Surfing Guide to Sumbawa, Indonesia

 

Summary

Sumbawa is a true surfer’s paradise with warm water, world-class reef breaks and some of the cheapest food and accommodation prices out of any surfing destination. Ever since many professional surfers started training and shooting at spots like Yoyo, Lakey Peak, Scar Reef and Super Suck, the island of Sumbawa became a must-visit surfing destination for many surfing enthusiasts.

 

Sumbawa is second neighbor to Bali, right after the island of Lombok. It is therefore exposed to the same swells as the other two famous Indonesian surfing islands, minus most of the crowds. Double win right there…

 

While YoYo’s, Scar Reef and Lakey Peak will get their share of surfers on good surf days, there are still many other empty spots to discover either on the west or east side of the island.

 

An extremely rewarding surfing destination

Sumbawa is much wider than Bali or Lombok, so getting around will be a little bit more difficult than what you are used to. However, the quietness of the island is incredibly rewarding. You will find yourself in a very peaceful and gorgeous surfing environment making it hard to go back to the Balinese craziness.

 

As most surf spots on Sumbawa break over reef and some of them are very hollow, beginners will probably feel like the journey is not really worth it for them compared to more advanced surfers who will definitely make the most of it. Intermediate surfers will definitely have their days with head high waves that will help them progress in the sport.

 

Sumbawa is also very lush and wild. When the surf is not good or when the wind picks up make sure you go explore the island and its incredible waterfalls.

 

When to go

While there are waves all year, the best time to surf Sumbawa is during the dry season which runs from April to September. That is when swells are much more consistent and winds are favorable. However, even during the low season, there are still great surfing conditions in Sumbawa.

 

 

Surf Camps in Sumbawa

Find a surf camp in Sumbawa, starting at US$830

6-day surf trip for advanced surfers in West Sumbawa
US$972, includes:

• Surf guide
• Fruit (watermelon / banana)
• 1 big bottle mineral water and free refill every day
• Private car from Lombok, West Sumbawa and return to Lombok
• 5 night accommodations
• Ticket of ferry transfer
• Boat charter

 

 

Where to stay in Sumbawa

As mentioned above, Sumbawa is a pretty big island! You will not be able to drive across the island for a surf check. Therefore, you really have two options when it comes to where to stay on a surf trip to Sumbawa. The west side or the east side. Typically, West Sumbawa is more popular as it is closer to the Lombok ferry and, more importantly, closer to popular surf spots like Scar Reef, Super Suck and YoYo’s. There are several homestays to chose from in West Sumbawa.

If you chose the east side, where Lakey Peak is located, there are also many homestays to chose from.

Browse our interactive map to find the best accommodation deals in Sumbawa!

 

 

 

Getting there

Multiple ferries run from Lombok to West Sumbawa everyday. The ride takes a couple hours and is rather cheap. You also have the option to use a speedboat which will be more expensive and will take you closer to YoYo’s. If you aim to surf Lakey Peak on the East side of the island, flying might be a better option as you will not have to cross the entire island.

Surf Spots in Sumbawa

Yoyo’s

A fast barreling right with a nice ramp to launch a few air maneuvers. Located on the southern end of West Sumbawa, Yoyo’s should be kept for advanced surfers. Early morning is the best time to surf YoYo’s before winds pick up. YoYo’s is only surfable at mid or high tide and is one of the rare right-handers in Sumbawa.

Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : High
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE

 

 

 

Scar Reef

Another very challenging wave that breaks over a shallow and sharp reef, hence its name. Scar Reef is a world-class barreling wave that is often visited by professional surfers.

Wave direction : Left
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : Low for barrels, high for a bit more mellow waves
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : SE

 

 

 

Super Suck

Also located in West Sumbawa, Super Suck is another typical Indonesian hollow reef break that should be kept for skilled surfers. 

Wave direction : Left
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : Low for hollow waves
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : E

 

 

 

Lakey Peak

Lakey Peak is located on the east side of Sumbawa but also catches the SW swells. Lakey Peak is a world-famous wave with a very nice setup breaking both left and right. Definitely worth the trip for a high quality break with only a fraction of Bali’s crowd. (On a good day it will still be quite crowded)

Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Intermediate and Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : E

 

 

 

Tropicals

Just on the other side of the head point from Yoyo’s, Tropicals is probably the softest wave in west Sumbawa. Breaking next to a beautiful white sand beach, the break is just a 5 minute paddle out from the Nomad Tropical resort. Depending on the wind direction, Tropicals can be either blown out or sheltered from the head point. A good alternative to Yoyo’s…

Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Sand and reef
Best tide : Mid
Skill level : All
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE

Periscopes

Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : High
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE

 

Safety/things to know

-Malaria is present is Sumbawa. It is therefore recommended to bring Malaria tablets to prevent illnesses.

-Most roads are windy and do not have any lights. It is recommended to avoid driving at night especially if you are driving motorcycles.

-Apart from surfing, there are not that many activities to do in Sumbawa. You can check out a few waterfalls or enjoy a day at the beach but it can get a bit boring after a few flat days.

-Another important thing to keep in mind when surfing in Sumbawa is that the nearest healthcare center can be quite far away from the surf breaks.