TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Happy Bay

Is Happy Bay beach really worth the effort to get there? Read somewhere it’s like a 45 minute hike!! 😀

Depends on what you mean by "worth the effort". If you want a reasonable deserted beach where clothing optional is common and want to make the MAYBE 15 minute hike over the hill seeing a decent number of iguanas enroute then "Yes"..if not, then "no". No pampering at Happy Bay...you are on your own for most everything. Occasionally there is a place open for drinks and food .

Yes, looking for clothing optional so thanks, 15 minutes shouldn’t be SO bad if we can find it!! LOL

Friar's Bay....walk to the east end...rocky path up the hill....decent views on the way

Thanks!!

i think it's funny how some people make it sound like it's a treacherous mountain crossing...it's not....my wife and i are not sherpas, and from car to sand, in flip-flops, carrying a cooler full of beer, wine/champagne, and ice, in less than 15 minutes

Figures people would do that! THANKS

Yup...I wouldn't trust flip flops but I do wear sandals with an ankle strap with zero issues...and on our last trip we were passed by a French mountain biker flying by.....really....on a bike...obviously with a death wish

it's not really clothing optional. It's usually tolerated.

clothing optional just go to club orient end of beach. Food, bathroom & great people.

Correct

Anywhere else beside club O beach you can be naked?

I agree 15 minute hike from Friar's or the "parking lot" off of Happy Bay Rd. I hike the paths in the morning with tennis shoes but if it's a beach day we just wear flip flops. This past trip, maybe a total of 20 people coming and going, over half clothing optional. In years past I've never noticed the numbers that high at least when we've been there.

Many people are naked at Dany's beach at Cupecoy.

Is that true for the other beaches at Cupecoy? Always wondered if it would be appropriate to go c/o on Cupecoy if others nearby were wearing swimwear....since it is not 'officially' c/o. Same with a private pool that is viewable from nearby villas/condos....would it be considered inappropriate to sunbathe c/o?

Cupecoy is traditionally c/o throughout the beach area, but there have been a huge number of new condos built in that area in recent years. For ME, personally, I would not feel comfortable being nude in a private pool that is viewable from nearby villas and condos. Your mileage may vary.

The three beaches beyond Ocean Club are traditionally C/O. Have been for years.

Traditionally.............and illegal.

And law never enforced there.

So that makes it legal??

We've been visiting the island every year since 1973 and Cupecoy has always been illegal for c/o use but at the same time it has always been locally accepted as the ONLY DUTCH beach where c/o was accepted, legal or not. I seem to recall the police being summoned a few times right after the luxury condos were built on the beach there, the owners taking umbrage to their view but I also believe the police came and admonished the offenders accordingly, making them aware of the restrictions of usage but that was the extend of what we heard. There was no punishment and the beach went back to being c/o as it always was. There were stories of similar complaints from the owners of the Blue Mall but I never knew anyone who knew this as fact.

Always make it a point to visit Cupecoy when we visit. We always go au natural. Police have come by while we were there. Never said a word to us or anyone else who also happened to be naked. As far as the villas built on the beach where Dany sets up, most seasoned travelers know that Cupecoy caters to nude sunbathers so you rent at your own risk. The many times we have been there, most times usually couples have rented there. And yes, knowing the vibe they went nude in the villa's pool and on the deck. Baie Rouge is also pretty nice for CO use at the west end. Fairly deserted though since Gus and Raymond are gone. Again, bring your own supplies as you are on your own. The west end is lined with what were once beautiful villas. But since Hurricane Irma destroyed the island, they haven't been rebuilt. I don't think the insurance companies want to pay for the damage or at least that's what we were told when we were down there last in 2019. Just a disclaimer for all the armchair lawyers, Baie Rouge is not officially or legally CO but it is practiced by several tourists and locals without issue.

I guess it all depends on whether you prefer to sit with/next to a crowd of 50-60 other CO beach goers (we did twice in January...decent) OR go to a beach and have it reasonably unpopulated (we did that four times at HB)....totally different vibe..totally your preference and "legality" has never been a factor in my many years BUT if you are worried about maybe being arrested/chastised (really?) then hang at Orient...more services and a great experience

Edit: I should add....same deal with Baie Rouge vs. HB

Agree with Joecool and boucharda. Happy Bay always tolerated c/o at the far left ot far right sides of the beach. I might add we have gone c/o at plum bay over the years too. Have even seen it down at the far end of Long Bay. The back side beach of pinel island is a good choice for c/o also. Back side of pinel you will have it all to yourself most of the time.

All on the French side.

Correct. I don't get it. Tolerated is not the same as welcomed but to each their own.