Beaches of South Goa’s Canacona District

Even though North Goa is known for its parties, flea markets, adventure sports and more, I find the beaches of South Goa to be more picturesque, serene,  endowed with natural beauty and less crowded. Below is a list of my top beaches (have ranked them: 1 being the best) that come under the Canacona district of South Goa. I thought I should share this list given that the Goa season is fast approaching.

1. Galgibaga Beach This is definitely the cleanest beach in Goa and may be, the whole of Indian mainland. I call it the turtle beach since the Olive Ridley Turtles come to nest here. Accommodation options may be less here, but that helps in preserving this natural beauty.

2. Cola Beach A very remote beach that has its own river, a small lagoon and the sea to itself. This is ideal for those who prefer a very quiet beach and would like to enjoy those serene sunsets with their loved ones. The freshwater body also adds a special charm to this beach.

3. Agonda Beach This is a popular beach next to the Agonda river estuary that is frequented by those who wish to stay around for long periods of times. One can find houses and shacks on rent by the month here. Sunsets here are legendary. For those staying here, the Cabo de Rama Fort is not too far away.


4. Palolem Beach The Palolem Beach is the most happening beach in the Canacona district with a lot of facilities. Ideal for families with great choice available in food.

5. Honeymoon Beach This is a pristine beach that is located on an island. One can get here in the early hours of the morning with packed food, enjoy the beach to themselves and then return to Palolem by evening. Great place to spot dolphins too.


6. Butterfly Beach A very small island beach that is about a 15 minute boat ride from Palolem. Ideal for those who are interested in climbing up the small hillocks of the hill, soak in the stunning Arabian Sea views, take a swim in the waters, have a relaxed afternoon and then return to Palolem in the evening. Watch out for the tides here.

7. Patnem Beach This is the beach that is most preferred by the foreign tourists as it is real close to the party zone that happens all night. Thursdays and Saturdays are the happening nights. It would be difficult to find a domestic tourist staying here.


8. Rajbaga Beach This is the beach that is right in front of the Lalit Intercontinental property. The Talpona river separates it from the Galgibaga beach. Ideal for those luxury seekers and those who wish to indulge in some adventure sports.

9. Colomb Beach This beach next to the Patnem Beach is known for its cove. Has an equal mix of domestic and foreign tourists. The beach is really small, but the waters can be real gentle here.

I hope that this list helps in planning your upcoming South Goa holiday.

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Enjoy your private moments at South Goa’s Cola Beach

The name ‘Goa’ is pretty much present in every traveller’s head. And in all probability it is significantly high on their travel bucket list. And it is for this very reason that it is difficult to find places for a private holiday in Goa.

 
However, in spite of the burgeoning tourist population, there are still a lot of places and beaches that are unknown and still retain the pristine and solitary look. Cola beach is one such destination that is tucked between two hills of South Goa.

 
Cola beach is situated at a short drive from Palolem Beach, the most popular of South Goa’s beaches. In terms of the geographical layout, the Agonda Beach is located north of Palolem and the Cola beach is situated north of Agonda.

 
The last mile access is through a mud road and then a steep descent onto the beach. The beach with its untouched golden sands greets you as you begin this descent. But, the real specialty of this beach is a small river that joins the sea right in the middle of this beach.

 
And this is what I call double bonanza or a heady mix of the salt water and the fresh water. The tourists holidaying at Cola beach get to enjoy both these worlds. You can do kayaking or swimming in the small river and if you feel adventurous, you can hit the vast seas.

 
The beach is safe for swimming. But, even then a couple of lifeguards are always present during the day to prevent any mishaps. The most popular sport here is beach volleyball, which is played right between the river and the sea. One wrong shot and you need to jump into the river to fetch the ball and the other wrong shot can send you into the Arabian Sea.

 
In terms of accommodation, there are two niche resorts that offer a mix of tented accommodation, log huts, beach facing cottages and river facing cottages. And all this is located under the shade of swaying casuarinas and coconut trees. For food, the resorts dish out the local catch in continental and local cuisine. And, if you feel like partying, the clubs of Palolem Beach and the more famous ones of North Goa are not too far away.

 
Cola Beach is ideal for spending a private and blissful holiday. Don’t miss the special sunset here or the early morning swims with the dolphins. Overall, it forms a great holiday package.

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Cola Beach–The Private River Beach, South Goa, India

A remote beach, a calm river, a lovely lagoon, brilliant sunshine and pristine blue seas is how I would describe the Cola beach surroundings. This is a great place for people who seek privacy. At best, you can see thirty people on this entire beach. The reason being this beach is set against a cliff and entry and exit is not a well paved path and hence avoided by the general tourist.


Even though, the Cola beach is best for folks seeking privacy, it is also great for the holidaying family. The beach is fairly safe, the lagoon offers great opportunities for swimming, fishing and kayaking, the beach offers great options for sports and the surrounding rocks offer a little bit o adventure too.


In terms of accommodation, there are only a couple of options, but they are either log huts or tented accommodation that face the sea or the river. And all these huts and tents are set amidst coconut trees and casuarinas.


The Cola beach is located in the Canancona district of South Goa and is situated between the Palolem Beach and Cabo De Rama Fort. It should be about 15 kilometres from the Palolem Beach. The final mile is a steep un-cobbled path that descends to the beach.


In terms of food and accommodation, one has to rely on the 2 hotels that exist here. But, the best part here is that you can setup an open air barbecue right on the beach after your successful fishing expedition. This is the place if you are looking to soak in the sun, the beach and the water at Goa. If you are interested in such vacations, then do check out these cheap family holidays.


A great value for money place that is ideal for backpacking couples and families travelling on a budget, but those who do not want to sacrifice on natural beauty.

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Rocks and Reflections in the Arabian Sea

If you are travelling in Goa, be ready for some of the fantastic sights that this coastal land throws at you. It is extremely rare for someone not to come across such surreal sights.


And hence in line with the tradition, I saw plenty of these classic moments in time. This reflection on the Arabian sea against the silhouetted rocks on it are one of those pristine moments. I was treated to this sight when I was walking along the Cola beach in South Goa one late afternoon.

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Fisherman’s Zone at Cola Beach, South Goa, India

Beach holidays, always seem to give me the opportunity to explore the coastal local life. This local life, in most cases revolves around the sea and in the case of South Goa it is no different.


It was at Cola beach that I got to see this local life live in action. I was walking along the Cola beach when I seemed to have walked right into the fishermen’s zone of the beach.


There were folks mending fishing nets, repairing fishing boats, sorting out the knots in the entangled nets or just sitting in the shade and enjoying a cigarette.

 
My inquisitive and extrovert self took over and befriended these fishermen. Soon we were talking about the daily fishing trips, the daily catch, their lifestyle, their modes of entertainment and other things that ran across multiple topics.


It was during these conversations that I found out that these fishermen go out into the sea three times a day, though may be in shifts. One is early in the morning and the other is late in the evening. The third one is when they spend the night in the sea.


Most of their fishing patterns are closely associated with the tide’s time and cycle as that is when they get their best catch. A group of four fishermen catch about 100-200 kilograms of fish each day. Some of it is used for consumption within their families while the rest is sent to the market for sale. These guys love to unwind in the evening with some cashew fenny (local alcoholic drink) and some traditional dance and music.

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