Nudist beaches

[gabrielgdl]

Hi! My family and I are nudists.
We've been twice in Tulum. First time we've stayed at Posada Margherita, and made nudism from there to Maya Tulum. We've found some other nudists (very few) and sometimes we felt that some people saw us like if we were disgusting for them. We went to Copal beach, and there of course we felt very comfortable in the nude, but that beach isn't the best of Tulum. We've visited Playa Paraiso but didn't dare to skinnydipping because we didn't see a nudist; lots of topfree ladies, but no nudists.
Which are the beaches (other than Copal's) where nudies can feel comfortable and without disgust other beachcombers?
We have plans for going there next November.
Thanks for your info.
Gabrielgdl.

[petecat]

We will be in Tulum Nov 10th to the 20th and have been there at other times, we have been on the beach in front of Nueva Vida and South of there and have seen nudists that had no problem, we often sun bathe nude and go in and out of the water from the beach, but we normally take very long walks on the beach in the afternoon and both myself and my wife wear our bottoms for the walks.

[austxdan]

Hi Gabrielgdl,

Can you expand a little on your comments about the beach at Copal?

My wife and I are planning our first trip to Tulum next May for our 6th anniv, and based upon reading great things I was angling towards staying at Copal. We spent too much time "running around" this year on Isla and Cozumel, so for next year we pretty much just want to flop on the beach and relax. Would you not recommend Copal for this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Ginger]

Here's a couple photos taken at Cabanas Copal:

http://www.gingersadventures.com/photography/drive/images/112_1241.jpg

http://www.gingersadventures.com/photography/drive/images/112_1240.jpg

http://www.gingersadventures.com/photography/drive/images/112_1242.jpg

You'll see the beach is down below.

[chunky]

On Petecat's recommendation, my wife and I also stayed at Nueva Vida for half our vacation. Great beach with nudism ok. There were very few people around when we were there and several in the area were nude or topless on the beach and some walking the beach nude. We did sunbathe nude, but walked the beach topless. It seemed that some people would walk down the beach to this area and then get naked! This is a great place, but not all the comforts of home.... a little more rustic, but we loved it.

[gabrielgdl]

"...so for next year we pretty much just want to flop on the beach and relax. Would you not recommend Copal for this?"

I recommend Copal and his neighbor and partner Azulik (higher level). Even I must accept that there are better beaches in the area and much better restaurants than Copal's. That's the reason I'm looking for alternatives to Copan, that doesn't mean I'd not come back there. Here is a trip report about my last trip, so you'll have a my opinion.


Taking advantage of a business trip to Cancun, I’ve decided make a tour for Cabañas Copal, in Tulum, for make an evaluation of the hotel and decide about a future vacation with my family next summer.



I’ve arrived at 1:00 PM of Thursday June 20, in a van from the airport ($30 USD. In shared service), after a 75 minutes run on a nice highway. I didn’t make reservation but have checked in their web page, finding enough availability. Oceanfront cabins were all booked, but I could obtain a garden view very near from beach, for $50. USD. Cabin is small, circular, very rustic, with an excellent king size bed protected by a mosquito net; after two steps is the bathroom with washbasin, WC and a sea shell instead shower. Roof is high, made of palm tree and some windows have mosquito net instead of glass, so cabin is very fresh. They haven’t electricity, but there are enough candles and matches.



At front desk there is a sign with nudism policies in Copal, by the way, only in English: We consider Copal to be a clothing optional facility. You are welcome to be nude on the beach, on the sandy terraces, and among the cabañas. We only ask that you wear simple clothing, such as a sarong, for dining in the restaurant. So as soon I’ve arrived to my cabin I took my clothes off, put myself sun block lotion, and taking towel, book and hat, I went immediately to the beach, after go down through 8 log steps.



Beach is great, with moderated waves, clear water and fine and white sand. In some parts there are rocks, but after some minutes you’ll find an ideal place for stay into the sea. There isn’t shadow, but a lonely palm tree, so I thought it have been a good idea bring an umbrella. Weather was semi cloudy, hot, with moments of intense sun radiation.



Hotel was at less than 50% of its capacity. There were an average of 20 people at beach, at least half of them nude; rest of women top free. Actually, it was rare see a bikini top in my 26 hours of stay at Copal. Guests were mostly American, with some European and few Mexican. They say that nationalities vary from season to season (summer is mainly of Europeans). For lunch I ate very good shrimp tacos ($10) and a beer ($2), at the snack bar besides the beach, which has some chairs and tables looking to the sea. I’ve spent rest of the afternoon at beach, ending at a very comfortable chaise lounge with a sticks roof, existing at least two of them upstairs in front of beach.



At 7 PM. is the temascal session. I’ve reserved for it ($20). It’s a very interesting prehispanic ceremony; there were 6 participants, obtaining a good relaxation, physic and spiritual. We ended at 9, after a fresh shower and a tea with honey, very tonificant.

I went to restaurant for a light dinner (a good Yucatan soup made of chicken, tortilla and lemon), and read for about an hour at a nice hut with comfortable chairs and electric illumination before going to bed. I’ve slept for almost 9 hours continuous.



Next morning I had breakfast at restaurant (excellent service, mediocre food, great coffee) and came back to the beach. I’ve made conversation with some people like me, enjoying the experience.

For lunch I had a shrimp and fish ceviche, very insipid, and got prepared for check out. Check out time is at noon, but I could negotiate a late one paying extra $20.



This is my personal evaluation of Copal, in a scale of 1 to 10:



Buildings (if you are not expecting luxury) 9.0

Staff: 10.0

Food: 7.0

Beach: 9.0

Ambiance / nudism: 10.0

Value: 9.0

[austxdan]

gabrielgdl,

Thanks for the reply and the trip report.

We are not picky as far as accomodations go, and while I did look at Azulik's website I figure the $$$ saved staying at Copal can go to 'quite a few' massages, mineral baths, margaritas, etc.

Even better news: based upon reading other reviews of places in and around Tulum, we've decided to expand our stay next May from the traditional 7 days to about 10 or 11, so we can venture out and still get our "do nothing" time in. Perhaps we'll also hit some of the other beaches mentioned while using Copal as our 'home base'.

Again, thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions.

[gabrielgdl]

Dear Dan:

I'm glad the report was useful for you. You're right, it's better spend less at Copal and use it for massages and temazcal (it worths) than in Azulik.
Have a nice trip.
Gabriel

[heater]

hi -
my husband and i stayed at azulik in their honeymoon suite for two nights in may. the beach just steps down from our cabana was wonderful, quiet and peaceful. although azulik is adults only. it shares a stretch of beach with the neighboring hotel and i saw families on the beach who were guests there.
another fabulous beach that we visited was tankah beach club. it's become one of my favorite spots. there is a large mostly freshwater lagoon (a cenote feeds up water into the lagoon) and water from the caribbean feeds into it and creates a wave pool. it's the perfect place to spend a day swimming or just stopping by for a dip.