Why do I love going to nude beaches?

(CNN) – Full of nerves, I deliberately ditched my bikini before embarking on my first nude experience on the uninhabited island of Lokrum in Croatia.

It was the only way to be sure that the fear of undressing myself to strangers would not make me regret it at the last minute.

After browsing the rocky beach, located in the southeast part of the island, I stood on a rock right next to the water so that I could dive into it to cool off … or if I was embarrassed.

As the sun warmed my body, my anxiety about being naked in public was soon dissipated by the heat.

At that moment, a boat full of tourists with wide-angle cameras approached the shore. Amazed, I threw myself into the ocean, letting the deep blue of the sea protect me from their prying eyes.

Despite this unwelcome interruption, my love for nude beaches officially began that day in 2016, and I was soon looking for them wherever I went.

Darcy Tuscano, an educational development consultancy who lives a short distance from two nude beaches in southern Spain, is also a huge fan of the practice.

“It is a wonderful feeling to undress after a hot walk and run towards the sea. It’s very exhilarating, ”says Tuscano.

Unprejudiced

“My children grow up without being ashamed of their body and see all kinds of bodies and shapes that are displayed with pride, without shame or ‘puritanical conceit’. Being naked is not something sexual on a beach.

Travel writer Geena Truman believes that nude beaches help remove the social stigma around nudity.

“I like to get naked whenever I can in nature and I love a good nude beach,” she says. “It’s about freedom and being able to enjoy your body while immersing yourself in nature.”

This sentiment is shared by many others who regularly frequent nude beaches.

For me, being able to shake off my inhibitions, along with my bathing suit, has been a truly liberating experience.

By embracing my natural state and taking some vitamin D where the sun doesn’t (normally) shine, I accept and celebrate my body with all its blemishes.

It has also helped me to stop obsessing over tummy love handles, stretch marks, and acne scars. Nudist beaches feel like sacred spaces free of judgment.

“I feel really comfortable in my skin and a little self-conscious in a bikini,” says Truman. “I love how free I feel when I let the sun see my whole being.”

Allison Yates, study abroad coordinator, has also been able to overcome her bodily insecurities by sunbathing naked.

“Seeing that everyone else lives life in their bodies, I no longer let my insecurities control me,” says Yates.

“I dared to be naked because I was in a new place and I knew I would never see those people again.”

For those who have never been to a nude beach, but feel ready to take the plunge, there are some important things to keep in mind to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Liberating experience

First, make sure it is legal to be naked in public on the beach, and respect local laws.

It’s also a good idea to find a beach that has access to the services you may need, including restrooms and refreshments. I prefer a nude beach that is located away from non-nude beaches.

Some have physical barriers to separate beaches and many are unspoiled and wild beaches far from populated coastal areas.

According to Tuscano, the best nudist beaches are away from the busiest roads “so that there are no other people passing by and gawking.”

If you are concerned about the spectators, opt for a place like the nudist island Ada Bojana, in Ulcinj, Montenegro, where clothing is not optional: everyone is obliged to be naked.

All kinds of people enjoy nude beaches. I have seen families, groups of friends, individuals and couples of all ages, genders, ethnicities and sexualities enjoying a day in the sun without a bathing suit.

Nude beach resorts like Couples de Jamaica in Negril are a great option for first-time visitors as they are protected areas.

Whichever nude beach you visit, be sure to bring something to sit on, sunscreen, and appropriate clothing for the journey.

Don’t stare at other bathers. Be respectful to everyone around you and do not engage in sexual activity in public.

Although there are nude beach clubs and resorts for those who want to have fun in the nude, the atmosphere on these types of public beaches is usually relaxed. I usually go alone and I feel safe as people tend to take care of their own business and leave you alone.

Luckily, Chihuahua, Uruguay’s nudist beach where I live, has been open throughout the pandemic. I have spent many lovely days there alone, with LGBT friends and with my old girlfriend.

Liberty sensation

The first time Chris Roe, an international speech coach, was on a nude beach it was a bit awkward, but he says it soon became liberating and “a celebration of myself both inside and out.”

As an LGBT traveler, Roe feels a strong sense of inclusion, freedom, and connectedness to nature when visiting nude beaches.

“Any judgment is left out,” he says. “It is very powerful to claim ownership of the skin you are in. On the nude beaches, I am not separated from nature, I am part of it.

If you are nervous about sunbathing naked, Geena Truman recommends making the experience easier by going topless first.

And it’s important to remember that you can put the shirt on and walk away if you don’t like the experience. There is no shame that nude beaches are not your thing.

Some are exclusively for women. Ladies Beach, which is also in Ulcinj, remains my all-time favorite. Visitors cannot take photos here, so bathers can relax knowing their privacy is protected.

The beach also has high fences around the perimeter to protect the shore, preventing peepers from peeking inland.

Local women flock here to bathe in the sulphurous waters, as it is believed to increase fertility. Playa de las Damas also has natural medicinal mud, which you can apply yourself or enjoy a mud massage by the beach.

For those who have spent more than a year locked up at home due to the pandemic, the idea of ​​sunbathing on a nude beach can be very tempting.

The beaches are usually low risk, as long as they are not crowded, and the nude beaches are usually in isolated areas.

And nude bathers tend to respect the privacy of others, standing along the beach, so keeping your distance from others is not difficult.