Mama Silvi Cottage’s on the main beach on Asu Island.

Description: The Hinakos are a small group of eight islands off the western tip of Nias. Positioned on the north of the Hinakos is Asu, a small tropical paradise island which has become one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Nias. World class surfing, fishing, snorkelling and tropical island vibes are some of the reasons why people come here. There are three places to stay on Asu and all of them get consistently good reviews and are known for friendly management & staff.

The waters around Hinakos are often very clear and the reefs and marine life are some of the best on Nias. Snorkellers can explore some great spots on the protected east (inner) side of Asu island. Experienced snorkelers should try the better reef sections towards the south or north end. It is also possible to charter a boat to explore reefs and islands around Hinakos. Some of the better ones are Pulau Langu, Goso Olayama and Goso Buku.

There is a lot of good fishing spots around Asu. Hinako Islands are the most western point of Nias, and on the other side of it lays the Indian Ocean and its open water all the way to Africa. There are shallow reefs near the islands as well as drop-offs into the deep further out. There is often a strong current here, which attracts game fish. Close to the islands Giant trevally, Dog tooth tuna, Mackerel and Wahoo are often caught. Further out off the deep end there are sometimes larger Tunas.

The wave is located off the north tip of the Island and the walk takes 1 to 15 minutes depending on which surf camp you are staying at. During the swell season the wave is a world class left hander. When the southerly winds blow, Asu is on the best waves in the Sumatran Archipelago. Apart from the wave on Asu there are a number of other waves in the Hinakos, such as Bawa, made famous by Tom Curren’s “beyond the boundaries” Rip Curl videos. There are some more great waves around like Bombie, Hamutala and a few more ‘secret’ rights and lefts. All the surf camps here have speed boats which makes going to and from the surf very convenient.

Getting there: Any of the three accommodation providers on Asu can arrange pick-up at the airport and speedboat transfer to the island. If you want to arrange the trip by yourself rent a car at the airport and head west across the island to Sirombu. The trip from the airport to Sirombu takes 2.5 – 3 hours. In Sirombu continue by boat to Asu Island. There are two options; expensive but fast speedboat or very cheap but slow local ferry. A speedboat can be pre-booked from the resort you are staying at. The trip takes less than 30 minutes and is the safest, fastest and most comfortable way to travel to Asu. The budget alternative is to catch the daily (except Sundays) local ferry servicing the Hinako Islands.

Indonesian name: Pulau Asu, Hinakos, Kecamatan Sirombu, Kabupaten Nias Barat.