Baie Orientale Beach

Orient Bay, or in French "Baie Orientale", sweeps around a blue cove, facing east, as the name suggests. The 2 mile long, white powdered sand beach is protected from the Atlantic waves by a reef, and the bottom has a very gradual slope. The area has been recognized as a marine reserve, so snorkeling in the marine park is just incredible. There is also great snorkeling off nearby Caye Verte (Green Key), one of the small beautiful islands dotting the coast, such as Tintamarre and Pinel Island do.

Orient Bay is the most developed, the most popular and the busiest beach on the island, probably the most famous beach in the entire Caribbean. The beach is reputed as much for its natural beauty and setting as it is for being the island´s foremost swimsuit optional beach.

Orient Bay is loaded with water sportsfacilities including parasailing, waterskiing and snorkeling. Snorkeling equipment is also available at several places on the beach, just as many other amenities.

Lined with tiki huts, colorful beach chairs and restaurants, the sands of Orient are always full of action! Many compare Orient Bay to the French Riviera, the "Saint Tropez of St Martin" with its pampering services and ambiance.

More in the middle of the beach you will find the local hangout with restaurants and live bands playing great music.

The Bay actually consists of five main beaches, called the "5 stars of Orient Bay" Kontiki, Kakao, Bikini Beach, Waikiki and Coco Beach, named after their respective beach bars and each next to another. In fact, Orient Bay boasts of numerous restaurants and bars along the beach, a panoply of water sport activities, boutiques and shops, hotels and resorts. Some of the bars are trendy hangouts, such as Boo Boo Jam or the Baywatch.

Orient Beach is a truly majestic setting with the mountains rising up all around. Not to mention the beautiful tiny islands of Green Key, Tintamarre and Pinel Island just off shore.

The major attraction of Orient Bay is of course the nude beach and the world´s famous Club Orient, the island´s only naturist resort at the southern end of the beach.

Clothing is optional in front of the Club, though the nude beach there is open to the public. The northern end of the beach, near the hotels, has more clothing, but in fact you may encounter nude sunbathers anywhere. The highest concentration of naked people however is at Club Orient.

Here you can stroll in the surf and view garbed and ungarbed sun-worshippers in all shapes and sizes passing by. Strains of Salsa, Samba, or Merengue music waft over you from the trendy bars that are dotting the beach.

But Orient Bay it is not only a nudist´s paradise. It is a beach with non-stop action, all the great watersports and watersports equipment, and lot´s of food and refreshment choices as well. Whether you are into playing all day or catching some rays while sipping a Pina Colada, Orient Bay is worth a visit!

The waters are calm and perfect to see what lies below, and perfect for children as well.

Get a tan while you eat local lobster and learn to dance the Merengue. After lunch rent a jetski, go parasailing or participate in a local Hobbie Cat race.

There is even a nude cruise, which appears to allow some sun-worshippers to get sunburn on literally all parts of their bodies. So where ever you are on Orient Bay, never forget to put on enough sunblocker!