Lifestyle Press

Not one, but two different apartment developments boast their own nudist sun terraces near the spectacular cliffs of Los Gigantes at Puerto de Santiago, on Tenerife. The Vigilia Park has two swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, gymnasium and mini golf, as well as a dedicated nudist area. And there’s also a secluded naturist terrace on the roof at the nearby Apartments Dragos del Sur.

Sandra has been in touch with information about a popular nude bathing spot on the Costa del Silencio, on the south-west coast of Tenerife. She and her partner were staying at the Amarilla Bay Apartments, overlooking Yellow Mountain across the bay and about 20 minutes’ walk away. Apparently, it’s not really a beach but a secluded area of nearly flat rocks where folk strip off to enjoy the sun. It can be reached by walking – including rock-hopping – around the coast, or by taking the path down from the top of Yellow Mountain. More info about the area and a mention of the nude bathing on eTenerife.com

As part of its property portfolio Lazydays Holidays based on Fuerteventura offers a selection of apartments and villas described as suitable for naturists. All the nude-friendly accommodation is located on the northern side of the island.  

British owners Phil & Sandra offer accommodation at their apartment within the El Balcon del Cotillo development, on the Canary island of Fuerteventura (World’s Best Nude Beaches page 152). Although the complex is textile, it’s at the edge of the attractive clothes-optional lagoons beach just to the north of El Cotillo – visitors report it’s possible to walk from the apartment to the shore without needing to get dressed.

On the outskirts of Corralejo, in the village of La Capellania, Amanda Johnson offers accommodation at Chywartowan – a one-bedroomed property. The holiday home has a large secluded and furnished rear patio garden suitable for discreet nude sunning. It’s also only a short drive from the clothes-optional beaches at Corralejo and El Cotillo (World’s Best Nude Beaches pages 151-152).

This 3-bedroomed single storey villa at Macher on the Canary island of Lanzarote is described as ‘naturist-friendly’. Finca Ensuenos is situated in a quiet rural location; the walled courtyard and heated pool make it ideal for sunning au naturel and skinny-dipping.

La Palma, one of the smaller Canary Islands, north-west of Tenerife, now has its own official naturist beach on the sunny west coast. The black sand bay at Playa de las Monjas on the southern outskirts of the resort of Puerto Naos has clear signposting and attracts plenty of nude sunbathers. The beach is accessed down a short flight of steps from the road.

We have also identified two mainstream textile hotels on this lush sub-tropical island that offer dedicated nudist facilities. The 4-star Hotel La Palma Princess & Spa at Fuencaliente (article in The Observer) in the far south has a naturist area which includes a sauna, and the 3-star Aparthotel Las Olas at Los Cancajos, near the island capital of Santa Cruz, has a terrace reserved for relaxing au naturel. The recent introduction of direct flights from mainland Europe and the UK has made La Palma more accessible; both hotels are served by the British tour operator Thomson Holidays.

The modern 4-star Hotel Gloria Palace Amadores, at Puerto Rico on the southwest coast of Gran Canary, now has its own secluded nudist area for guests. The hotel is a sister property to the older Hotel Gloria Palace  at nearby San Agustin, which also has an au naturel terrace (and is listed in the World’s Best Nude Beaches – page  159). Hotel Gloria Palace Amadores is available through Sovereign Holidays in the UK.

Villa Helena and Villa Victor are two new properties with their own private swimming pools at Oliva, towards the north of the island of Fuerteventura. Described as “Ideal for naturists and away from the crowds”, the properties are 10 minutes’ drive from the nude beaches at El Cotillo and 15 minutes from the Corralejo dunes – Playa Grandes.

Not far away, the British-owned ‘Lijori Apartment’ in the Cotillo Sol development at El Cotillo, has a large private roof terrace for naturist sunbathing. A choice of clothes-optional beaches is available within walking distance.

Still on Fuerteventura, but on the south-east coast at Costa Calma, the Aparthotel Morasol complex boasts a nudist solarium with far reaching views over the Atlantic for sunbathing au naturel.

Apatmentos Oceano is a modernised aparthotel on the sea-front at Punta del Hidalgo, close to Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. There is a private nudist terrace and Playa de las Gaviotas nude beach (page 155) is not too far away.