Goa Package
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+ DESCRIPTION
Goa is a state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 16th-century churches and the area’s tropical spice plantations. Goa is also known for its beaches, ranging from popular stretches at Baga and Palolem to laid-back fishing villages such as Agonda.
+ BEACHES
Calangute
Calangute is the most popular beach with thousands thronging it in both the peak and off-season. The waves rise high above as you wash away your city blues, though swimmer need to be a trifle cautious because of the sudden drop and the rising waves. Experienced swimmers will, however, revel in the seas here..
Baga
Compared to Calangute, Baga is quieter and also more isolated. The creek, the Retreat House perched on the hill, and fewer tourists, all contribute to its unique beauty. Want to enjoy the thrill of extreme water sports or go fishing in the sea? This is the beach for you!.
Vagator
This most photographed beach of Goa forms a bay that curves from the headland to the hillock crowned by the Chapora Fort.
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Anjuna
Anjuna was made famous by the ‘flower power and peace’ generation of the sixties and early seventies. And later by the ‘trance’ parties. Located about 18 kms from Panaji, the beach is known for its breeze-catching palms, soft sand, and the unusual rocky formation overlying a cove of whitish sand and black rock that juts into the sea.
Sinquerim
With its magnificent 17th century fort which has now been converted into a prison, Sinquerim is one of the finest beaches in Goa, offering international class facilities for water-skiing, parasailing, fishing, scuba-diving and wind-surfing.
Morjim
The VIPs on this beach are the Olive Ridley turtles that come to nest here helped by a group of volunteers who guard the nests and help the hatchlings get into the sea.
Arambol (Harmal)
This is also a foreigners’ haunt with a large number of Tai Chi, non-permanent mehendi or henna, tattoo, yoga and meditation centres.Harmal Beach is the one place you cannot drive on to, but there are narrow lanes that lead to the higher reaches of the coast. You have to walk down a slope to the beach itself.
Miramar
This beautiful ‘urban’ beach, akin to Chowpatty in Mumbai, is located just 3 kms from Panaji. It lies adjoining the estuary of the river Mandovi as it opens into the Arabian Sea. It was originally known as ‘Gasper Dias Beach’, named after Gaspar Dias, a prosperous landlord and where a Portuguese fort once stood at the fag end of the 16th century.
Palolem
Palolem is a cosy beach of white sand facing a blue bay between two headlands. The little wooded islands on the northern headland look alluring.
Agonda
If you continue driving towards Panaji from Palolem, the next beach is Agonda. It’s long and lonely, fringed with palms and casuarinas and dominated by a large hill to the south. It’s not safe to swim out too far on this beach. There are very few facilities available here and you are needed to carry all the essentials.
Varca, Cavelossim and Mobor
Varca, Cavelossim and Mabor are a trio of the most alluring beaches south of Benaulim. These beaches are much cleaner and quieter than most of the other more famous beaches of Goa. There are numerous beach shacks offering a variety of Goan dishes and seafood at reasonable prices. Agonda is a 3 km long beautiful cove of white sand, safely secluded in the palms. There are no tourists, no souvenir stalls, no restaurants—just peace and tranquility. Just the trees, the beach, the big beautiful ocean and you.
Colva
This is the most important beach in the South circuit, equipped with all modern amenities like air-conditioned resort complexes, tourist cottages, discos, besides several stalls, eateries and guest houses—all of which have expanded the village enormously. With 20 kms of virgin white sands, palm fringed, sun drenched beaches, Colva is the most loved beach in Goa. Unlike Anjuna or Calangute, Colva has gained popularity only lately. Located just 39 kms from the capital Panaji, it was relatively little disturbed and life moved on quietly.
Majorda
This small stretch, about 5 kms north of Colva Beach, is as pretty as a picture, studded with several hotels, the most prominent being the starred Majorda Beach Resort. Majorda is the village where the Jesuits, fond as they were of the good things of life, discovered the best Goan toddy (sap from the coconut palm), which they used to leaven the bread.Naturally, then, Majorda is the place where the Goans were first trained in the delicate art of baking European breads. The Majordans are still Goa's best bakers. The delights of the beach, however, were discovered much earlier, in mythical times.
Bogmalo
This beach, dominated by a 5-star hotel located right on its edge, is cut apart from both the North and South beach circuit. Just 4 kms from the airport at Dabolim, it is a favourite among the elite classes and has an air of exclusivity.
Benaulim
Less than 2 kms south of Colva is the more tranquil beach of Benaulim, is one of the few places in Goa where one can glimpse handicrafts typical to this area. The best of the traditional rosewood furniture is made here. Also, mythically Benaulim is famous as the place where the legendary Parashuram's arrow landed by which Goa was created. Among the more attractive aspects of Benaulim is that it is still rather undiscovered by domestic tourists even though it is a fishing beach. It gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends with local visitors who get off buses about a kilometre away and pour onto the beach.
The Church of St John the Baptist is situated on a hill beyond the village and worth a visit. On the arrival of the monsoon, the Feast of St John the Baptist (Sao Joao) is celebrated as thanksgiving. Young men wearing crowns of leaves and fruits tour the area singing for gifts. To commemorate the movement of St John in his mother’s womb and Mary’s visit, the young men of this village jump into the locals wells in celebration.Although the resort hotel towers above the village, there are still a few smaller and appealing places to stay in.
The Church of St John the Baptist is situated on a hill beyond the village and worth a visit. On the arrival of the monsoon, the Feast of St John the Baptist (Sao Joao) is celebrated as thanksgiving. Young men wearing crowns of leaves and fruits tour the area singing for gifts. To commemorate the movement of St John in his mother’s womb and Mary’s visit, the young men of this village jump into the locals wells in celebration.Although the resort hotel towers above the village, there are still a few smaller and appealing places to stay in.
+ ACTIVITIES
- River Rafting
One of the best rafting trips. The Tilari River rafting tour provides great fun and adventure in a stunning jungle surrounding just 1 and a half hours from the beaches of North Goa. Take half a day out to try this “Must do” activity when visiting Goa. Available from September onwards (this may vary slightly due to rainfall and dam releases). During the season this river run is open for booking daily. We start the tour on a warm up section of easy rapids where we will train you to be competent enough to take on the bigger rapids downstream.
- Wind Surfing
Windsurfing is a unique blend of surfing and sailing, which requires the surfer to adjust his strength and balance to the changing patterns of wind and water. Windsurfing trainers and experts alike claim Dona Paula bay to be the ideal location for beginners. The prevailing winds and the calm sea, ensure almost lake-like conditions. The morning breeze is light and
steady — just right for learners; while stronger winds that set in during the afternoons offer a perfect challenge for the more experienced.
steady — just right for learners; while stronger winds that set in during the afternoons offer a perfect challenge for the more experienced.
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- Scuba Diving
While diving in Goa is not exactly world class due to limited to visibility underwater (generally in the region of 6 to 12 metres), there is an amazing amount of marine life as well as hard coral which continues to amaze even the most experienced divers.Fishlife includes Barracudas, Damsels, Snappers, Sweetlips, Groupers, Sweepers, Sergeant Majors, Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Parrotfish, Bannerfish, Wrasse, Sharks, Tangs, Mullets, Tuna, Batfish, Scorpionfish, Lionfish, Rock Cod, etc. Other marine life includes Sea Cucumber, Blennies, Gobies, Turtle, Lobsters, Cuttlefish, Shrimps and Nudibranchs. Corals of the Table, Brain, Staghorn, Sea Whips, Gorgonian Fans, etc variety abound. Woebeggong and Reeftip sharks, Shovel Nosed and Sting Rays, Nurse Sharks as well as Dogfish are spotted occasionally. The warm waters also teem with playful Bottlenose Dolphins although they are shy of divers. In addition to the above, Goa is blessed with a large number of shipwrecks which include Spanish and Portuguese galleons, World War II wrecks as well as many merchant ships. Very few of these have been found and explored. There are reportedly around 1,000 wrecks along the coast of Goa. Even allowing for gross exaggeration, that still leaves a lot of ships waiting to be found and dived on by lucky, daring divers!
- Water Skiing
For the speed-lovers Goa offers the thrills of venturing into the sea on speedboats.The high-class speedboats which are available in some places, can achieve speeds of up to 30-40 miles an hour.These craft can carry between six to eight people. They can be conveniently used for sightseeing as well as water-skiing.Due to the shallow depths of the continental shelf which limits diving to a maximum of 24 metres, the risk of Decompression Sickness is minimal.
- Dinghy Sailing
A pleasant change from windsurfing is dinghy sailing, often referred to as ‘beer and sandwich’ sailing.With the winds in Goa, so gentle most of the time, this particular sport offers its participants much time to relax. Instructors are available for beginners.These 15-odd feet long crafts hold three to four people comfortably. The Zuari estuary at Dona Paula is an excellent learning area - its calm waters being the kindest Goa has to offer. With two sails and side decks to sit upon, dinghy sailing is as much fun as windsurfing and it is not necessary to be either agile or youthful to enjoy this form of sailing.
- Angling
The beaches of Goa offer a varied and plentiful, almost inexhaustible, supply of seafood, still fairly cheap and absolutely fresh.The Agonda beach in Canacona, which lies a short distance from the more famous Palolem beach is a popular spot for angling. Soormai, salmon and mullet are frequent catches.
- Parasailing
High fliers amongst the speed lovers can opt for parasailing.There’s a rope about 300 feet long attached to the parasail harness at one end and to the speedboat at the other.When the boat speeds off on the water, the parasailor just takes one or two steps and he is lifted into the air, the parasail lifting behind him.
- Water Scooter
Water scooters accommodate two people on a ride.This action sport provides all the thrills of a motorbike with the softness of an ocean instead of hard tar road beneath the feet.They are readily available at Dona Paula jetty, Cidade de Goa, Majorda, and Candolim beach.
- Swimming
The most common water sport is swimming, although it is least mentioned in the media. The waters around the Goan beaches are warm and almost always safe.Swimming can be enjoyed by the young, the old, the infirm, the affluent and the budget traveller alike. There are life guards at all Goan beaches, so check with them about the status of the sea, before you jump in.
- Splashdown Water Park
Splashdown Water Park is easily amongst the coolest hangouts in Goa.It has a wide variety of exciting rides that bring out the child in you. And after you are done splashing around you can pick up a cooling refreshment at the Splash Café and sip on it as you soak in the sun.
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