Clothing Optional beaches in Cayo Largo
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Cayo Largo is a small key located at the southeastern end of the Canarreos archipelago (which belongs to Cuba). The islet is approximately 80 km south of the main island of Cuba. This small limestone island is 28 km long and no more than 3 km wide. Find white sand beaches stretch out along the south coastline for more than 20 kms. The north coast is mostly mangroves and salt pans.
Cayo Largo has no permanent inhabitants (except for birds and iguanas of course! Cubans come to Cayo Largo only to work in the hotels. They work for 20 continuous days and then go back to their families at Isla de la Juventud (Island of Youth), or other cities on the main Island of Cuba, for the rest of the month. Although we have been visiting Cayo Largo only since 1999, we learned naturism on the beaches of Cayo Largo is a reality of this destination since the beginning of the tourist rise of this small islet in the early 80's.
It exists in Cayo Largo a very peaceful cohabitation between the naturists and non-naturists. Although there is no beach in the hotel zone which is « officially » designated as nude beach, the naturist areas were always created spontaneously by the tourists at the extremity of the beach of certain hotels.
In addition to the beaches close to the hotels, there are also in Cayo Largo several kilometers of virgin beaches for those who prefer naturism in private. These endless beaches also make the joy of those who wish to take long walks. Cayo Largo has been voted the most beautiful naturist beach in the UK Bare Beaches guidebook (June 2004 edition). Cayo Largo has also been awarded no.4 out of 100 preferred destinations and no.2 in the Caribbeans by tourists in 2008, according to tripadvisor.
Naturists always seem to gather mainly at the following locations ...
(click thumbnails to view full size image of the nude areas in Cayo Largo)
Sol Cayo Largo |
Sol Pelicano |
Villa Lindamar |
Hôtel Playa Blanca |
Here is a general description of the clothing optional beaches in Cayo Largo ...
Total kilometers of nude beaches in Cayo Largo = 21 km !
We truly think that Cayo Largo is the ideal place for a first naturist experiment, for several reasons. The wild & natural beauty of this Cayo along with its endless beaches provides a feeling of freedom. It is hard to explain with words you have to live off it to understand! Most people will be tempted to try the feeling to be without bathing suit under the sun due to :
If you wish to venture on the deserted beaches of the east or from the Sol Cayo Largo down to Playa Paraiso, it is important to bring with you a good supply of water, sunscreen, hat and even a sarong to cover you up, because under a blazing sun, the risk of burns is very high especially in areas that are not accustomed to being exposed to the sun. Be careful!
Before fall of 2001, the hotel Villa Capricho (and its beach) was the place of predilection of the naturists. However, unfortunately this tiny hotel was destroyed by the hurricane Michelle on November 4th, 2001. The hotel was never rebuilt.
Since 2002 new habits were slowly created again. The Villa Lindamar seems to have now become the preferred choice for many naturists in replacement of the Villa Capricho BUT this resort is no longer available for Canadian. The Italian tour operators have an exclusive contract with the hotel as for Isla del Sur. In Cuba, there are no « official » clothing optional beaches.
www.cayolargo.net
Opening date: February 2000
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