PHOTOS: The World’s 10 Best Nude Beaches 2013

4917736990_dbb27580ab_b

Judging by the popularity of our World’s 10 Best Gay Beach list last week, it’s pretty clear that many of you can’t wait to rip off all of your clothes and soak up as much summer sun as possible.

So to help you legally go that one step further, we now present our 2013 list of the planet’s best nude beaches.

As with the gay beaches, please comment away if your favorite didn’t make the cut. We’ll be back in the coming weeks with our top reader beach picks.

Meanwhile, enjoy the clothing-optional view.

Photo by Christopher Cushman/www.epiphanynoir.com

Click through to see our 2013 picks for the world’s best nude beaches.

First up: San Diego’s Black’s Beach

8595067541_fcc13bff99_c

Black’s Beach, San Diego
Said to be America’s largest nude beach, Black’s is also the most famous in the U.S. About 15 miles north of downtown San Diego below the Torrey Pines bluffs of suburban La Jolla, Black’s Beach is co-run by the state of California and the city of San Diego. Only on the northern portion (the part under state jurisdiction) is nudity allowed.

6469814803_74ec2fbc29_z2

5807179338_a25aed6fcc_z2

screenshot

Photos by MamonovaDesignmaxwelldsurfingsano, Alexsander7

Next up: Miami’s Haulover

5409384877_88c20f96d5_z

Haulover Beach, Miami

Just 10 miles north of South Beach, Haulover is one of few nude beaches in Florida, and definitely the most popular. It boasts a mile and half of gorgeous oceanside sand, but only the northern half mile is clothing optional – frequented by everyone, but with a strong concentration of gay men.

4822626440_4d57d62fbe_z2

4822624400_5f839c07f3_z2

4822626962_aa448833eb_z

Photos by Elmo H. Love & osseous

Next up: San Francisco’s Baker

3991189270_e00dcb255b_z

Baker Beach, San Francisco

Fog and sometimes chilly temps notwithstanding, few nude beaches have as much going for them as Baker, with both extreme close proximity to downtown San Francisco and a dazzling view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s also the original home of Burning Man. The north end is where the clothing-less congregate.

3990428565_35ba946c57_z

3802567739_362b730ac9_z

3990427273_650ec88062_z

5367114321_3b1904a152_z

Photos by Ernesto Sarezale (1, 2 & 4), Orin ZebestPeter V. Hernandez

Next up: Toronto’s Hanlan’s Point

4917736990_dbb27580ab_b

Hanlan’s Point, Toronto

Naturists have loved Hanlan’s Point for decades, and since 2002 the beach has been legally clothing optional. The climate keeps beach season short here (usually late May to late September), but Hanlan’s offers lovely sands, clean water, and incredible views of downtown Toronto.

photo-of-hanlans-point

5035819525_8def455a93_z

8450951639_676e17d3bd_z2

Photos by Mardi Reid, Terry W. SelfGoldenSkyclad

Next up: Australia’s Obelisk

6860408299_891ec0b48c_z

Obelisk Beach, Mosman, Australia

Only about seven miles from Sydney’s city center, clothing optional Obelisk is just as close as Bondi/North Bondi, and it’s infinitely more tranquil. On the other side of Port Jackson harbor, Lady Jane is another naturist beach that’s popular with local gays, but also with tourist lookie-loos.

5419169170_07eeec278a_b

6860398273_4166a34245_z

6860403253_cff2e1ac66_z

Photos by mcgrayjr AndyCavell

Next up: South Africa’s Sandy Bay

Screen-shot-2012-07-02-at-7.25.34-PM

Sandy Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

It’s a bit tricky to reach (10 miles southwest of central Cape Town, then a 20-minute trek from the car park), but it’s so worth it: The beauty here in one of the area’s last undeveloped coastlines is breathtaking, and its relative remoteness means the atmosphere is extremely low key.

3246659005_f143abaed4_z

Sandy Bay Nudist Beach Cape Town

Screen-shot-2012-07-02-at-7.25.10-PM

Photos by DrUbLiC & garybembridge

Next up: Maui’s Little Beach

3508952296_0fb2070223_b2

Little Beach, Maui

True to its name, Little Beach is just over 650 feet long. But it’s one of Hawaii’s few nudity-kosher beaches, and the one most beloved by the gays (and the hippies, both diehards and neos). Part of Maui’s Makena State Park, Little is separated from Big Beach by a steep lava outcrop created just a couple hundred years ago. Come on Sunday for fire dancing and drum circles.

Screen-shot-2012-07-02-at-7.08.58-PM2

4398004718_0bd1b88682_z

little

Photos by zsl_12, abragraceimposedminority

Next up: Vancouver’s Wreck

6043881013_0466892fc1_z

Wreck Beach, Vancouver

The second biggest clothing optional beach in North America, Wreck gets more than 100,000 visitors every year. It’s city-close (even reachable by Vancouver’s bus system), but a steep cliff and nearly 500 steps keep it private. Even more private are the adjacent woods – men are known to get especially friendly here, but this is officially verboten.

5229595825_8807abac95_z

Screen-shot-2012-07-10-at-5.05.21-PM

Photos by GoToVanMardi Reidbjnudeclub

Next up: Rio’s Abricó

2124884630_f1c3aa4cf3_z3

Praia do Abricó, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Located some 25 miles west of Ipanema and Copacabana in the suburban Rio town of Grumari, Praia do Abricó (or Apricot Beach) has been popular with naturists since the 1940s. This is Rio’s official nude beach, but distance keeps the big crowds away, making for a wonderfully peaceful vibe.

88181640_721c1d6ccd_z2

6866623674_d1b5e125b8_z

Photos by Portfolio Beto Romacirobess@Claudio Marcon

Next up: New Jersey’s Gunnison

beach600

Gunnison Beach, Sandy Hook, New Jersey

Nudism is officially illegal in New Jersey, but fortunately Gunnison lies on U.S. land (part of a fort once used to protect New York harbor), allowing it to be the only official naturist beach in the state. Since the 1970s it’s been the New York City area’s favorite clothing-free beach. 55 miles separate it from downtown Manhattan by land, but a twice-daily ferry runs in summer, making it just a 30-minute trip to nearby Atlantic Highlands Marina.

Screen-shot-2012-07-02-at-6.48.24-PM

200768094_2ad8526750_z

 

Photo 3 by Sister72

Don't forget to share:

Your support makes our travel guides possible

We believe that LGBTQ+ people deserve safe vacations that allow them to be their authentic selves. That's why our City Guides aren't locked behind a paywall. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated