COBC: Clothing-optional Opportunities in B.C. (and beyond)
Copyright ©1991-2010 --- Page updated: 2010 July 24
"British Columbia's best guide to nudist clubs and clothing-optional beaches."

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Carribean.

This section lists some spots in the rest of the world which might be of interest to visitors from Canada, USA, or Europe.

Areas Listed.
Usage changes over time. I encourage you to use discretion in locating and using the locations listed.

Saint Martin / Sint Maarten.

SAINT MARTIN: GoBeach website.
This site has decent information on St. Martin/St. Maarten and other islands, though it is not a clothing-optional site.

SAINT MARTIN: Sint-Maarten.net website.
This site has excellent information on St. Martin/St. Maarten, including a page on clothing-optional beaches and a great beach map.

SAINT MARTIN: Baie Orientale (Orient Bay). [Trip report]
Saint Martin is the French side of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten and Orient Beach is legendary. Nudity used to be allowed everywhere on the beach, but since 2008 it is limited to the south end of the beach in front of Club Orient naturist resort. The police occasionally issue tickets. Orient Beach is a busy place, with restaurants, hotels, and water sports from one end of the beach to the other. Visitors to the beach can park at Club Orient or behind any of the other restaurants and hotels. [Apr 2010]

SAINT MARTIN: Club Orient Naturist Resort.
Located at the south end of Orient Bay, Club Orient offers cabin-style accomodations (with kitchens), a small shop, and a restaurant. Clothing is optional throughout the resort (including the restaurant) and on the beach. Cameras are prohibitted on the beach. Small sailboats and catamarans can be rented at the beach shack, or you can book aboard the clothing-optional sailing/snorkelling excursion. Club Orient probably won't be your choice if you are on a tight budget, but you can save quite a bit by cooking your own meals. Dining out is quite expensive on the island. [May/99]
Comment: We snorkelled near Club Orient, but saw little of interest. [Nov/96]

SAINT MARTIN: Coté Zen and Coté Sud Villas.
Two villas, one owner. Both are in the same neighbourhood, close to Orient Beach. And both are very private; very suitable for nudists. [Apr 2010]

SAINT MARTIN: Naturist's Getaway ("Naturissimo"). (Alternate site)
Four private bungalow-style studios in Oyster Pond, close to Orient Beach, and catering exclusively to the nudist community. The four units share a swimming pool. A short walk leads to Coralita Beach which is described as "secluded" and "deserted", so it can probably be used nude. [Apr 2010]

SAINT MARTIN: Ilet Pinel (Pinel Island).
"There is a CO beach on the north shore of the island. The swimming is pretty good, with easy entry on the left end. The bottom there is sandy with lots of broken coral from boats dropping anchor. The sand on the beach is white and clean (please keep it that way!), and the beach is usually deserted or sparsely populated. The people who go to Pinel tend not to be the cruise ship day trippers, and many of them are French trying to get away from the bustle of the resort areas."
"There are two barbecue stands, a boutique and a bar on the side facing St. Martin. The island has no residents (except for a couple who built a charming vacation 'shack' just off the north shore beach in amongst the foliage). The island is a French national park, so please take care of it and don't litter."
Pictures: http://www.orientbeach.com/pinel/ shows some pictures of Pinel. The 'Deserted Beach' and the 'Beachcomber's Hut' are the CO beach and the 'shack', respectively.
Directions: "As you get off the ferry boat from Orient ($5 for a 1/4 mile ride out and back) or Cul-de-sac, angle to your right and go behind the barbecue stand and up over the hill toward the left, heading northeast. Approach the beach at about its middle. Otherwise, take the narrow trail (shorter but harder to find) between the boutique and the 2nd barbecue stand up over the hill." [Reggie, Jan/2001]
It's about a 5 minute walk to the 2 deserted beaches on the far side of the island. Bring walking shoes and snorkling gear.

SAINT MARTIN: Petites Cayes.
There are no roads to Petites Cayes. You can get there by boat or by a 35 minute hike. But the difficult access keeps the beach natural and the clothing "au naturel".
Directions: There are two land-based routes. The western route begins at the Anse Marcel Marina, where you follow the path over/along the rocks and cliffs. The easter route follows the coast, beginning in Cul-de-Sac, behind the garbage dump / recycling station. Just north of Orient Bay, follow the road into Cul-de-Sac on the way to the Pinel Island ferry. Instead of turning right, just before reaching the ferry, turn left to go behind the school. Follow the dirt road to the dump. The second route is supposed to be easier than the first.

SAINT MARTIN: Bell Point Beach.
A 15 minute walk to the west along the shore from Anse Marcel leads to a small secluded and unspoiled beach. There should be no problem with nude use.

SAINT MARTIN: Anse Heureuse (Happy Bay).
This beautiful, white sand beach is relatively unknown, but is frequented by nudists.
Directions: Drive to Friar's Bay and park by the Friar's Bay Beach Café. Head north along the coast for 10 to 15 minutes.

SAINT MARTIN: Baie Rouge (Red Bay). [Trip report]
A small, beautiful, quiet beach with lovely sand and good swimming and snorkelling. Umbrellas and chairs (and sometimes food) are available at the entrance to the beach, but this is the clothed/topfree area. Nudists should head left (west) when they reach the beach. How far you have to go to encounter nude bathers depends on how bold they were. We found that the first person to go nude essentially established the boundary for the day. Beautiful rock formations on the east side of the beach offer interesting snorkelling if the waters are calm. [Nov/96]
Directions: From Marigot, head west for about 10 minutes, past Baie Nettle (Nettle Bay). As the road curves to the left and heads inland to cross to the south coast of the island, watch for signs indicating Baie Rouge. Park in the designated lot and follow the short trail to the beach.
Directions (from Maho): Head west on the main road to a point 4 km past the French border and watch for the sign.

SAINT MARTIN: Baie aux Prunes (Plum Bay). [Trip report]
It's been reported that Baie aux Prunes sees sporadic nude use, but we didn't really feel that it was worth the trip. [Nov/96]
Directions: from the road between Baie Rouge and Baie Longue, head west toward the point.

SAINT MARTIN: Baie Longue (Long Bay). [Trip report]
Located between Baie Rouge and Cupecoy Beach, just north of the French/Dutch border, Baie Longue is 1.5 km of wide, sandy beach. Head right when you reach the beach. You'll probably walk quite a way to find nudists, but they'll probably be there. Getting into the water can be tricky at this beach because at the edge of the water it is solid (and slippery) rather than sandy, but swimming and snorkelling are good (but beware of rough seas and strong undertows). [Nov/96]
Directions: From Maho (the airport) head west past Cupecoy Beach and across the French border. At the top of the hill, turn left on a paved road marked Baie Longue. Turn right just before the entrance to La Samanna Hotel, and continue to the parking area. Follow the short trail to the beach. At the beach, turn right (west) and head towards the end of the beach.

SINT MAARTEN: Cupecoy Beach. [Trip report] [Photo]
Probably the most spectacular of St. Martin's beaches, Cupecoy features beautiful reddish sandstone cliffs and rock formations. The sand and the snorkelling are excellent. The first beach is just past the parking lot and is sometimes nude, sometimes clothed---have a look from the top of the cliff. The main beach is a bit further along and is much more spacious and is always clothing-optional. The first beach is easily viewed from the top of cliff, so if you are worried about being seen by sightseers, you should probably continue to the far end of the main beach. [Nov/96]
Directions: From Maho (the airport) head west for five minutes, past the Cupecoy Beach Hotel, and turn left after the last hotel (just as the road turns right and uphill). After parking your car, follow the well used trails to the right (west).

SINT MAARTEN: Guana Bay.
Guana Bay sees some nude use at the far end, but swimming here can be dangerous.

Cuba.

CUBA: Cayo Largo.
Lily and Normand's site dedicated to the small island of Cayo Largo. Filled with information on hotels, beaches, and nudism.

CUBA: Cayo Santa Maria.
Located on the 13 km long islet of Cayo Santa Maria, Sol CSM is an all-inclusive non-nudist resort with a beautiful nudist beach at the west end of the main beach. You should probably request a bungalow at that end of the resort. Alternatively, you can stay at the adjacent (and somewhat cheaper) Melia CSM -- another all-inclusive hotel owned by the same corporation. The drawback is a longer walk to the clothing-optional beach. Kids are welcome and accommodated at both hotels.

Bonaire.

BONAIRE: Sorobon Beach Resort.
Clothing-optional througout the resort. Family-friendly. From the website: "Unspoiled. Unhurried. Unclothed. Unforgettable." [Dec/2005]
Update: Sadly, Sorobon has been sold and it will cease to be a clothing-optional facility after Dec 1, 2010.

Jamaica.

NEGRIL: Firefly Cottages.
Clothing-optional. Family friendly. For more photos, click here.[Dec/2005]

Dominican Republic.

PLAYA GRANDE: Eden Bay.
All-inclusive nudist resort. Adults only. Singles welcome. Nudity is permitted and encouraged throughout the resort. Day visitors are welcome (for US$65/person). [Dec/2005]