Naturist holidays in Spain

It’s all very well being happy – if not happier – with your clothes off, but Britain’s not exactly the balmiest place to be doing it. France, lovely; Italy, wonderful; Greece, spectacular. But Spain is also up there with the best when it comes to naturist holidays. Why? It’s warm for much of the year, it has a host of great resorts to its name, and its beaches and varied landscapes – well, they speak for themselves. As for the nudist part – if you’ve never gone without clothes or swimwear on holiday before, it’s a great place to start. If you have, then you’ll probably have heard of some of the destinations listed below – though there may be a surprise or two; they’re not all purely for naturists.

Lastly, it’s probably worth having a chat with your holiday homeowner if it’s not explicit that it’s in a designated naturist resort; you’ll be staying in a holiday rental, and not everyone’s comfortable with beauty stripped bare. Aside from that, and the obvious rules of conduct (don’t stare or snap photos; sit on towels and carry a sarong; report unusual behaviour, and clap if bushes are moving; guys, it happens to the best of you – just take a dip in the sea!), enjoy and have fun. It’s only a holiday – just without clothes.

Playa de Las Catedrales, Ribadeo, Spain

Naturist holidays in Costa Natura, Estepona

Costa Natura was the first official naturist resort ever to be opened in Spain. Today, that doesn’t mean it’s old hat (though hats are, in truth, probably one of the more common forms of clothing you’ll see around the area…); far from it – the sun-drenched ‘Nature Coast’ has recently undergone a fantastic transformation. Situated in Estepona, along the Costa del Sol, you’ll find many of its naturist properties (of which there are over 200 in total) listed in Estepona West – but they’re amidst non-naturist apartments, so read up before you book!

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Naturist holidays in Vera Playa, Almeria

Bigger and perhaps more crowded than Costa Natura is Vera Playa, Almeria, one of Europe’s year-round naturist resorts due to its desert-like climate. A sort of naturist zone rather than resort, it comprises over a 1-milestretch of sand, some 2,000 apartments, public streets and a promenade – so there should be room for you and your brood. The privately owned apartments are situated in 12 different ‘urbanizacions’, each with its own pool and gardens. The beach is superb, with mountains on the horizon, and seas that sit at a balmy 20°C in August. The facilities – from restaurants in the naturist area to hourly bus services that run to nearby towns like Garrucha – are excellent.

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Calle Punta de Papagayo, Yaiza, Spain

Naturist holidays in Charco del Palo, Lanzarote

Apartments in Charco del Palo are lovely. Part of the only ‘official’ naturist resort in Lanzarote, they’re set along its northeast coast, on the doorstep of the sea spray and scatterings of black volcanic rock. They’re also just steps from sheltered tidal pools where you can swim safely in the nude, depending on whether it’s filling or emptying with the tide. As for the resort itself, it’s become the norm for holidaymakers to go ‘textile’ for shopping and eating out (that’s dressed, to non-naturists) – but the beach is what you came for, right?

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Naturist holidays in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

Set at the southern tip of Gran Canaria, Maspalomas is less a naturist resort, and more a resort with designated areas for naturists; these are clearly marked with signs (F.K.K is the one to look for), so there are no ‘Can we strip off here?’ worries. Around 800 metres east of the main beach, the nudist area starts; it’s here you’ll find the huge sand dunes Maspalomas is famed for, stretching to Playa del Ingles next door. Thankfully, there are some trees and scrub around so you can shelter yourself if any wind comes, but you can usually expect temperatures hovering close to the 30°C mark in summer. Away from the beach, it’s not really a peace-and-quiet sort of place – and it couldn’t be described as authentically Spanish.

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Playa de Las Canteras, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

Naturist holidays in Puerto de Mazarron

Puerto de Mazarrón is on the Costa Calida, or ‘warm coast’, so it’s already a welcoming prospect. This even extends to the winter, thanks to a microclimate that sees temperatures consistently above 15°C. Diving, dolphin watching, delightful attractions: there are plenty more reasons to visit, of course. It is, again, not a nudist resort but an area with several nudist bays on offer. There are 31 beaches in total, but only those on the outreaches of the centre are suitable; often rocky and wild, they can be found along the road from Bolnuevo to Cañada de Gallego. The track to reach them is not for the fainthearted (think wild naturism!), but a little different to the other recommended destinations.

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