Goa Beach Tours India

Day 01: Arrive Goa
Transfer to the airport to connect flight to Goa. Upon arrival, the guests will be met & transferred to the hotel.
GOA - It's 450 years under Portuguese domination produced a unique, syncretic blend of East and West. Rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at hotel .

Day 02: Goa
Fullday sightseeing our Goa - Visit Old Goa, the most important Cathedrals and churches - namely Se-Cathedral, Church of St. Francis Xavier, St. Catherine's Church, Arch of Vice Roy of Goa. Miramar Beach - This is the only beach close to any city and has a good view of the river Mandovi flowing into the sea. Also visit Dona Paula fishing village which is a small village at the tip of Panaji, the place has a very good viewpoint and a monument at the same place. Overnight at hotel

Day 03: Goa
Full day at leisure for own activities and to enjoy the facilities of the resort. Dinner & overnight at the hotel

Day 04: Depart Goa
Transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi or Mumbai

For most of the people heading towards Goa, it is one long beach. But once they are there they realize this folly of them. Goa is a state though a small one and there is a large number of beaches, many towns and a good network of roads. It is a state of seven rivers and their estuaries, there are hills with lush green vegetation, and most of the tourists are needed to cover large distances to move from one place to other. Goa has a total coastline of 125 km and that makes people believe that it is a long big beach however illusionary it is.

Beaches of Goa are much ahead of other beaches in India in terms of popularity and the facilities that are available here. The beaches here have been accepted as a matter of life, there are exotic cuisine backing the pleasure of have on sun and sand, and water sports facilities that include from water scooters to water gliding. To add on you can shake your legs for some time with a glass of feni and beer, engaged in shopping on the beachside, or have midnight bonfire on the beach.

There are some more aspects of Goa beaches that attract tourists every year. Whatsoever times you have visited these beaches they tend to change their look and get new designs every new season. These beaches refurbish themselves every new season and enhance the excitement of visitors who are never tired of appreciating Goa. Out of 125 km of coastline the beaches of Goa cover not less than 83 km and there is one for you also waiting to be explored. Go and find it!


ANJUNA BEACH
Anjuna Beach is located 8 km away from the city of Mapusa. This was a trading port for the Arabs during the 10th and 12th centuries and was known as Hanjuman which meant Chamber of Commerce. Today, the word Anjuna is associated with the flea market that it hosts every Wednesday.

The beach was a famous handout for hippies in the 60's. These early travelers auctioned off their belongings from guitars to jeans to their compatriots. It was from here the famous 'flea' market at Anjuna began. One can shop here for everything from clothes and jewellery to books and bikes.

It is one the best places for souvenirs. But, one has to bargain with the vendors to strike a good deal.

Anjuna gets crowd from all walks of life. One of the most photographed of beaches, which means, rightly, that you're unlikely to find isolation here. Right from the party types to those seeking to spend time with nature. It enjoys a pretty hectic nightlife also. However, be cautious of thieves and drug peddlers, which are legally not allowed. Water sports like parasailing and windsurfing are offered at this beach. There are a lot of places in and around Anjuna that offer good seafood and continental cuisine is also available at various places


BAGA BEACH
Baga lies between Anjuna and Calangute. Where Anjuna is in the north and Calangute is on the south. Baga is also termed as the extension of Calangute. It is difficult to make out where one ends and the other begins. Baga is a comparatively clean beach. However, it is full of hawkers. There are quite a few hotels in this area.

You'd like it even though it is a fishing beach and fairly crowded with foreigners marinating in the sun and domestic visitors paddling; and in spite of the fact that the sand here isn't either white or gold but brown. You'd like the grove of palms that comes fairly close to the water's edge. Most of all, you'd be happy on this beach because the Baga River flows down one side of it offering a pleasant diversion for children and those who love the water but can't risk the rip currents that must swirl round the mouth. Where the river and the sea meet, and on the far right bank, there is a group of black rocks against which the sea crashes in dramatic explosions of spray.

Baga has recently begun a Saturday night market. The market is quite good but nothing compared to the Anjuna Flee market. Continental cuisine and good seafood is also available at various places in and around Anjuna. Various water sports like parasailing and windsurfing are offered at this beach.


BENAULIM BEACH
Benaulim is relatively undiscovered by domestic tourists even though it is a fishing beach. However, it gets fairly crowded during weekends and evenings with local visitors who get off buses about a kilometer away and pour onto the beach. The breaking wave height here is half a meter and the slope is 1 in 30 in September.

Benaulim is one beach that has strings of mythology attached to it that one wouldn't generally expect from a beach. This is said to be the place where the arrow of Lord Parshurama landed when he created the state of Goa. Dolphin Cruises are the main attractions on this beach.

Dolphin Cruises offered here are not only reasonably priced and are definitely worth it as the chances of spotting dolphins prance about are very high. You would generally find them swimming around in groups. Benaulim village is famous not only for its charm but also for its rosewood furniture. The carvings that one finds on these pieces are really noteworthy.


CALANGUATE BEACH
Calangute was the first hippie beach resort at the height of the Flower Children era. The successors to these dropouts have moved on as domestic tourist moved in and converted Calangute into a paddling, snacking, shopping, picnicking, vacationing beach. The long and beautiful Calangute in North Goa is a frequently visited beach. It is located 12 km from Panaji. It is generally crowded and the small resorts and pensions do a thriving business during the holiday season. It is broad, got a good cover of casuarinas and, though it is not what everyone expects of a beach, it is certainly the most popular beach in Goa.

Around Christmas season a lot of visitors come here. If you plan to visit it is advisable to make sure your bookings are done well in advance.

Calangute is full of activity. This long beach has a host of facilities to cater to visitors, including beach and water sports. Though well known, its long stretch means you'll find privacy for yourself on a shelf that isn't crowded by tourists with cameras and an attitude. Besides water sports, that are offered at various beaches in Goa, Calangute also has places that offer short courses in meditation, yoga, reiki and even karate. One also finds a great number of massage parlours in this area. The active nightlife of Calangute is popular all over. There are a few nightclubs that are open till the wee hours of the morning.

Kerkar Art Gallery is closely located. This gallery displays the paintings and sculptures of various talented, upcoming artists of Goa. Interestingly, this place hosts a night of Indian music and dance, once every week. It is worth spending an evening enjoying the essence of Indian culture.


BOGMOLO BEACH
The last southern beach before you get to Panaji is the first southern beach to be discovered by visitors: Bogmolo. This broad beach, backed by palms, is now shared by visitors and fishermen alike. You'd find bathers relaxing on sun beds under bright beach umbrellas. Bogmolo is considered a safe beach for swimmers.

Bogmalo Beach is located 4 km away from the Dabolim airport and 8 km from the port city of Vasco-da-Gama.

Immediately south of the airport, the Mormugoa peninsula's sun-parched central plateau tumbles to a flat-bottomed valley lined with coconut trees and redbrick huts. The sandy beach at the end of the cove is even more picturesque. a number of cafe's and bars have crept up the beach. The beach is clean and not too crowded, the water reasonably safe for swimming, and there are plenty of places to eat, drink and shop at Bogmalo.

Try out the water sports that are offered here. Surfing, parasailing, there are lots to do. En route to the beach, one comes across the Naval Aviation Museum. This museum, set up by the Indian Navy, is worth visiting. The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, it remains closed on Mondays and public holidays.


COLVA BEACH
Colva is on the northern end of this long, continuous strip of coastline. It is located just 6 km away from the city of Margao. It's broad and beautiful, has a stream coursing through it and is backed by palms. Sadly, its beauty has made it popular and its popularity has cheapened it: its off-beach shops and restaurants, brightly lit and crowded, give it the feel of a funfair rather than a serene, unwinding beach. This is essentially our domestic tourists' paddling beach.

Colva is quite a crowded beach. And, to ones surprise a majority of the crowd consists of locals. Though scenically this isn't one the best beaches, it does have a lot of good restaurants. There are a variety of hotels along this beach that suit almost every budget.

Our Lady Of Mercy church is on the way to Colva. It is a simple church but it has an interesting history attached to it. This magnificent church was built in 1630 and erected into parochial church by Bishop Governor by despatch of 28.05.1635. Child Jesus or Infant Jesus (Menino Jesus) is venerated in this church with special devotion.


DAUNA PAULA BEACH
At the place where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian Sea is the secluded bay of Dona Paula with a fine view of the Marmagao Harbour. 7-km from Panjim, nestled on the south side of the rocky, hammer-shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries, this former fishing village is nowadays a commercialized resort. This is an idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe. Water scootering facilities are also available over here.

The official residence of the Governor of Goa, Known as Cabo Raj Bhavan is situated on the westernmost tip of Dona Paula. Along the road leading to this place lies the ruins of the small military cemetery the British built at their brief occupation of the Cabo, to deter the French from invading Goa.

Named after Dona Paula de Menezes, this place is called the Lovers Paradise due to a myth that has been attached to this place. According one legend the Viceroy's daughter after facing objections from her family about her love affair with a poor fisherman jumped of the cliff.

Another legend says that punished for captivating Francisco de Tavora, the Count of Alvor with her charm the Viceroy's daughter was pushed off a cliff to drown in the waters below. Her irrepressible spirit still continues to haunt every visitor with legends of her lovers. She is even supposed to have been seen emerging from moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace.

Water Sports
Tranquil and blue, Dona Paula unravels the ultimate in aquatic sport and fun. Dona Paula Sports Club, Dona Paula offers some of the best water sports facilities to the sports enthusiasts including Water-scooter rides, Motorboat rides, etc.

PALOLEM BEACH
The Southern coast of Goa is stretched by white sand. Until a few years back, it was among the virgin beaches of Goa. However, it couldn't escape from the eyes of the tourists. Although a few developments have taken place, the beach still has a soothing aura to it. It's a beach of white sand facing a blue bay between two headlands. The little wooded islands on the northern

headland are interesting, and if you're interested, try to persuade one of the fishermen to ferry you across. They do offer to take you out to spot dolphins. Tourists have at last discovered Palolem and so there are a few shacks selling seafood snacks, souvenirs, and clothes of the shapeless, bright, informal kind. Panaji, the capital, is more than 70 km away. A large area of the beach now accommodates a lot of small shacks that taper off as you move towards the south.

Fresh water stream is found at the northern end of the beach. Across this stream is a tiny, undeveloped island that can be accessed by just swimming across during low tide. However, it is not very safe to do so during high tide.

Dolphin cruises and the fishing trips are the other popular attractions. These are offered at quite a reasonable rate.

Accommodation is easily available here. And though there are a couple of money exchange centers, Palolem does not have any banks. The closest railway station is at Canacona, which is just 3 km away from Palolem. There are also a lot of buses that ply from Margao to Canacona. From there taxis and local buses are easily available.