NetNude - St. Martin Report

St. Martin
1998

This report is brought to you by beachgoer. Please email the preceding address if you wish to contact the author. The opinions expressed are those of the person who submitted the report and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NetNude.

Sint Maarten/Saint Martin

Note: Clicking on the images MAY display larger photos. Some photos are actual size.

A trip to the island is a short trip from San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's less than an hour to be on the beach from time of departure. It's about a 3 to 4 hour trip from Miami. I would like to let everybody know what to expect from the island. I will discuss all different aspects for your stay! First lets start with a small map. Below the red line is the Dutch side and above it is the French side. My summary on beaches start from the first beach on the east border of the Dutch side and following south clockwise, to finish on same side but on the French side. Enjoy the tour!

BEACHES:

Dutch side:

Oyster Pond: clothed beach, maybe topless acceptable on certain days. Very few people visit this beach. Several hotels and resorts on site. I have been only once and it's a beautiful beach with a shack for food and drinks, lounge chairs. Beach has a nice surf, crystal blue waters and boating accessibility.

Guana Bay: small beach, heavy surf. Beautiful view to St. Barts. Very infrequently visited maybe 10 people on the beach at once. Nudity??? Watch for people that may be suspicious of robbery. Told last visit that it's frequent.

Geneve & Back Bay: never been there, to isolated for comfort!

Great Bay Beach: this is a clothed beach, because of the capital of the Dutch side (Philipsburg), sits on this beach. Port of entry for all major cruises in the Caribbean. Nice shops! Beautiful warm waters and no surf. Several hotels and resorts on coast as well!

Great Bay Beach at Philipsburg!

Little Bay Beach: nice beach and resort on site. Low surf.

Lay Bay, Cole Bay & Cay Bay: never been to these but locals living close to the vicinity of beach.

Simpson Bay: near to principal international airport from the continent. Shallow crystal blue waters, nice surf, no nudity allowed. Large bay, too close to road and major resorts. Nice restaurants near by, as well as casinos.

Simpson Bay from the hill!

Burgeaux Bay: beach is nice, back side of airport, locals live near vicinity, and frequented by them. Nice surf and beautiful waters.

Maho Bay Beach: even though it's so close to road, topless is friendly in what I consider is one of their best beaches. Close to shopping, casino, and small restaurants. High surf at times, deep waters but crystal blue! Good choice!

Mullet Bay Beach: absolutely gorgeous beach, ruined by Hurricane Luis several years ago. I should say Luis ruined the hotel and amenities. The beach is astonishing. Topless friendly! Waters are crystal blue and surf depends on tides but not too deep! Many palm trees and not too close from road!

Cupecoy Beach: for me this is the best! Not too many people not close from road, small shack with food and drinks available from locals who treat you like their guest! Stony beach for the most part, surf is high mostly dependant on the tides and wind! This beach has several coves. The one next to the resort is topless but the others are nudist. Small area for gay people, they don't get involved with anybody. The smallest cove of all invites for a sexual experience! Watch it you might get caught, by locals or others seeking for the same! The cove is maybe 10 feet long and has a heavy surf! Many boats pass by, beautiful view to Saba Island.

Sunset at Cupecoy

Cupecoy Beach at its best!

Cupecoy the real thing!

French side:

Baie Longue: ample crystal blue waters. Nudity acceptable, at least I did with out problems, especially if you go far away from the main entrance. This is the first beach on the west French border. Some house on coastline, people with better financial accommodation from the well-known "Terres Basses", and rich and famous live here. No facilities for food, drinks or bathroom are available. No shade are available, some parts of the shore are stony but few, and may have heavy surf depending on winds and tides. Beautiful beach, I give it a 90-95%!!! This beach is far from main road.

Baie aux Prunes: same as above in every way, except that it's mostly stony on the far side near the houses at the left of the entrance! Another of my favorites! Another of the three beaches of "Terres Basses", this is the furthest away from main road!

Baie Rouge: this is another nudist beach to the far-left side once you hit the entrance. Third beach on same side of the island. Same as Baie Longue but near the main road, and does have a small shack with food and drinks. Few houses on coast line and they are high up on hills or far away on the bay. Very heavy surf and stony at most of it. I give it a 95%, one of my favorites. The sand is almost red do to the coral reefs near by. Absolutely gorgeous!

This is the conventional side
of Baie Rouge!

Nettle Bay, Marigot Beach to Potence Beach passing through the capital of the French side (Marigot): Not so nice beaches though several nice resorts very close by on coast line. The closer you get to Marigot the better the chances to find a fantastic restaurant. Marigot is more expensive than Philipsburg for shopping! No nudity allowed! These are at the north west shore, near Simpson Bay Lagoon. Nice shops at the Marigot port, I consider them expensive for other places on the island.

Friar's Beach: is a small, conventional (clothed), family oriented beach. Nice shack for food, drinks and even a pool table. The waters not too clear, but nice for snorkeling. Road is close by but it's bumpy since it is not paved.

Grand Case Beach: Is a gorgeous beach, with low surf and crystal blue waters. It run along the main road and it's where I consider the best dinning on the island. The restaurants and small hotels mainly occupy the shore stretch. Many people that like to visit Club Orient but don't want to stay at the premises for several reasons frequent hotels at Grand Case. If you are in for seafood there are small shacks with several BBQ'd meats and seafood at a very good price. It is really worth the trip for the money for an early dinner. It's an open space near a bridge.

Anse Marcel Cove: is a conventional clothed beach. Waters are clear but stony and greenish. For a boating experience if you own or willing to pay a private boat its great. It has its own harbor and own resort at site. Be willing to pay the price, it is expensive. Le Meridien has control of most of its amenities! The hotel is outstanding for beauty and service.

North Point Beach: is a beach very rarely visited by tourist. You can only reach it walking, and it is great for wind surfing. Never been to this beach but saw it while a trip to St. Barts. This is a nude and very solitaire beach. Problem it is very close to the waste dump of the island. I don't know if this may cause problem with smells or mosquitoes.

Orient Beach: is the most recognized nude beach on the Caribbean. This is gorgeous, low surf, crystal blue with thin white sand beach. I was surprised that the entire beach is nudist. The section to the extreme right is a nudist camp called "Club Orient", for more info on the club go to www.cluborient.com. In essence this club has 100 rooms or suites with no connection to the outside world. A true paradise. The beach has three platforms in the water, nice for a swim and sunbathes for a few. Many people visit the club staying on conventional hotel or resorts on the island. I do myself because I have a timeshare that allows me to do so at a cheaper price for the exchange than to pay full price at the club. Some day I'll stay at the club. Different packages are available, from days to a week up to months. The longer the stay the cheaper per day your stay. On the entrance to that section there is a big sign advising tourist of the camp and prohibiting cameras, radios and noise. "Voyagers" visit the place especially on days when cruise ships come in port at Philipsburg, (Thursday and Sundays are the worst).

This beach is 1.5 miles long. It has several shacks with food, drinks and several water sports. Plenty to choose from. My favorites are the Tiki Tiki and Pedro's. All have lounge chair and personalized treatment to their guest. Last year you could not pass the entrance sign or the famous stones naked to the rest of the beach. This year you are able to do so but can get caught on somebody's film! It's a fantastic walk! The whole beach is nudist as well. I was able to see several men more so than women completely naked along the shore between the shacks, few in their lounge chair areas. To walk the beach is an experience you should never miss out to do! The opposite end of the beach has a huge hotel called Mount Vernon. I understand prices are a little bit over. Remember that the high season is December 15 to March 31 of each year, so this period of time is the most expensive. Wish I had more photos on this beach that would be presentable.

L'Embouchure Beach & Coconut Grove: is at the backside of Orient Beach, in a separate bay, and separated by a lagoon. This is a family oriented beach, crystal blue waters and very shallow waters. Topless is allowed to the side where Coconut Grove is but not at the main beach. A small shack is available for meals and drinks; "soft" water sports are available. Not to many lounge chairs, but plenty of space and parking. Have seen people go nude at parking lot to change cloth, one way or another. Nice beach for snorkeling for all ages, small kids and non-swimmers.

Pinel Island: Is a small cay of the north shore of Orient Beach. Topless is allowed no nudity. Water sports for the wild one available on site. Only two beaches on the cay. The one giving to the bay is somewhat crowded. The one on the back has very rough waters. Maybe I would dare to go nude there! Never been to the cay but able to see it from a boat on my way to St. Barts. A small boat from Orient Beach, at the opposite end may transport you there for $15.00 per person.

Green Cay: is the smallest of the cays with a beach. Beautiful white sands with crystal blue waters in an isolated atmosphere. It is a secluded beach in front of Orient's Beach nude camp. You can be transported from same place to the cay for $10.00 per person. The backside of the cay is rocky and dangerous because of the high surf. You must take your food and refreshments with you. No shaded area on the beach. Very few people visit this cay in a daily basis.

Flat Cay: is a larger cay behind Green Cay. Some people call it Tintamere Cay. Never been there but definitively nudity allowed. Trip from Orient Beach as well for $15.00 to $20.00. No amenities are available on Flat Cay at all.

Tintamere Island: is a nude island almost as big as Sint Maarten is. You may take the nude cruise from Orient Beach. They take you to Pinel Island, Green Cay, and Flat Cay then to Tintamere. Food and drinks are included as well as all needs for snorkeling. The price for the trip is $80.00, reservation required a few days in advance. I have never done the trip but will love to do it, I've heard its an outstanding trip and good food. Several menus are available to choose before hand.

RESORTS AND HOTELS:

1. The Atrium Resort: is at Simpson Bay. Call 5995-42126 for info. Good.

2. Belair Beach Hotel: is at Little Bay Beach. Call 5995-23366 for info.

3. Divi Little Bay Beach: is at Philipsburg. Call 5995-22333 for info.

4. Flamingo Beach Resort: is also at Simpson Bay and for info call 5995-43900. Good.

5. La Vista: is at Pelican Key, call 5995-43005.

6. The Ocean Club Villas: is at Cupecoy Beach, call 5995-54431. Never been there but good choice!

7. The Ocean Club Waterview Apartments: same as above, same number.

8. Pelican Resort & Casino: is at Simpson Bay, call 5995-42503. Good!

9. Port de Plaisance Resort & Casino: is mid way Simpson bay and Marigot on the lagoon. No beach on site. Number to call is 5995-45222.

10. The Royal Islander Club la Plage: is also at Simpson Bay, calling 5995-52388. Good! 11. Royal Palm Beach Club at Simpson Bay, call 5995-43711.

12. Sapphire Beach Club at Cupecoy Beach, never been there but seems like a good choice. Call 5995-52179 for info.

13. Sint Maarten Sea Palace is on Front Street, Philipsburg. Call 5995-22700, not to private, very close to shops. Beautiful Conventional Beach.

14. Summit Resort Hotel is on Simpson Bay Lagoon. Not at beach, call 5995-52150.

15. The Towers at Mullet Bay are at Simpson Bay Lagoon as well, call 5995-53069.

Besides these resorts and hotels the island has several smaller hotels which are owned by families and are quite small and cheaper. They are at the Grand Case Beach, Oyster Pond Beach, and Philipsburg, Marigot and Simpson Bay areas. Of course you have Orient Beach Club and at the same beach on the opposite side Mount Vernon Hotel. May have missed some, sorry not intentional! LOL!

RESTAURANTS:

1. Grand Case has several excellent restaurants. Our favorites are IL Neptuno and Le Tastevan! Sorry for the spelling but don't recall correct spelling. We also enjoyed eating BBQ seafood at small shacks near a small bridge near IL Neptuno.

2. The Royal Marina has several excellent restaurants. This is a marina French style. They also have live music on certain nights. Very good! Meals excellent and ambiance as well.

3. Maho Beach area has few but exquisite restaurants. My favorite there is an Italian restaurant called 'de la Rosa. All waiters speak several languages and are very friendly. They gave us tips on where to go and which night.

4. The Simpson Bay area also has several restaurants. Our favorite there is Indiana Beach. They too have two party nights, which can get kind of wild after 11:00 PM. Drinks are two for the price of one, "happy hour style". Near by is the "Merengue Bar", nice for Latin music dancing.

5. Casinos are everywhere, if you like that lifestyle. I personally don't since I like to spend my money wisely!

SHOPS: they are available mostly at Philipsburg and Marigot. Grand Case and Simpson Bay areas have some as well. Best things to shop for are liquors, cheese, handcraft and jewelry. You most be careful what you are looking for since it's a different country and you have no copyright protection.

PLACES TO VISIT:

1. Pic Paradis, (Paradise Peak) the highest peak of the island. It is on route to your right from Marigot to Grand Case. The peak is 1500 feet high and gives you a spectacular view of the shore and other islands. Absolutely beautiful!

2. Marigot City not only for the shopping which I hate to do on vacation but to visit its streets, French style.

3. Philipsburg has more of cultural places to visit. The church in front of the port or marina is picturesque, a relic for future generations. A small stroll away is the Guavaberry shop. It's a place where you can buy their original liquor. Believe me it is good!

4. Marigot Fort which was used to protect the island from invaders centuries ago.

Wish I had more pictures for this presentation, but I think that you are better off taking the trip and enjoying it naked. Just a tease! Any questions please feel free to leave e-mail at beachgoer.

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