Surf on the Mentawai Islands — a wild frontier in West Sumatra
The Mentawai Islands are a far, remote, and а little-known destination for tourists and travelers. But not for everyone. People […]

Capital: Jakarta
Area: 1 904 569 km2
Population: 270 203 917
Official languages: Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
Other spoken languages: more than 700 local languages, most prominent- Javanese, Sundanese, Malay, Batak, Minangkabau, Madurese, Buginese, Ambon, Papua languages and more; foreign languages: English, Dutch
Ethnic groups: Javanese, Sundanese, Malay, Batak, Betawi, Minangkabau, Buginese, Balinese and more Austronesian peoples, Melanesians
Currency: IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) (1 USD = 14,342.35 IDR; 1 EUR = 15,877.70 IDR)
Basic facts: Unitary presidential republic, part of ASEAN.
Travel tips:
1. Indonesia is the largest island country in the world, established on the largest archipelago on Earth.
2. Indonesia is located on both sides of the Equator, so the climate and geographical zone is mainly equatorial, with equatorial rainforests and warm seas with rich marine wildlife.
3. Indonesia is located on the “Ring of Fire”, between the Pacific and the Indian oceans, with about 400 volcanoes. 130 of them are active.
4. Indonesia is the culturaly most diverse country in the world, with more than 700 local ethnic groups and languages. Its motto is “Unity in Diversity”.
5. Indonesia is famous for Bali Island. Bali is prominent for its culture and tourism, but there are many more unique islands, although not so popular, like Sumatra, Java, Nias, Lombok, Komodo, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Maluku Islands, Raja Ampat, Papua and more.
10 best destinations in Indonesia:
The Mentawai Islands are a far, remote, and а little-known destination for tourists and travelers. But not for everyone. People […]
The Mentawai Islands are an exotic place, still off-the-beaten, far from the popularity of Bali, Maldives, or other famous destinations.
The Mentawai Islands are a fantastic tropical paradise, mostly known as one of the best surfing destinations in the world.
Until very recently, reaching the Mentawai Islands was a real adventure, a challenge with unclear options, with almost no information
Updated Nov 2025 — added geomorph context and related island arc reference Tropical islands, covered by wild, lush rainforest, and