Rua Beach
BeginnerSurf report
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.6 m | 1.6m 10s SW | 4 km/h off | 1.0m |
| 9 AM | 1.7 m | 1.7m 9s SW | 11 km/h cross | 0.9m |
| 12 PM | 1.8 m | 1.7m 9s SW | 13 km/h cross | -0.1m |
| 3 PM | 1.9 m | 1.7m 9s SW | 13 km/h cross | -0.5m |
| 6 PM | 1.9 m | 1.7m 9s SW | 13 km/h cross | 0.4m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 2.0 m | 1.9m 11s SW | 9 km/h off | 0.9m |
| 9 AM | 1.9 m | 1.9m 11s SW | 15 km/h cross | 1.3m |
| 12 PM | 1.9 m | 1.9m 11s SW | 15 km/h cross | 0.2m |
| 3 PM | 1.8 m | 1.8m 11s SW | 16 km/h cross | -0.7m |
| 6 PM | 1.8 m | 1.8m 11s SW | 11 km/h cross | 0.2m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.7 m | 1.6m 11s SW | 3 km/h off | 0.5m |
| 9 AM | 1.7 m | 1.6m 11s SW | 6 km/h cross | 1.6m |
| 12 PM | 1.7 m | 1.6m 11s SW | 14 km/h on | 0.6m |
| 3 PM | 1.7 m | 1.6m 11s SW | 17 km/h cross | -0.8m |
| 6 PM | 1.7 m | 1.6m 11s SW | 13 km/h cross | -0.1m |
| Time | Surf | Swell | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 1.6 m | 1.5m 12s SW | 4 km/h off | 0.0m |
| 9 AM | 1.6 m | 1.5m 12s SW | 9 km/h cross | 1.6m |
| 12 PM | 1.6 m | 1.5m 12s SW | 14 km/h cross | 1.0m |
| 3 PM | 1.7 m | 1.5m 12s SW | 15 km/h cross | -0.8m |
| 6 PM | 1.7 m | 1.5m 12s SW | 7 km/h off | -0.4m |
Next 24 hours
Wind
Tide
7-day outlook
Best days Hourly detail
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| Time | Wave | Swell | Period | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 1.5m | 1.5m SW | 10s | 7 ESE cross | 0.3m |
| 1 AM | 1.5m | 1.5m SW | 10s | 7 ESE cross | 0.3m |
| 2 AM | 1.6m | 1.5m SW | 10s | 6 ESE cross | 0.3m |
| 3 AM | 1.6m | 1.5m SW | 10s | 4 ESE cross | 0.4m |
| 4 AM | 1.6m | 1.6m SW | 10s | 5 E off | 0.6m |
| 5 AM | 1.6m | 1.6m SW | 10s | 5 ENE off | 0.8m |
| 6 AM | 1.6m | 1.6m SW | 10s | 4 ENE off | 1.0m |
| 7 AM | 1.7m | 1.6m SW | 9s | 7 E off | 1.1m |
| 8 AM | 1.7m | 1.6m SW | 9s | 9 ESE cross | 1.0m |
| 9 AM | 1.7m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 11 SE cross | 0.9m |
| 10 AM | 1.7m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 13 SE cross | 0.6m |
| 11 AM | 1.8m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 15 SSE cross | 0.2m |
| 12 PM | 1.8m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 13 SSE cross | -0.1m |
| 1 PM | 1.8m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 12 SE cross | -0.4m |
| 2 PM | 1.8m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 13 SSE cross | -0.5m |
| 3 PM | 1.9m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 13 SSE cross | -0.5m |
| 4 PM | 1.9m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 13 SSE cross | -0.3m |
| 5 PM | 1.9m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 13 SE cross | 0.0m |
| 6 PM | 1.9m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 13 SE cross | 0.4m |
| 7 PM | 1.9m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 11 ESE cross | 0.7m |
| 8 PM | 2.0m | 1.7m SW | 9s | 11 ESE cross | 0.9m |
| 9 PM | 2.0m | 1.6m SW | 9s | 9 ESE cross | 0.9m |
| 10 PM | 2.0m | 1.6m SW | 9s | 9 ESE cross | 0.8m |
| 11 PM | 2.0m | 1.6m SW | 9s | 7 ESE cross | 0.6m |
About Rua Beach
Rua Beach offers a mellow reef break that's welcoming for beginners taking their first steps on Sumba's waves. The wave breaks gently enough to allow learners to find their footing without feeling overwhelmed, while the beautiful beach setting adds to the appeal. More experienced surfers may find it mellow on smaller days, but it's an ideal spot to build confidence. The relaxed vibe and uncrowded lineup make it a great learning ground.
Local knowledge
Despite its mellow reputation, the reef is shallow at low tide and the coral is sharp and live — a wipeout in knee-deep water can mean nasty cuts, so booties are recommended for beginners. Sea urchins hide in the reef crevices, so shuffle your feet rather than stepping hard on the bottom. The rip along the reef edge can catch newcomers off guard; if swept wide, paddle to the channel rather than fighting it straight to shore.
Rua Beach is reached via a sealed and partially unsealed road from Waikabubak or Waitabula in West Sumba — a local guide or ojek (motorbike taxi) is handy for the final stretch. Park near the beachside warung and paddle out through the sandy channel on the left side of the break to avoid scrambling over reef on entry. Exit the same way via the channel; avoid stepping directly onto the reef shelf on the right, especially at lower tides.
A longboard or a wide, high-volume funboard (8'0"–9'6") is ideal for making the most of Rua's soft, slow sections and suits beginners perfectly. On the rare days with more size and push, an intermediate can step down to a mid-length fish, but there's rarely a need for anything performance-orientated here.
mellow — relaxed vibe.
Where to go now
Rua Beach vs. nearby, live| Spot | Surf | Swell | Wind | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rua Beach Best now this spot | 1.5m | 1.5m 10s | 7 cross | Good |
| 1 km away | 1.5m | 1.5m 10s | 7 cross | Good |
| 3 km away | 1.5m | 1.5m 10s | 7 cross | Good |
| 7 km away | 1.6m | 1.5m 10s | 9 cross | Good |
Community photos
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Surfing in Sumba
Full Sumba surf guide →Sumba feels like a slip back in time — a wild, low-key island southeast of Bali that has so far escaped the development that reshaped its neighbours. Vast savannah plains, rolling hills, megalithic villages and empty golden beaches define a landscape that surfers describe as the Indonesia they were chasing all along.
✈️Getting there
Most travellers fly in via Bali (Denpasar). Sumba has two airports: Tambolaka (Waikabubak) in the west and Waingapu in the east, both served by short domestic flights from Denpasar, with some connections via Kupang or Bali several times daily.
🛵Getting around
Sumba is large and spread out, and the surf zones are far apart, so transport planning matters. Scooter rental is possible in the bigger towns, fine for short hops but tiring and exposed for long cross-island runs — and roads vary from decent asphalt to rough, potholed stretches.
🌤️Climate & season
Sumba has a pronounced dry and wet season. The dry season, roughly April to October, is prime time: cleaner conditions, dependable groundswell and the prevailing trade winds that groom the swell-exposed coasts. This is the core surf window.