A nude beach is one of the most popular ways to explore social nudity. So with nudism on the rise, largely being driven by the younger generation and inspired by dedicated accommodation sites like Naturist BnB, we asked experienced naturists for their top recommendation for the best beaches around the world to get naked for the first time.
1. Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona
For Nick and Lins, the couple behind the hugely popular blog Naked Wanderings, their nude beach of choice is a remote offering within Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona in Colombia.
'It takes either several hours on a boat or a 2.5-hour hike through lush, monkey-filled jungle to get there, but it's absolutely stunning. We spent two days at this nude beach and noticed that for curious Colombians, as well as many independent travellers and backpackers, it was their first nude beach experience.'
2. Wreck Beach
The pick of Stéphane Deschenes, host of the Naturist Living Show for more than a decade, is Wreck Beach. It's secluded location is found at the base of a steep trail that descends from the campus of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
'The best nude beach is the one near you that you can access. But of all the beaches I’ve visited, Wreck Beach is in the most beautiful location without being difficult to access as you can get there by transit. It is also the oldest legal nude beach in Canada.'
3. Point Addis
Jessa, a nudist since 2013 and shortly thereafter a writer at the Nude Blogger, raves about Point Addis in Victoria.
'This was my first regular nude beach, and I got to know the regulars while becoming one myself. I've done all sorts of activities there in the buff, from laying down sunbathing to playing frisbee, doing some yoga and swimming. Back when I was living in Victoria, this was my go-to beach...mainly in the Australian summer of course, as water temps do drop there in the winter so it can be a little chilly! It's found on the drive towards the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, so the scenery is just stunning, with beautiful rugged cliff faces and a lovely community there. There was a variety of men and women at the beach, with more and more younger people attending too.'
4. Sovinje
Diana, also known as Naturism Girl, has been a naturist since 2012 and documents her experiences on her website. She raves about a beach on the Island of Pašman in Croatia.
'Sovinje is a fabulous nudist beach located at a nudist campsite in the largest settlement of Pašman. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops along the waterfront. This sandy beach is surrounded with pine trees and there is a lot of shade during the day. The sea is incredibly clean and perfect for swimming, snorkeling, paddling or just simply having fun and refreshing yourself.'
5. Black's Beach
Elle and Blake, who have been part of the nudist movement for more than 6 years and blog about their experiences about being a young naturist couple on Our Naked Story, choose Black's Beach in Southern California.
'Our favorite, and only, nude beach in Southern California is Blacks Beach in San Diego. It’s well secluded by the Torrey Pines cliffs and is about a half mile hike down a steep staircase trail, which helps deter some spectators. It’s also located by the University of San Diego which helps draws in younger crowds during the summer months.'
6. Samurai Beach
Stella Cordes, who has a huge following on her Instagram account @a.naked.girl and shares advice on her blog, loves Samurai Beach near Port Stephens in New South Wales, Australia.
'The first time I came here I was stunned by the beauty of the pristine beach. It was quite secluded but not deserted. You saw a lot of families with kids here playing in the sand, as well as some fisherman and surfers. If you were lucky and had a 4WD you could even drive to the beach and create a nude barbecue! I’ve heard that nudist clubs from around Newcastle come together here and play games once a year on the beach.
7. Zandvoort beach
Paul Walker promotes naturism on his blog zjuzdme.org and is a fan of Zandvoort in the Netherlands.
'The Netherlands is quite open regarding naturism, and there are plenty of places for nude recreation. Zandvoort beach is special to me though, because it is where we have the annual New Year's Day morning skinny dip. Lots of people come here to run into the cold water.'
How to become a nudist: tips for first-timers from the experts
Almost all our naturist enthusiasts advised starting to get naked at home to begin to feel more comfortable. 'Spend more time naked in your own company,' Jessa says, 'do the dishes naked, do the house chores naked.' Diana advises that 'when you get used to the image of your naked body when walking by the mirror you are ready to go on a nudist beach, club or resort.'
If there’s one near you, Ella praises resorts for making beginners feel more comfortable. 'It’s a protected space,' she explains. 'If anyone gives you the wrong vibe or makes you uncomfortable, all one has to do is notify management and the situation will be dealt with promptly.' For many though, reputable nude beaches are their first experience with public nudity and it doesn’t need to be by yourself either. 'Bring some friends and experience something new,' Stella says. 'Trust me it’s stress relieving.'
As for working up the courage, Nick and Lins say if you’re curious, just do it. 'It's not like a tattoo on your face,' they said, 'and if you don't like it you just get dressed again and leave. But at least you'll know.' And don’t necessarily give up on your first try. 'You've been conditioned to wear clothes,' Paul says, 'so it will take some time to get out of them and feel safe about that.'
