Best Nude Beaches

Brave enough to bare it all? Grab your sunscreen, toss your suit aside and explore Travel Channel's picks for the world's best nude beaches.

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Baker Beach, San Francisco

On the shore below San Francisco’s famed Presidio is where you’ll find half-mile-long Baker Beach. Baker is not only notable for its nude beach — naturists sunbathe, swim and stroll on the northern section of the beach — but also for its spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Be wary of heavy fog and rough surf.

Haulover Beach, Miami

Sanctioned and protected by Miami-Dade County, Haulover Beach, a family-friendly strand just north of Miami Beach, is considered Florida’s best for baring it all. Only 1/3 of the 1.4-mile pristine beach — between lifeguard stations 12 and 16 — is for clothing-optional recreation.

Couples Tower Isle, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

All-inclusive hospitality brand Couples has several resort options in Jamaica for pairs who wish to bare it all. Most impressive is Couples Tower Isle, a 19-acre beachfront resort in Ocho Rios that has an au naturel private island for daytime frolicking. Tower Isle’s private island is equipped with a pool, swim-up bar and nude sunbathing areas. Elsewhere in Jamaica, Couples San Souci and Couples Negril have semi-private sections dedicated to the clothing-optional set.

Plakias Beach, Crete, Greece

On the south coast of Crete, between mountains and the Libyan Sea, lies Plakias, a tiny fishing village whose population swells during the summer months. Popular with backpackers, many of whom come here to stay in the southernmost youth hostel in Europe, Plakias is also a favorite with nudists, who can swim and sunbathe in the buff along the 0.8-mile Plakias Beach. Beyond the nudist strand, Plakias offers several beach options (Ammoudi, Damnoni and Souda), mountain hikes and casual tavernas. Nearby, Mona Preveli, one of the most famous monasteries in Crete, is a worthwhile day trip.

Red Beach, Crete, Greece

Several beaches throughout the Greek isles are known as “Red Beach” (or Kokkini Paralia) because of their pink/red sands. The Red Beach that’s ideal for naturists is located on Crete, about 20 minutes by foot from the resort town of Matala. Given Red Beach’s remote location, there are very few services to be found here, save for a chair and umbrella rental stand during the high season. Consider working it into an trip itinerary that includes a stop at all the pristine, Blue Flag beaches around Matala.

Wreck Beach, Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia, is home to Wreck Beach, one of the world's most popular nude beaches. Everything on Wreck Beach, from the sunbathers to the surroundings, is kept as natural as possible, contributing to the relaxing and positive vibe here. While Canada may not seem like a beachgoer's haven, the 4.8-mile-long Wreck Beach is the country's first official clothing-optional beach, and it offers spectacular views of the Pacific.

Hidden Beach Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

For naturist fun on the Mayan Riviera, Hidden Beach Resort is an all-inclusive, adults-only playground. Guests here may be nude throughout the resort, whether sunbathing or dining or dancing. There is even a full-day nude cruise. Beyond the resort, guests can sign up for visits to the Mayan ruins in Tulum, golf, swimming with dolphins or watching a bullfight, but clothing is required for those options.

Cap d’Agde, France

The French Mediterranean resort of Cap d'Agde is more than just a nude beach; it is a nude city. From March to mid-October, visitors must fill out paperwork and pay a fee to enter the guarded village, where clothing is not an option. Because Cap d’Agde is a fully sanctioned nude beach, it offers numerous activities, accommodations and restaurants for practicing naturists. For something completely different, Cap d’Agde also holds an annual “last swim of the year” on New Year’s Eve — the only “polar bear”-type swim at a nudist beach.

Samurai Beach, New South Wales, Australia

Officially clothing optional since 1996, Samurai Beach in New South Wales, Australia, is a stunning 1.2-mile strand ideal for nature lovers. Access to Samurai Beach, which is known for its white sands and clear water, requires a 4-wheel-drive vehicle or a hike over scrubs and rocks via neighboring One Mile Beach. Visitors to Samurai Beach can take advantage of the surrounding Tomaree National Park and Anna Bay, with activities such as hiking, surfing and fishing.

Black’s Beach, San Diego

Known as San Diego’s nude beach, Black's Beach is beneath the soaring, picturesque bluffs of Torrey Pines. Though nude sunbathing is technically illegal in San Diego, naturism at the north end of Black’s has been allowed for years, owing to the beach’s secluded location. Those wishing to sunbathe in the buff at Black’s must endure a hike along marked routes down to the beach. The spot is also popular with surfers, who make the most of the waves that ripple and curl offshore.

Hedonism II, Negril, Jamaica

Opened in 1976 in Negril, Jamaica, Hedonism II is legendary for its naughty vibe. Known for its swingers conventions and toga nights, Hedo is the definition of debauchery. While an estimated 80% of Hedonism II’s clientele choose to sunbathe in the buff, there are both “nude” and “prude” sections of the resort, including along the beaches and in the pools.

Praia do Pinho, Brazil

Brazil's first nude beach, Praia do Pinho, is a family-friendly retreat founded in the early 1980s. Surrounded by lush green hills, Praia do Pinho has inns, cabins and camping accommodations for visiting naturists. Balneario Camboriu, the town nearest Praia do Pinho, is a popular vacation destination for Brazilians. Like a mini Rio, BC has an extensive, crescent-shaped shoreline, as well as the Cristo Luz, Brazil’s second-largest monument, after the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado.

Club Orient, St. Martin

St. Martin, the French-speaking side of the island also known as St. Maarten, is home to Club Orient, a family-friendly naturist resort that fronts one of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in the Caribbean. Guests are invited to participate in all activities, from sunbathing to dining, while in the buff. When the nude bodies begin to bore you, head to the other side of the island for a visit to Maho Beach, which is famous for its plane-spotting.

Moshup Beach, Martha's Vineyard, MA

Martha’s Vineyard, the island off the coast of Massachusetts long known as a getaway for old money scions and politicians, has a bit of a bohemian streak, which is best embodied by its small but beloved nude beach. Known as either Moshup Beach, after the Moshup Trail that leads down to the sand, or Gay Head Beach, because of its position below the scrub-topped Gay Head Cliffs, this strand has a clothing-optional section for sunbathing and recreation. Visitors must pay a $15 parking fee in order to access Moshup Beach.

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