2 month surf trip - Lombok or Nicaragua?

[Millimoo]

I’m looking to take 2 months off from mid August-mid October.

I’m an Aussie, advanced beginner. Can surf down the line, bottom turns and working on cut backs. Solo female traveller.

I’m thinking either Indonesia (probably Lombok) or Nicaragua.

I’m hoping to have uncrowded waves and a cheap lifestyle + small town with easy going chill vibe. I mainly want to work on my surfing. No interest in partying. Would be great to meet other travellers, but without the overrun touristy vibe.

Any advice between Lombok and Nica?

Thinking Lombok, but not sure. Is it safe enough for solo female? Is it easy to get to breaks etc?

I originally wanted to get to Nicaragua, but it seems a bit expensive to get coaching etc.

Appreciate the help.

Em l oh

[jaffa1949]

Hi Millimoo and welcome,

Great idea, I can help now and I am quite comfortable with Indo travel. but not much knowledge about Nicaragua.
So a start , cost and length of travel Nicaragua is a long and costly journey, ( do you plan to take your boards?) Airlines are not always helpful or cheap in transporting boards, but to Indo boards are often included.
OK Lombok, August to October is slipping into the shoulder season so less heavy epic swell more suited to your needs
It is a 30 minute flight from Bali then arrange your own transport to either Kuta beach Lombok or Gerupuk or Heaven on the Planet in Ekas bay.
If you stay at a surf camp, resort or hotel they may connect you to transport there and back.

Kuta is the centre of surfing on Lombok and there quite a few homestays airBnBs, and cheaper hotel short walks from the beach. as you head east toward Gerupuk and then across Ekas bay it is more likely you will need to stay in a camp, Gerupuk has a number of camps and home stays,
Ekas has two camps

C
Kuta has all the facilities of a small town and eating places, these thin out to village eating or what the homestay or camp provides.
You can be pleasantly surprised what some of the meals are like!
Some tips , do not drink any water except bottled water, nor eat peeled or open fruit, brush your teeth with bottled water ( tap water is not safe)
For a full set of tips I recommend buying the book. INDO SURF AND LINGO by the late Peter Neely, it is a fine guide for all things Indonesian and how to speak some simple Bahasa Indonesian, how to travel, surf spots on every island.
They also talk about where to stay
Now some important Jaffa tips,

Make sure you surf safety self sufficient, ther are no lifeguards and even less as you head east towards Gerupuk or Ekas.
Staying at a surf camp is a little more costly but you will have camp companions and you can keep watch for each other.
Camps often have boats that take you to the breaks and guides that can clue you in to the break.

Back to Kuta, most places you stay are pretty close to a break a, however if you wish to go further afield then you will need a guide or driver and of course cost.
Lombok is a more Muslim island so beach wear is only for the beach or swimming pool, street and town wear needs to be modest so your are not a target long sarong and no bikini tops.
If you stay at a homestay the house mama will advise you as will any hotel or resort, it is basically safe.
Sensible behaviour light drinking Ok at restaurants but watch your drinks spiking occurs,

Camps and resort supply meals and drinks and have a built in social nature. Share chat and surf.
Crowds may be a little thinner and certainly as you go east

I would recommend you check Gerupuk camps and stay online or a little more pricey I can recommend fro personal experience Heaven on the Planet at Ekas, there are two breaks there that suit your standard Inside Ekas and the sand beach break, ( slight problem only these two option)
Good food swimming pool and the exercise program of 365 steps down to the waves

Gerupuk has more wave options but I am not sure of the amenities.

Now Nicaragua the flight costs alone might pay for more time in Indonesia, if this prompts more questions ask I can answer more.

Cheers Jaffa Tidak apa apa.
Indonesian for no worries







Gerupuk has more surf options

[jaffa1949]

TeeBee and couple of others have asked about cheap options to stay in Indo or elsewhere and I thought some more advice might help.

Consider visas for Indo mostly30 day visa on arrival, longer requires different application process, check the rules!!!

I don’t have any recommendations for accommodation in Kuta Lombok, but book Indo Surf and Lingo has many tips.

Medewi has been mentioned on Bali, a left hand point break west along the coast from Kuta, it is a fairly soft break and is now more discovered.
Breaks throughout Indo that were once uncrowded or unknown now may have camps schools , resorts and home stays.
So many I don’t have recommendations any more, the people I stay with in homestays are like family and now the then grandchildren are the owners and parents of the next generation. First surfed Indo in 1979.

So how to find a good place to stay? Look on the net, check location against access to beach, closer is dearer, if possible read real reviews (I do this for new areas) have an email conversation if it sounds too good suspect scam, ordinary is pretty good.
Consider too petrol has gone up in price crazy levels in Indo too, times are hard.

Next Topic Shri Lanka, simple don’t , there. is a food money and full blown crisis of government food supply and services, people are not able to cope, they are rightfully angry, it is easy to transgress some boundary and be at risk.
It also may mean stuck in bureaucratic minefields and getting transport maybe next to impossible. You are more likely to be welcomed when recovery starts and new cash welcome!

[TeeBee89]

Much appreciated Jaffa!
Didn't ask in this thread on SL, but thanks as well for the candid advice. This was sadly my sense too.
Anyone has a beeline on copies of the late Peter Neely's Indo Surf & Lingo, love to hear. Foolishly gave mine away a few years ago.
Likewise firsthand info on Indo VOA, place to stay in Lombok. For VOA, have read since we're paying again it is possible to renew once for 30 days = 60 overall. Greatly feared a fav place of mine had shut down for good as well, but recently delighted to find out it survived and re-opened. First hand info is a treasure!
Thanks again Jaffa!

[one0one]

i'm planning trip at same time. for eleven days tho not two months.. wish it was two months. I arrive september 30 staying at uluz for 3 nights then probably lombok. We should catch up on lombok. My plan is to hopefully go on boats daily to get away from the crowds. staying at kuta. maybe novatel or another place i forgot name of. haven't booked the lombok accommodation yet only the uluz. i'm heading over from New Zealand. I seen a guide with NZ guests on his boat. looked pumping. on facebook. think daily boat trips are the go, and its only 10dollars per person. seems cheap as it gets. what are your basic plans if any?

I edited just seen you are a girl and traveling alone lol.. we got 6 of us and we probably going to different breaks than what you would be surfing from what i'm gathering.. anyways i'll at least see ya on here lol..

chch