Is St. Martin a “Naked Island”?

Let’s briefly review a little history: In the 1980’s, a man named Reint Brink opened a family-friendly nudist resort at the southern end of the (then sparsely populated) Orient Beach. The resort became quite popular with naturists from all over the world. Occupying a fraction of the 1.5-mile Orient Beach, it was offered up as a cruise ship excursion in later years for curious tourists.

Nudists were quite tolerant of these shopping bag-carrying, giggling hikers…unless of course one would bring out a camera. Privacy is paramount in these situations.

As the years passed, beach bars sprang up over the remainder of Orient Beach, some of which offered the clothing optional experience. These days, total nudity is allowed only past the Club Orient sign and the quarter mile of beach that used to be Club Orient.

Today, the Club O resort is a thing of the past. The cabins, chalets, restaurant, and boutique were all destroyed by hurricane Irma in 2017. Beach chairs and umbrella rentals (and a small restaurant and bar) are all that remain today for clothing optional (c/o) visitors  [Club O by Cedrick]. 
Cupecoy Beach on the Dutch side is a small beach surrounded by cliffs and has an unofficial status as clothing optional as well. So, two out of thirty-seven beaches exist where you may encounter nude sunbathers. Hardly the “naked people running wild in the streets” some imagine St. Martin to be.

So, fear not! St. Martin has much to offer for cruise ship visitors, couples, and families that wish to experience a little time in paradise.  Once you experience St. Martin for the first time, your heart will yearn to return…again and again. And seeing (or becoming) nudists will be completely up to you.