Transfers                              

The following transfer options are available traveling between Padang and Macaronis Resort:

1. Ambu Ambu Ferry, which includes airport pick up on Tuesdays, 1 hour mini-bus transfer with baggage and surf board bags to Bungus Harbor, ferry tickets, port handling of luggage and surf board bags plus secure storage on the ferry, twin or quad share air-conditioned cabins, evening meal, speedboat pick up in Sikakap Port at 07:30am and transfer to Macaronis Resort arriving at 9:00am Wednesday morning. The cost is AUD 200 each way (AUD 400 Rtn).

If traveling on Ambu Ambu Ferry from Mentawai to Padang, you will depart Macaronis Resort Wednesday after lunch at 13:30 by speedboat to Sikakap Port, boarding the Ambu Ambu Ferry and arriving back in Padang at 07:00am.

Please note: for those traveling on Ambu Ambu Ferry back to Padang, your flight out of Padang must depart no earlier than 10:00am Thursday morning.

2. Surf Air (Amphibious sea plane) flights taking 55 minutes, available for groups of 14 who prefer to fly at a cost of AUD 300 each way (AUD 600 Rtn). Surf Air flights will also be offered as an optional up-grade to those choosing the ferry service, subject to availability.

3. Special Charter Rates Padang - Macas - Padang:

Surf Air (55 minutes): USD 5,500

Lenny Speedboat (5 hours): USD 2,500

Further Information about Ambu Ambu Ferry:

The Ambu Ambu Ferry offers twin or quad share air-conditioned cabins, which can be booked in advance (8 VIP cabins / 24 beds in total).

Departure is at 5:30pm on Tuesdays arriving in Sikakap Wednesday mornings at 7:00am, then later the same day, the ferry departs Sikakap at 5:00pm arriving back in Padang at 6:30am the following Thursday morning.

We have been using the Ambu Ambu Ferry since year 2007 for guest transfers and transport of supplies and have found it to be most reliable (under contract, the Ambu Ambu Ferry must achieve at least 95% reliability, otherwise it would no longer be subsidized by the Indonesian Government).

 

Photo Above: The Ambu Ambu Ferry

Photo Above: Example twin and quad share air-conditioned 'VIP' cabins on Ambu Ambu Ferry, that can be booked in advance for Macaronis Resort guests.

Photos Above: Canteen on main deck of Ambu Ambu Ferry serving snacks and cold beers (left) and third deck (behind private AC cabins) offering deck tables and an elevated view of the coastline.

Further Info on Surf Air:

Surf Air operates a single DHC-6 Twin Otter Amphibian aircraft, capable of flying 14 passengers to / from Macaronis Resort covering 120 miles and taking 55 minutes each way.

Surf Air offers the unique ability of being able to take off at the airport and land on the calm water inlet at Silabu Island (protected in all weather conditions), less than 2km from the doorstep of Macaronis Resort.

The Twin Otter float plane has proven a huge success in the Maldives, where its versatility has resulted in the Twin Otter becoming the predominant aircraft connecting the island nation, with over 40 Twin Otter float planes in operation, used by both Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans-Maldivian Air.