India's littlest state, Goa is also known as the Las Vegas of India. Many of India's best beaches are in Goa. Beaches, and plenty of budget friendly resorts attract millions of domestic and foreign tourists. You are reading this guide because you are thinking about a winter holiday in the sun. Goa is definitely worth your consideration.
There is sightseeing, jungle treks and thrilling nightlife. The cuisine is a healthy blend between Portuguese, Indian and Muslim dishes. Believe it or not, they all work well together. Clean beaches, lots of scenic walks and incredible shopping. What more could you want from Goa, for a Christmas and New Year holiday experience.
Goa is the hot destination in India that many Indians' loves to visit at least once a year. You should visit Goa too and the best time for foreigners is a winter break. When it isn't too hot, between October and February. During this period, it's Goa's peak tourist season for foreign travelers.
Visit outside this 5-month period you may come during the low season. That's not so good, many activities and amenities are not available.
Our guide covers both parts of Goa, the north and south of Goa's coastline. There are many differences to each beach but also in the holiday mood experience. Having said that, you will find yourself spending time between the north and south, anyway. So don't be set on holidaying in one part and not the other.
There are two major cities: Panjim in the north and Margao in the south and both have airports. Panjim's airport accepts international flights whereas Margao's doesn't. Don't panic, there are accessible public transport links between the two.
The best mode of transport from the larger cities heading towards the coast is to use the bus or train. Moving around, from beach to beach or from your hotel to a beach then use an auto rickshaw or private taxi. Private transport in Goa has a cheap price, is reliable and safe. In a few cases you can walk from one beach to another as they're so close together, but not always.
For day trips and tours our advice is to have those booked in advance, if you can. It is our suggestion that you also plan out which beaches you want to go to, and when. Book into a resort for a few days, close to a beach. From your resort it'll act as a base for you to explore other beaches within easy traveling distance.
You're not wanting to travel any longer than 30 minutes, for example, to any given beach. In part because you want to get back to your resort without too much difficulty, later.
Have another resort ready to go to, and act as another base for completely different beaches. In Goa for your holiday, you must travel around. You'll want to, because staying on the same beaches for all your holiday, can become boring.
The best beaches in Goa are in the north, and south of Goa. The north has more lively best beaches and nightlife. The best shopping experiences for the tourist are also in the north. Generally, the north has more going for it in our opinion, regards activities.
Evidently, north Goa is more commercialized than the south. A greater number of amenities:
The north does have a faster paced ambiance about it. The cafes and restaurants serve greater variety of international cuisine, for example. Whereas in the south it's more as in authentic Goan cuisine.
We traveled to Goa from Kerala, which is much further down the coast. The distance between Kerala's backwaters and the beaches was too great to travel by train. The only sensible option was to take the two-hour flight from Kochi to Goa.
Because December is peak season on the west coast of India, the ticket prices are quite expensive. If you're thinking about Goa, making a connection flight from another city do consider peak season costs of flying. We didn't but luckily, we had a good budget to work with.
Read Also: The Best Time to Travel to India
The Wednesday flea market is one of the most popular events held on the beach but there are the regular meet ups for yoga enthusiasts too. This 2km stretch of sandy beach is one of the top destinations in Goa's north. There are any number of water sports activities including:
It's a hive of fun fueled activity in other words. Enjoy a meal and drink at Cafe Lilliput before sneaking off to a rocky outcrop to wait out the sunset. Head back to the main beach in time for the bars to open, bringing in another night of partying. What more could be asked for?
For those quieter times some of you may seek, we suggest a slow stroll through the small town of Anjuna. Sightseeing old Portuguese houses of many colors, the whitewashed churches blend in nicely with the rice paddy fields. It slows down the pulse and lets you see another side of Anjuna other than the beach and constant partying.
Conveniently located just 21km from Panaji the beach is surprisingly beautiful. Perfectly formed: the natural beauty of the sand, sea and sun accompanied by an abundance of palm trees and cliff rockface.
It's definitely a tranquil setting, very serene actually. Go for a stroll through the palms to recuperate under shade, which we found to be very therapeutic from the night before. There are in fact, two sides to this beach. Little Vagator and big Vagator, in terms of size but also enchantment. The beach gives you many reasons to visit:
Quality restaurants have a wide selection on their menus, but one of the most popular dishes is Feijoada. It's pork curry, slowly stewed with beans and various spices, and served with rice. Food is important when on holiday as not only does it set the mood for your enjoyment but it also acts as a reminder of a time or place. When in Vagator, eat heartily.
Head further south a little of Big Vagator to find three interconnected coves of Little Vagator, with a background of palms. This is where you can find the world-famous face of Shiva, carved into the rocks. And talking about rocks, we advise against swimming off the waters of this beach, because those rocks are known to be dangerous.
And yet one of the most beautiful moments experienced from this beach is the sunset seen through the cracks in those rocks. Vagator has a stunning backdrop anyway but the sunset is what will polish off your day nicely.
It may have a quaint fishing village but Baga holds its own in the face of competition from Calangute or Anjuna beaches. There are many popular holiday water sports to be enjoyed throughout the day, and the nightlife is just as fun and wild as elsewhere in north Goa. You'll find it all happening off the beach close to Baga village:
But unlike elsewhere you may, if you are lucky, see a wandering cow on the beach, having lost its way out of the village. Believe it or not, it does happen. We never saw it for ourselves but it's common for animals to stray. And less than a 10-minute walk is the town of Calangute.
A quieter and slower paced beach that is 3km in length with a wide shore. It's one of the few beaches in Goa where you will come across nesting turtles. But remember: turtles are a protected species so look but don't touch. The Olive Ridley Turtle is an endangered species.
The village is surrounded by palm trees, ponds, and forests, resulting in Morjim being one of the better authentic Goan beaches and communities. The beach is made up of soft sand and shallow sea and the nearby Ashvem Beach is similar: mostly sunbathing and swimming in the shallows.
Local cuisine is served on the beach with really tantalizing dishes. Not far away you have the Chapora Fort, within walking distance of the beach. There are the Chapora River cruises too: there are the day tours as well as sunset and night tours.
A long beach with superb sand, soft under foot. The shoreline is strewn with sun loungers and parasols, accommodating the crowds that come and go from early morning:
Sunbathers arrive in their droves, domestic and foreign, and it can be pandemonium. But because the beach is quite large there are spots where you can hang out for quieter times. As the morning goes on, it feels more crowded. As soon as the sunset disappears, the town and beach receive a burst of new found energy in the form of music, fun and excitement. Bars and restaurants are filled with people readily and outside there are live performances, and street fan fairs.
Elsewhere you can find Calangute further up the coast and Baga still further. One beach that failed to make it into our guide was Sinquerim Beach and that's to the south. The location of this beach makes it an ideal base to begin your beach hopping from. Stay a few days and experience those other beaches closest to Candolim, before moving on to the next base.
Yoga originates from India and you quickly find that out when you spend some time in Arambol. The town and beach are all about your wellbeing, with yoga firmly rooted in meditation. Close to the beach is a school that will clue you up on the practice of yoga and its benefits, if the idea is new to you?
For a vibrant and entertaining experience, with live music, delicious street food and a broad range of quirky shops and stalls, take a taxi out of Arambol. You are traveling in the direction of Arpora for the Saturday Night Market. The market opens early in the evening at 6pm, only to close in the early hours the next morning. A number of bars and a nightclub keep you sufficiently entertained and hydrated.
Miramar Beach must be the friendliest of all beaches in Goa's north for families. It's not one thing alone that makes it such a big deal but many of the little things. There are an incredible number of activities to keep children amused:
There are also horse-drawn carriage rides along the beach. There are the usual eateries: restaurants and beach shacks scattered over the beach. Lounge around with an evening snack and drink, looking out over the sunset falling on the ocean, as you do. Children spend their energies playing volleyball. Memories like these live with you for a very long time. Until something else comes along, that's better, anyway.
As for partying and nightclubs, think more along the lines of hopping from one shack to the next with the intent of drinking more beer. It seems the beach shacks sell local beer cheaper than what's found in the bars and clubs in town, and resort establishments. If you like a good bar or pub crawl then north Goa is right up your street.
If your hotel is in Panaji you will hit this beach long before Vagator Beach, which is furthest away at 21km. Calangute is closer, being only 15km. So, this could very well be the first beach you experience on your Goa winter holiday at only 15 minutes drive from the outskirts of Panaji city. This beach is the most commercialized in Goa by the way and just as popular as Baga Beach but not known for the bars and nightclubs.
Rather the beach is popular with families, would you believe it? One beach in north Goa that isn't wild or wicked because the nightlife goes quiet shortly after 22:00 hours. If you want to party then be seen in Baga are our thoughts. The popularity of course boils down to the fun water sports and beach activities.
And as you have come to expect on each beach in Goa ― regardless of it being in the north or south ― there are the treks to the shops and markets.
By private taxi it's an hour out of Panaji city but is it worth your bother traveling so far? We believe so but the reality is that you'll come across this beach having hopped from another further up the coast. Save yourself the US$20 taxi fare and have a little more patience. You will arrive when you arrive, all in good time, possibly from Mandrem or Morjim beaches.
The main activities on Ashwem are surfing, jet skiing, paragliding and windsurfing. If you want an adrenaline rush with the paragliding, there is the one with the engine attached to the wireframe. And it does make you go faster. An incredible feeling, completely unaccustomed to in fact. Hilarious in many ways because you feel out of control, a little. Your heart beats with the excitement of the wind in your face but also because it's a brand new experience ― highly recommended you try it out.
There isn't all that much interest in the nightlife or party scene on this beach, as we said earlier about Calangute Beach, but the hotels and resorts do make an extra effort in organizing something special for Christmas and New Year holidaymakers. With average temperatures being in the mid-90's why would you not want to spend Christmas here?
You head south having already taken the decision before arriving to India. You want to experience the authentic side of Goa that the north lacks. The southern beaches are less crowded in comparison to those beaches further north. Ideal for those looking for a more relaxed holiday destination. It is in the south you realize there are greater options for you for a more luxurious stay in Goa. You realize too, it's a little more expensive here.
Sure, there are beach huts that are functional, and cheap but not ideal for families. And it's the south that has more appeal for families coming to Goa for a winter break.
The south falls short of matching the north's old Baroque heritage. The natural beauty and local culture of the south restores your faith. Whilst the nightlife in the north is buzzing and wicked, the nightlife in the south is more sedate. Again, it's a gentler place suitable for, dare we say it, the older generation. Those who are more laidback, or love nature.
One of the south's most popular beaches. You can expect it to be crowded daily and the reasons are because of:
The masses also enjoy quality hotels and resorts within easy walking distance of Colva Beach. Having access to shops also helps influence the decision to come to this prime location. A 20-minute walk, maximum, from the local railway station at Margao, and an hour's drive from Panjim ensures a strong domestic presence.
Your tour of south Goa's beaches is incomplete without experiencing this beach. Soft sands, with shade from the overhanging palm trees. There are huts lining the length of the shoreline and they're rather basic in design but functional. At the end of each season, they're all torn down and the beach is returned to nature.
If you want more luxurious accommodation there are nearby hotels and resorts. But you lose the chance of strolling the length of the beach with a new sunrise, before breakfast. Because by the time you get to the beach the sun has risen and the crowds are inbound.
In Palolem, you will want to shop until you drop. There are lots of small shops and shacks, stalls selling authentic Indian jeweler and souvenirs and nik-naks. Those little things that are inexpensive but once you've got them home you find the perfect nook for each item. India is a top yoga destination and this beach is ready for yoga enthusiasts: browsing through the stalls you come across natural, authentic healing crystals, singing bowls and incense.
In fact, there is a strong fragrance of incense wafting through the air which is unavoidable. The sunlight shimmers off the Arabian sea from early morning all day long. As the sun hovers lower on the horizon, all you can do is sit there in a beach shack staring out at the Arabian sea in awe. Or looking out from your balcony if you've opted for a luxurious stay? In any case, the sunset is what will always remind you about being on Goa's southern beaches.
It took us a little over 2 hours to reach the beach on leaving Panjim ― after having found out Margao city was far closer. Agonda is a small village that is the perfect setting for honeymoon couples.
Perfect in the sense there is a beach to be enjoyed and one that is relatively quiet and peaceful. Each evening from the comfort of your beach hut, you enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner for two. Enjoy this time together, as you both stare up at the night sky in wonder with the sound of waves crashing in the background. Words fail to describe your feelings.
There is a river cruise you can go on and experience the lush green scenery, which is idyllic for couples. The cruise normally sets off early in the morning. This gives you the opportunity to see the sunrise on the horizon when out for a walk before breakfast, doesn't it? Because the colors of a new day lingering over an ocean are out of this world.
Plan a few days stay on a weekday if at all possible as the prices shoot up on the weekends, or head for Palolem Beach. That beach was popularized throughout the 1970s and 80s by hippies, and it's just 10 minutes south from Agonda. If Agonda does get too quiet for some then nip over to Palolem instead.
The beach has the usual water sports and activities you would expect on a winter break, such as:
Parasailing has to be tried by the way if you've never experienced it. Being so far up and at speed, your views below of the blue hues of the waters are amazing. Quite exhilarating. Because there are premier hotels at Cavellossim ― another beach leading to Mobor Beach ― the beach can become crowded.
As found on Colva Beach there are dolphin sightseeing opportunities, however unlike Colva Beach you can kayak on the backwaters of the Sal River. We found that to be more enjoyable as an activity than waiting for the dolphins to show themselves.
To add quality to your day's enjoyment we strongly suggest you go for a stroll around the small town for its rustic charms. Come the evening you walk along the promenade for the sunset to finally rest on the beach shoreline looking up at an amazing starry night sky.
The town of Canacona obscures its beach very well. If you are crying out for solitude to recharge ― and you will ― then come to this beach paradise. It's quiet and secluded and perfect moments away from the maddening Goan crowds.
About an hour's drive out of Margao city by private taxi there are few attractions or amusements on the beach. You are heading to this beach to rest and that's it because there is nothing else to occupy your time. Thankfully, delicious seafood delicacies and authentic cuisine are available on the beach.
The beach greets you as you leave behind the coconut forests and paddy fields. A charming 2km long beach of sought after golden sands opens up in front of you. Reminiscence of a volcanic past, boulders are randomly strewn around as if they were lost marbles.
The main activities for your enjoyment are sailing, kayaking, fishing and boating. There are only a few shacks offering snacks and refreshments, it might be you prepare yourself a picnic to bring with you.
The lagoon at one end of the beach is ideal for kayaking and splashing around in. Overall, the beach does have beauty to be admired. The shoreline is long enough to be walked without too much disruption, which is calming and mindful.
A location known only to the locals. That's how it feels because there is very little human activity found on the beach. That simply adds to the charm though as you walk around, looking for something to do. But there's nothing to do and that's the up side to it. The only souls you'll meet are those who work at the nearby resort, mostly.
Visit the beach knowing you'll pretty much have it all to yourself and in Goa, that's a rare thing indeed.
Varca is home to Goa's luxurious resorts. The white sands and waters are clean and free of litter and other debris. There are no beach shacks for refreshments or entertainment. It's only the nightlife activity you'll gleam from the aforementioned resorts.
Live music and performances, cultural cabaret and casino halls offer plenty of stimulation, with the bars and clubs 12km away in Cavelossim.
The most picturesque beach of them all, to be honest. A mighty majestic mountain overshadows a jungle of coconut trees and it's the natural beauty for a fairytale paradise. The water is crystal clear but the shore has sharp-looking rocks, we wouldn't recommend you go swimming. You sit this one out: relax, and soak up the natural world that surrounds you.
Cabo De Rama Beach is one of those hidden pleasures many seek but few ever find. The beach is free of noise and crowds as it sits below a cliff, with a fort atop it. To get to this little paradise, it is a 35-minute drive from Margao city or an hour from Panaji. As we said: far less crowded on this beach, leaving it more or less wide open. Go explore the shoreline and Portuguese fort in relative peace.
Worked into the cliff face is a restaurant serving well proportioned Indian and international dishes. Enjoy your meal as you look out onto stunning views.
Of the waterfalls our guide mentions, Dudhsagar Falls is the most popular. It's the one that's most important to you, for visiting. Dudhsagar Falls is important because the experience is more than going for a dip in the pool to cool off. Being 60km from Panaji, running off the Mandovi River, there are four tiers to the waterfall. One of the tallest in India, the water cascades an unbelievable 1000 feet. At the bottom of such heights as you would imagine, is a deep pool.
Superb as a family day out, the falls attract many city dwellers from as far away as Mumbai and Bangalore. To begin with we said it's more than the deep pool. It's the stunning backdrop of the jungle and the wildlife you must negotiate first. Before you arrive, there are several routes:
If you have all day and set off before dawn breaks, then the trek will give you the best memories. If there are children with you, then it is best to hire a taxi and save yourself a lot of bother.
To trek to the waterfalls, begin your journey from the village of Kuveshi. Give yourself several hours to get to the attraction, at least. The train journey drops you off at the Kulem station, close to the falls for you. The train departs from the main Margao railway station. The train returns to Margao at 17:00 hours, be sure you are on it. If you miss the return journey, there are no more trains.
Your private ride will drop you off in Mollem, whereby there is an extra small charge to pay, per person. Only then will you reach the waterfall.
Harvalem Waterfall is in the north of Goa near to the town of Bicholim. This waterfall pales in comparison to Dudhsagar Falls in sights and fun. But for an occasion that calls for a picnic it would make an ideal day trip. There is a recreational center not so far away. This center keeps young kids amused, and we recommend you visit the Harvalem Caves. The caves and Rudreshwar Temple are worth a visit before calling it a day.
In the decades that have since passed, Goa attracted hippies in their millions. And later, the backpackers followed. Now Goa is more cosmopolitan. It feels different, with luxurious hotels and resorts with all the modern amenities. All within easy, comfortable walking distance of a beach.
You would imagine things have moved on since the late 20th century but that isn't the case, actually. You get the strong presence of hippie communes hanging around, like the old days. A daily fragrance of incense wafts in the air. This ambiance didn't bother us and in fact, it added to the Goa stimulation you feel. Years have passed but we still have fond memories of Goa, and the incense that burned.
Go to Goa and create your own moments to remember India by, because you'll never look back.
Hello, we are George and Elle Mae Melyre.
Over the years, amidst work and family life, we have traveled extensively throughout Asia. Any chance to briefly escape or properly holiday in our beloved Asian destinations is eagerly seized, motivated by the enduring dream of leaving behind the UK's dreary cold for tropical climes.