by Jonathan Hermann
There’s a beach where you will catch more than just sun rays glistening off the placid Caribbean waters—you will also catch an eyeful of skin, as people of all shapes and sizes strip down to their birthday suits to enjoy paradise freely, naturally and without inhibition.
Welcome to Club Orient, a clothing-optional resort on the northeast side of French St. Martin, where you’ll find a fun-loving group of people who enjoy swimming, sunbathing, dining and even volleyball au naturel.
Don’t get the wrong idea—these sun-worshippers are not sexual deviants or in-your-face hippies. They’re regular folks who enjoy the freedom and camaraderie that comes with being naked around others—an invigorating and liberating experience where you’re never defined by the clothes your wear.
The resort occupies one of the best beaches on the island, two-mile long Orient Beach, with 30 spacious chalets on the ocean, along with another 60 garden chalets, mini suites and studios peppered throughout the palms. It provides a multitude of island diversions that you can enjoy completely and unashamedly naked, including tennis and volleyball, beach bars, live music and upscale dining.
The highlight of any footloose and fancy-clothes-free week at Club Orient is the Tiko Tiko Nude Cruise. A 40-foot catamaran helmed by Captain Philippe, the Tiko Tiko sets sail for deserted Tintamarre Island four times a week, carrying up to 16 guests who are eager to enjoy a private beach, gourmet lunch and open bar—all in the buff.
You jump onboard midmorning and are served drinks during the leisurely hour-long trip to Tintamarre. This is when you meet your fellow passengers, many of whom begin the cruise in a state of partial dress, but quickly shed the threads be the time the Tiko Tiko casts it anchor off the uninhabited island.
Dive right in and swim to the beach or take the launch with Philippe, who will set up chairs, umbrellas, snorkel gear and a cooler full of beer and other beverages, before he returns to the Tiko Tiko to start cooking lunch. So there you are, stranded on a white-sand sliver of heaven, free to explore the island or the minds of your new, naked friends, feeling the sun shine on those body parts where the sun usually don’t shine.
A savory lunch with wine is served back on the boat, after which the remainder of the afternoon is yours. Snorkel on the reef, snooze on the beach, enjoy the open bar or take a mud bath. Whatever you choose to do, it will be etched in your memory forever simply due to the freedom and exhilaration of doing them in the nude.
The cruise will set you back $115 per person, but according to those who return every year to sail with Philippe again, it’s well worth it. The Tiko Tiko fills up quickly, so make your reservations in advance of your trip, especially if you’re just coming for the day to toss your swimsuit and inhibitions to the wind and enjoy the clothing-optional side of Orient Beach.
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