TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Cupecoy Clothing Optional Beach

For the past 10+ years call us boring but we've only got to Orient Beach/Club O.

I knew of Happy Bay but honestly had no interest when I heard about the hike and lack of facilities.

I just read that Cupecoy is a CO beach as well. I was wondering if anyone could advise if this is true and whether there is parking, chairs, food/booze and thoughts on going there versus Orient.

It's on the Dutch side so not officially CO but some do. There is parking, chairs, food/booze there also at Danys.

Look for the Cupecoy Beach Bar sign between Blue Mall and Porto Cupecoy, of course across the road. You'll find Dany and he will let you know which beach has sand as there is a series of 4 beaches there. Seldom crowded, $5 to park there by the bar but you can park next to the half demolished Ocean Club for free and walk in. As to bathroom facilities I share this comment from another travel forum

"I like the bathroom situation at Cupecoy Beach Bar. My wife had to go to the bathroom so I asked Dany. He looked me up and down and said, "For you?!" and I said "My wife" and he pointed to an outhouse kind of thing. Later I had to go too so I went to him again and he pointed to the bushes. I walked in there and he followed me and said "Not on my garden!!" and we were both laughing. He pointed me to a different spot and said, "Okay, that's good". I came out of the shrubs still laughing and he was too."

There now is an actual clean "port-a-potty with running water. Ask Dany for the key.

Not sure if the nude side has much sand most of the time but still nice. Ask or the price of chair rental first. Sometimes the lady charges $7 a chair then then next time Danny says $10 for one chair which is expensive to me. To me Charging to park is anti good business if you want more customers. You don’t pay at any other beach. But still it’s a great spot.

Dany has to pay the landlord for the road and parking area so he is just recouping that cost. You don't have to park there, there is free parking elsewhere if you don't mind the walk.

There is no nude side, all the beaches there are CO

Yeah I heard that has to pay the landlord story before. Dany has done a great job there I just think he needs to recoup all his costs from his chair , food and bev sales not by charging a few. Almost Everyone drives there and to charge for parking to me is just a bad business idea when you have so much available. It does not keep me from going but I know others that will not pay it and go elsewhere. IMO

It's not a story. Plenty folks don't pay and they still have a great day with Dany, so all is good.

I feel the same way. Cost of doing business. If you want to recoup then charge more for chairs etc.

I think there is a lot more sand at cupecoy in the summer. Never have seen much sand in the winter

Um, no. Technically it isn't. It's on the Dutch side where there is no such thing as CO. Just people who prefer to treat it that way

Has been used CO for decades, technically or not.

Uh - we made the first of our at least once annual visits in 1973 and the beaches at Cupecoy were known to be USED as clothing optional even way back then. But at the same time, we were always told it was not legally designated as such and if anyone wanted to make a fuss, the CO practitioners would be found to be in the wrong. I’ve read some of the owners of newer properties developed in the area along those beaches have complained vocally but I have never read the practices have been disallowed nor has anyone has been punished for doing so.

Does that help at all to further muddy the waters there.

IMPO, that’s a great spot for CO usage and I’m a firm believer in live and let live as long as you do no harm.

Been using it for decides and love it. Improves every year. Main beach and baby beach both used C/O, Good food, drink, chairs, and umbrellas. GO.

If Cupecoy is having a bad sand day, and you're still looking for an alternative to Orient Beach, don't totally rule out Happy Bay. I agree that the facilities there are almost non-existent, but IMO it's the most beautiful stretch of beach on St. Martin. Gorgeous white sand with no sea weed when I was there, and waves that were far less intimidating the those I have encountered on Orient. So, you have to pack a small cooler and bring along a portable beach umbrella but it's something everyone who visits St. Martin should experience at least once. The trail hike from Friar's isn't that daunting if you wear the correct footwear; just take your time and enjoy some of the views which are outstanding. An iguana or two will also greet you along the way! Once the path opens up and this beautiful beach appears the first thing that I noticed was that no one was on it, not a soul and I walked it back-and-forth. On the western end of the beach there are residual boulders and rock formations for those who may be seeking some privacy, but you can stroll this beach in your birthday suit and lay out wherever you desire. It's a nice place to reconnect with nature! And, you can park in the lot at Friar's without charge and even catch a bite there afterwards when you hike back. Just a suggestion.

Only one correction to your suggestion Sammy .... you really cannot stroll this beach in your birthday suit on certain days. i.e Weekends as many locals come out with their families and open nudity is frowned on. We are guests to their island and should respect this. I will add that the "other" Danny at Happy Bay is quite a character. He does a pretty good job of taking care of lunch. Very "island" like , such as a can of mixed vegetables in his potato salad. I kid you not though it is terrific.

When there is sand, Cupecoy is one of our favorite places to relax for a day. Dany is fantastic, and as far as business practice he has been there a long time and seems to be doing something right. Rent a chair or not, drink from his bar or not, eat his food or not, park in his maintained area or not. No hassle all good, but it certainly is not for everybody.
Smooth

Good point, Surick. I've only been to Happy Bay on weekdays. Last time was a Thursday earlier this year and I essentially had the beach to myself. But, I do believe there still are remote areas as I mentioned above away from the main beach that would not be a problem if someone wanted to lay out without a suit on. Over where the high rocks are.

Kc couple is correct. Usually is more sand in spring and summer at Cupecoy. As for parking, yes there is a 5 dollar parking charge and of course Dany and his food and drinks. For those who wish to park for free, you can; depending on which direction you are coming from, park right after passing the Sapphire go off the road and bear left where I forget the name of the small hotel next to Sapphire is and park for free. You just have to walk about a 300 yards before you see Dani's set up. You will pass the baby beaches which are C/O to your left. There are stairs available to get there. Right past Dani is the big C/O beach. We were there in December and no sand. We sat on the rocks. Coming in from the French side, pass the Blue mall and as the road bears right, turn hard right off the road and into the lot for your free parking.
A nice alternative though no amenities is Baie Rouge. Go west for about 100 yards and you can go nude. Sad thing is though on Rouge the villas have been ravaged by the storm with no sign of being re-built. Hence the issues on the French side. You can see my previous post from December of the state the villas are in. A real shame!

You keep referring to it as C/O but in reality no beach on the Dutch side is officially C/O. It's just tolerated.

It is referred to as a C/O beach because it is tolerated, allowed, welcomed, etc. Has been for more years than most of us have gone to the island, let it go, let it be.

By tourists but local residents and traditional Dutch-side customs would not appreciate it.

Many of the people who frequent that beach, including Dany, who operates the concessions there, are local residents. As Todd says, it's been accepted as a clothing optional beach for decades.

And with Dany running a business there, I can see why he would accept it.

I'm always amazed at how the tourists like to force their nudity on others who might like to enjoy the beach that is not clothing optional.

Cupecoy has always been used as a c/o beach, since we started coming to SXM in 1987. Regardless, neither side will convince the other on this one, so will close it here.