Beaches in Goa Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Beaches in Goa covers the coastal region of Goa state in India.
Contents |
Understand
Goa is famous for its beaches, named by their nearby villages.
Prices vary according to the season (peak season is mid-December to mid-January and low season is November and March).
India is a country where things can evolve fast, and Goan beaches are no exception. A calm and almost deserted beach can become a tourist place, as well as a crowded beach can become full of restaurants but devoid of customers in only a couple seasons or sometimes even a couple weeks during the season.
Goa has a more liberal attitude towards alcohol than the rest of India.
It's illegal to go topless or nude in Goa!
Get in
Get around
Beaches
Goa has many beaches - some of the most popular are:
Anjuna
From Anjuna: Anjuna Beach is to the south of the village with its usual lot of restaurants and bars. Not really the most beautiful beach you can see in Goa, and not really a quiet place (beware of the occasional skydiver landing on the beach, watch out for that one infuriated cow), but it's still possible to have good times there. Be sure to check Curlie's at the end of the beach, that's the place where people meet, chill or just listen to music
Arambol
A long beach, both rocky and sandy, with a nice headland where you can climb and find a nice view, and small altars. Its main draws are the nearby hot water springs, paragliding and relative quietude. The experienced Anjuna travellers like to stay here and move to Anjuna area only for parties and markets.
Benavali
Bogmalo
A small and almost deserted beach, 8 km south from Vasco Da Gama, and 4 km from Goa's airport. A good place to sleep after or before your flight.
Internet here is expensive (50 Rs./hour) compared to Vasco Da Gama (20 Rs./hour) and can be found only at Sarita's guesthouse.
Get in
By bus from Vasco Da Gama (30 minutes) or by rickshaw from the airport.
Sleep
La Petit guesthouse is a quiet place and has rooms with attached bathroom and hot water, and with/without air-con (400 Rs. for double without air-con). There are also two expensive five-star resorts. Joets, at the north end of the beach, has great food and new fairly upmarket rooms with air-con.
Calangute
A vast sandy beach that stretches to Candolim. The sea can be very rough and swimming in the afternoon is not recommended. Not very peaceful. A huge array of sellers from all over India who don't take no for an answer. Their wares are quite often bought in the small shops in the town and then sold on to tourists at inflated prices.
Candolim and Sinquerim
In the continuity of Calangute Beach, Candolim is another relatively busy beach with lots of migrant sellers and people offering massages. The beach also offers a variety of sports activities from parasailing to water skiing. This is a tour operator tourism place.
Colva and Benaulim
A southern lookalike of Calangute beach, with far less tourist presence and fishing industry. There are a few restaurants on the beach where you can taste some Goan specialties (often spicy). Colva is the more crowded of the two.
Dona Paula
Dona Paula Beach is 7 km from Panaji. A picturesque spot, commanding a fine view of the Zuari river and Mormugao Harbour, and an idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe. Water scooter facilities are also available here. Dona Paula Bay is where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian sea. Named after Dona Paula de Menezes, it's also called the Lovers Paradise.
Mandrem Beach
Beautiful deserted beach, just a few huts offering not-so-good food, but the beach and sea are worth it. Good places to eat include End of the World Café for fish & Oasis for superb tandoori chicken, prawns & bread.
Miramar
This beach is along the coastline of Panjim, the capital of Goa.
Morjim and Asvem
Beautiful and deserted Morjim Beach (Turtle Beach) and Asvem Beach go as far as Chapora. Perfect place to go to avoid the activity found a bit more to the south (Anjuna). Although Morjim is a designated and protected habitat for the Olive Ridley turtle, it's perhaps perfect for R&R. From time to time an outdoor party takes place inbetween Morjim and Asvem.
Palolem
One of the most beautiful Goan beaches, although not as peaceful as it used to be (sometimes referred to as the Goan lost paradise). Palolem Beach is long beach now entirely filled with rooms and huts (150-400 Rs.) and restaurants, sometimes with live music. There's also a market for tourists. Walk the beach at night with a flashlight and you'll be amazed by crabs running away from you.
Patnem
A small and quiet beach about 1.5 km from Palolem. If you get up early at around 07:00-07:30 and go for a swim, you might get a chance to swim with dolphins. The sea here has a lot of plankton in it, so take a night swim moon and you may see your limbs glowing in the water. During full moon nights the sea itself glows.
Siridao
Vagator
Adjoining the famous Anjuna beach, Vagator is a little more laid back, though still pretty much steeped in the rave culture. Primrose, Nine Bar (both open air clubs) and Disco Valley (where many outdoor parties were held, but now only Christmas and Sylvester parties) are its most famous landmarks.
In Vagator, you can find a 24 hour restaurant/convenience store/chill out called Robert's place near Primrose. Since 2003, a flea market is organised here every Wednesday, though it is yet to make an impression like the ones in Anjuna or Arpora.
Chapora village, popular with long-stayers, is a labyrinth of small intertwining roads. Monkey Valley is of one the best place for parties. A well known place among travellers for fruit juices and fruit salad is Scarlet's in Chapora.
Close to Vagator and Chapora is the Petrol Station, where you want to monitor what's happening if you don't want to be scammed.
The Saturday night flea market in Arpora, organised by a German since early nineties, is by far the largest and most vibrant flea market in North Goa. There is also a sizeable performance area which promotes local talent.
Do
Boat trips to see dolphins can be taken from the beaches between Bogmalo and Patnem.
Stay safe
Get out
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