Want To Live (Or Earn Money) In The Mentawais?

We look at the best real estate and boat charter deals live right now. From 10% stakes to bungalow business on epic breaks, you could turn a holiday into real life.

Back in my backpacking era, which just predates the Mesolithic, I travelled to Morocco for a two-week stint and ended up staying for the entire winter. It is safe to say that the trip changed my life. My backhand tuberiding went from poor to passable. I developed addictions to Moroccan tea and Moroccan hash, in that order. I made friends for life, discovered a new culture and religion, and decided to become a writer.

The problem was when I returned home. The transition was difficult. There was no tea. My new fashion items, worn daily, included a Fez and a Djellaba, the traditional smock, which were far too warm for the harsh Australian summer. I remain grateful to my mate Loz, who, after two months, said, “Mate, you gotta lose the hooded robe, ditch the hat and the hash, go left and get a job. You’re back in the real world now.”

And the point is? Well, most surfers have probably been on a surf trip, scored the waves of their life, and decided to flip the script, lose the 9-5 and live the dream. And perhaps no more than after a mission in the Mentawais, home to more perfect waves per square mile than any other region. But is that even possible?

Well, the good news is that opportunities do exist to invest in a more surfier future. A good place to start is International Surf Properties, Jim Habig and Henry Ford’s agency, which offers a diverse array of surf-centric properties worldwide.

Right now, offerings include a 10% ownership share in a charter operating in the Mentawai Islands. The boat is the Maki, a 105ft wooden boat, that has been operating surf charters for seven years. For your coin, you get a share of the profits, access to two free trips per year and none of the responsibilities involved with running a marine vessel. You also get to drink a cold Bintang after a day of tubes on the top deck, of which every 10th wooden floorboard is legally yours.

Elsewhere, if you are more interested in bricks and mortar (or wood and natural sago roofs), you could purchase two bungalows on one of the pristine, smaller islands in the central Mentawai chain. For $650K, Leleu, which means Jungle in the Mentawai dialect, could be yours. There are no roads, shops, or restaurants, but it does have a deep-water anchorage on Simakakang Island.

From here it’s a short boat ride to waves including Tikus, G4, Hookers, Icelands, Suicides and Telescopes. The price includes a boat (you’ll need one of those), land certificate and building, business and ocean location permits, which all sound important.

Away from the Mentawais, and far more established, the Villa Santai Mandiri is located on a pristine beach on mainland Sumatra on Krui’s world-class surf coastline and uncrowded waves. This is a turnkey package; you need to be ready to step into the surf resort and hospitality business, and maintain its existing and successful business, whilst not forgetting to surf your brains out. For $200K, are you ready for an adventure that could change your life forever?

As for me, I listened to Loz’s advice. I ditched the fez and got a job in the banking industry. I remained deeply unhappy and unfulfilled for years. Now and again, I’ll make a Moroccan tea, roll a spliff, and think what might have been. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.