Despite the fact that top-free bathing for women is common and accepted on the French island of Martinique, there are no beaches where full nudity is legal. Martinique tends to be more conservative than other islands of the French West Indies, so discretion is required anywhere you find a place where nudity seems possible.

The adjacent but smaller and more secluded beach immediately west of Les Salines (pinpointed with the green placemark) is Petite Anse des Salines, or "Petites Salines" for short, and it is widely known as the gay beach of Martinique. Nudity is very common on Petites Salines, which is about 300 meters long. Authorities seem to turn a blind eye, but considering that nude bathing is not officially permitted anywhere, some discretion may be in order. On weekends, local residents go to the beach, so there is a surge in textile use that may make nudity uncomfortable. The owner of Le Carbet (a guesthouse on the island) advises that it is best to avoid the beach altogether on weekends and holidays due to crowds and gawkers. Consider a weekday visit for bare bathing. Also, be cautious of the manchineel trees behind the beach, which produce poisonous fruit. These trees drop acid, and you absolutely do not want to take shelter beneath them during rain.

To reach Petite Salines, walk west on the track that runs behind Grande Anse des Salines (to the right when facing the water). Keep going past the tiny cove at the end of Grande Anse des Salines. The next cove, around the bend, is Petite Salines. The total walk is about one kilometer.

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 14.4087, -60.8851

commune, country  Sainte-Anne, Martinique (France)

classification  3 (discretion recommended)

There are 6 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Petite Anse des Salines and Anse Trabuad.