But again, you’re in paradise, and there’s nothing better to do after a huge meal at our restaurant than sit in front of the flat screen at the A Bar, and do nothing but enjoy the “food coma” by the water’s edge…

Surf

Put simply, the surf in the Mentawai Islands is the best in the world. There is no other place on the planet with such a diverse array of high quality surf in such a small area.  There are at least 50 superb waves strewn throughout the islands, and there are several more still being discovered every year.  And the Aloita Resort & Spa is optimally positioned get you the most out what the Mentawais has to offer, while still giving you the convenience and comfort of coming home to your own private, clean, and stable bed every night.

Roughly 70% of the waves in the Mentawais can be accessed within an hour by speedboat from Aloita, and some of the best ones are right in their own backyard.  For example, the world class lefthander Telescopes is only 10 minutes away, and many feel it offers longer and straighter barrels than Macaronis when it’s firing.  There are challenging waves like Icelands, rippable waves like Scarecrows, and even a couple very playful secrets that break right off the island. Every day the qualified surf guides receive constantly updated surf forecasts, and will make recommendations based on swell, wind, and the desires/skills of the guests.

One day we may decide it’s a good idea to take a day trip to the Playground area to the north, for waves such as Rifles, Four Bobs, Nokandui, Nipussi, or Bankvaults. Or, maybe decide a trip south to the Peninsula area is the call for waves such as Bintangs, Lances Left, or HTs. There are so many options to choose from, and they always consult the needs and desires of the guests to come to a group decision about what is the best call for the day. The main attraction of the Mentawais has always been the surf, and they are more than ready to put you into the best waves of your life.  Whether you’re a learner or total hellman, Aloita has something great to offer you.

They have 3 speedboats at the resort - 2 aluminium and 1 wooden. Your surf guide for this season is an Aussie Anthony and he has previous experience in MentawaI Islands

Dive

One of the aspects that truly sets Aloita apart from all other resorts in the area is its focus on diving. Aloita has the only full-fledged dive center in the Mentawais which enables their guests to explore all aspects of diving including scuba, snorkeling, and free diving. Whether you’re interested in just poking around the reefs right out in front of the resort, or you’re interested in swimming with black tips and barracuda 50 meters below the surface, Aloita has something for everyone.

The location was specifically chosen for its proximity to the best scuba and free diving zones in the Mentawais. No other resort is poised to capitalize on the beauty of the unlimited breathtaking reefs and abundance of sea life in the area. Much of this area has gone undiscovered by the dive world, and you will almost certainly be exploring the depths with only other guests from Aloita. The've chartered some amazing spots and seen some amazing sights, such as the stunning topography of The Cathedral and the millions of eels that sway with the tide like tall grass in the wind at Garden Eel Grove. But the best part is that there is still so much more to explore. As some of the first divers to this area, their guests have the potential to look at the charts and discover their own new dive location, and of course be part of history by giving that spot a name of their choosing.

The Aloita Dive Center has everything anyone could need for underwater activities, from the beginning snorkeler to the avid scuba diver. The professional dive team can offer you courses ranging from the entry level Open Water course to Dive Leader. Or if you’ve never tried scuba diving before, they’d love to take you for your first experience in the calm, crystal clear water of the Mentawais. If you stay long enough at the resort, you have the opportunity to go from a completely virgin diver to fully certified by the end of your stay.

Explore

One thing that truly separates Aloita from all other land options in the Mentawais is the diversity of activities they can provide. The resort is far more than just a place for surfers and divers, or people looking for the ultimate way to unwind in a beautiful tropical location. They offer a variety of different ways to explore this beautiful little corner of the world.

The keen fishos will have plenty to keep them occupied with the abundance of sea life in the area. Situated near arguably the most abundant fishing zone of the Mentawais, the fisherman have the opportunity to reel in many of the most impressive pelagics including Spanish Mackerel, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Giant Trevally, and even the odd game fish such as Sailfish and Marlin. But if popping or bottom bouncing is more to your liking, they have got you covered there as well.

For those looking for a true Indonesian experience, they offer extensive cultural trekking tours to visit the indigenous tribes of nearby Siberut Island. The jungles on this island are home to a unique race of people that have been studied by anthropologist for decades for their enduring traditional culture which has essentially remained unchanged for hundreds of years. This is not an easy excursion, but an extremely educational and worthwhile one. You’ll live amongst the locals, speak their authentic jungle dialect, and witness some of their most sacred traditional rites. If you’re lucky, you may even be given a tattoo if you chose, the “old fashioned” way.

But if this is a bit too intense of an excursion for you, there’s plenty to see right in Aloita's own backyard. You can visit the locals at the nearby capital of the Mentawais, Tua Pajet, or you can go exploring the many nooks and crannies of our over 1 mile stretch of private white sand beach as well as our own dense jungle trails.

Relax

Despite all the excitement and activities they provide, there is absolutely no better place in the world to do nothing at all than the Aloita Resort and Spa. If you’re looking to unwind and refuel the jets in a tropical setting, This is the place to do it.

They have a variety of ways to help you completely relax and remove any stress carried with you over to the islands. One of the best ways to do this is by a visit to the Spa and Massage facility, the only of its kind in the Mentawais. Here they offer a variety spa and beauty treatments, such as sport specific and relaxation massage, remedial back/neck/shoulder pain therapy, and cleansing beauty treatments. If you’re looking to decompress after a long day of surfing or diving, or just looking to pamper yourself, this is the place to go.

Some people find it extremely relaxing to cast a line and see what they pull up. While you can certainly make an angry sport out of your fishing excursions, you can just as easily slowly troll with a couple beers and good friends and let nature take its course. You can even take a rod and reel to the end of the peer if you feel like being lazy.

But if you feel like being the laziest of all, you simply need to walk about 20 feet from your bungalow onto the over one mile of private white sand beach. Though they offer so many things to do at Aloita, there’s something very satisfying about sitting on your own private stretch of sand with a book and a cool drink to keep you company.

What’s Included

Items Available at an Extra Cost

Exclusive Resort Booking

Arranging a business convention, yoga workshop, or surf/dive school workshop? Want to arrange the ultimate surfer’s bachelor party vacation or family reunion? With seven bungalows and one family bungalow available, Aloita is well-suited for exclusive bookings and would be happy to cater to your convention or workshop needs. If interested, please contact us for potential packages and rates.

Disclaimer - This surf trip is an independent surf operator and is not part of or in partnership with The Perfect Wave Travel Co. The Perfect Wave acts as an agent only. We sell various travel related products on behalf of numerous transport, accommodation and other service providers, such as airlines, land based accommodation and boat charter operators. The Perfect Waves' obligation is to make travel bookings on your behalf and to arrange relevant contracts between you and travel service providers. The Perfect Wave has no responsibility for these services nor do we make or give any warranty of representation regarding their standards. All bookings are made subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by these service providers.

We’d love to hear your feedback! Please to enter your testimonial of your holiday and your experience with The Perfect Wave.

Seb

Had an absolutely amazing time! Found the perfect place - a combination of tropical island paradise and surf heaven. Was there for 10 days and will be back asap. Location: Tropical island straight out of a travel brochure. Close to Mentawai capital Tua Pejat which allows for different transport options to get to the resort. Also allowed the staff to quickly stash up on supplies such as fresh groceries. Has a hill in case you're worried about Tsunamis. Resort: Set nicely into the palm trees close to the shore but still hidden. Well-groomed garden and paths to the bungalows, really beautiful. Bar has pool and ping pong tables. Bungalow: Very clean, AC, fan, spacious, enough power outlets even for different plugs (Indo/European + Malysia style). Individual patio in the back for surfboards and wet gear, verandah in the front looking to the ocean. No mould, which is amazing considering the climate! Each bungalow has its own beach access path, lovely. Service: As an addict to Indonesian food, each meal was absolute bliss. Lunch and dinner consisted of several different Indonesian and international dishes. Everything was very fresh and healthy. Besides the food, the managers and staff did everything to make my stay as pleasant as possible. Royal treatment!! Surf: Was there in November. While not getting epic waves, I was lucky with swell and surfed pretty much by myself 80% of the sessions. Many lefthanders in the area. Value for money: In comparison to surf charters, I got so much more out of my money at Aloita. Not only did I have my own room but my own bungalow. Additionally, everything was superclean, it was totally quiet besides swaying palm trees and there was room to move (i.e., you could walk on the beach, visit Tua Pejat or other islands etc.). On a boat for the same price, I would most likely have to share a cabin and be stuck on a small patch of moving real estate. Plus, if you're unlucky you have to put up with engine noise and cockroaches on a boat. Overall, I can only recommend the resort. Did not have one negative experience. It's actually quite impressive what they have achieved considering the circumstances (remoteness etc.). 5 stars hands down. Room Tip: Stayed in Bungalow 1 which is just in reach of the Wi-Fi and close to restaurant, bar and jetty.

Experience Begun: November 2011

Created on: Thursday 15 December 2011

Kim & Glenn

Hi Gina, Can't believe we've been home from Sumatra for over a month and its taken me this long to send you an email! Life is so chaotic - no wonder we need holidays!! Glenn and I had a great time at Aloita - really loved the resort - the accommodation, food, cleanliness, massages, friendly staff etc etc were all first class. Glenn had some great waves - although he broke one of his boards in half, but at least it was less luggage for the trip home) and we had perfect weather. The beach at the resort was beautiful for me while he was off surfing and I had some great snorkelling within metres of the sand. It was sooo relaxing and we loved every minute. We hired motorbikes one day with another couple we met at Aloita and went for a ride and trek through the jungle up to a waterfall, which was pretty hard going but was good to do something different - unbelievably hot and humid - I don't know how people can do the Kokoda Trail!!! I guess the only downside to its remoteness, as mentioned on the website, is getting there and back. If we did it again, I think we would try to book a room on the day of arrival rather than just hanging around Padang, although the guy who collected us from the airport was lovely and showed us all around the area. We found the Ambu Ambu ferry quite ok thanks to our air conditioned cabin - we were so tired after the flight that we slept the whole way. But after mentioning to Monica and Marco at Aloita that we were going to do the return trip on the other ferry, they strongly recommended that we didn't - I think Marco had previously had a really bad experience on it - so they ended up booking us on the speedboat transfer back, as a group of Australian guys' arrival on the speedboat coincided with our departure. I kept remembering what you had said about it being the worst 3 hours but the weather had been so good we decided to give it a try. The good news was that it only took 3 1/2 hours and we were back on dry land in Padang staying at the Hotel Pangeran Beach Hotel, which Monica booked us into. The bad news was that the weather turned bad the morning that we had to leave and I guess it was pretty much a nightmare trip. After about an hour and a half I really wondered how I was going to get through it, but of course there wasn't much other choice, and after running into a tropical storm and getting lost for a while in blinding rain, we eventually arrived. Yes, the longest 3 1/2 hours of my life - and I think every muscle in our bodies ached for about a week after from trying to hang on while we bounced around in the swell. Still, it's all part of the adventure I guess - but would extend or do anything to use the Ambu Ambu if we go again. But apart from all that, we both had a fantastic time - it is such a beautiful remote part of the world and we'd really love to go back one day. So thanks for all your organising - We're already starting to wonder what we might do next year, so hopefully will be in touch again at some stage to book another trip! Best wishes Kim and Glenn

Experience Begun: May 2010

Created on: Thursday 09 September 2010

Toby

Dear Perfect Wave Team, Approaching the end of the year, I wanted to reflect on some of the highs of 2008. For me, along with dating my girlfriend Victoria, the most awesome experience was my 10 days stay at Aloita Resort, Indonesia. I travelled alone to this tropical paradise from Sydney and from the moment I arrived never wanted to leave. The staff at Aloita were exceptionally welcoming, friendly, and were always willing to make my stay the best possible. In particular Australian surfer and guide Matt Hannon worked with total professionalism and taught me so much about the essence of surfing. To spend days surfing with Matt at Icelands, Twiggies and Teloscopes was simply magical and some of the photos were unreal. The ocean is as beautiful as I dreamt it would be but commands respect! It got to 4-5 feet at Teloscopes, just fantastic blue rollers thundering in all day over the multi-coloured reefs. Matt took some great shots which are mounted on my wall. On the blown out days, Aloita offers so many activities such as jungle trekking, fishing, snorkelling, massage, karaoke etc so you never get bored! I loved the great food served up on a regular basis. The seafood and local produce was always fresh and delicious. The accommodation was classy and away from any developments so you really feel away from the crowds - it is totally unspoiled. Aloita is a truly super resort and worth the cost. If you are thinking about going, just do it! You will only regret it otherwise! I want to thank the Perfect Wave Team for their organisation in making this the surf adventure of a lifetime. Wishing you a happy 2009 and will be in touch for another adventure! Toby - NSW Apr 08

Experience Begun: January 2008

Created on: Friday 12 February 2010