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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Indulge in some Parasailing at Rajbaga Beach, South Goa

The exotic tropical destination, Goa, is the land of many personas. It has the wavy beaches, the pristine waters, the chilled out lifestyle, the bustling nightlife, the beach facing coco huts and many more. But, the one thing that is fast catching on in Goa is water sports, which ranges from scuba diving, snorkelling, parasailing, banana boat rides to jet ski.

 
Most of these water sports are fiercely popular with the local and foreign tourist population as there are a lot of adventure operators catering to the needs of these adrenalin lovers. The one adventure sport that is easily accessible to all adventure lovers, is affordable and is accessible across all age groups and health levels is parasailing.

 
Parasailing is an adventure sport, where the tourist is strapped onto a parachute in a body harness and is then pulled by a long rope that is connected to a speed boat. As the speed boat opens throttle and heads off into the open waters, the adventure lover is lifted high into the air along with the parachute.

 
This is a sport where you are totally airborne without your feet being on any surface. It is the easiest way to fly, let yourself loose, feel the adrenaline rush and enjoy the views of the wide open seas all at once.

 
There is no certification or practice required to participate in this sport, though a basic training session is provided by the instructor before the adventure activity begins. This adventure sport is generally organized during the afternoon hours when the gentle sea breeze blows in towards the land. None of the operators offer this sport during rough weather conditions.

 
A typical parasailing session lasts about 5 minutes and costs around 800-1500 rupees per person. Though, when in flight, the adrenalin rush is so high that the 5 minutes seems like 30 seconds and people often complain that the high gets over too soon. Parasailing is offered at many beaches in Goa along with other adventure sports. But, the operators at Rajbaga beach in South Goa are more reliable and have trustworthy equipment.

 
So, if you seek that adrenalin rush and are planning that holiday in Goa, then you know where to go and what to do!

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The Remote Sands of Honeymoon Beach

Ever wondered how it would be to be the only person or couple on a pristine beach? Well, that wonder will turn to reality if you set foot on the Honeymoon Beach, a secluded beach cut off from all civilization on the Goan coastline of India.

 
The Honeymoon beach is a small stretch of sand that is surrounded by small ranges of hills and lush green forests. And in front of it lies the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea. The nearest civilization from this place is Palolem in the Canacona district of South Goa. It takes about an hour by boat to reach here. If you need a vacation rental be sure to check out: Goa Vacation Rentals for a great deal! 

 
In terms of infrastructure, this beach has absolutely nothing. And that in my mind is its best asset. The waters are great for swimming too. This beach is also a great place for camping. You can catch your fish and do your own sweet barbecue. However, do ensure that you carry all your trash back to civilization.

 
This is also the place where one can spot a lot of dolphins early in the morning. Early morning treks to the top of the hill peaks offer great panoramic views of the picturesque Goan landscape.

 
The sands of this beach unlike the rest of the more popular beaches is very soft. So soft that your foot can sink in quite a bit. The place is so remote that your footprint will stay on till the next high tide session.

 
All in all a bang up beach destination. And as the name suggests, it offers the best privacy for the adventurous honeymooning couple. For access to the market, restaurants and clubs, Palolem Beach is just an hour away.

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Corta’s – The In-House Beach Restaurant of the Plush Intercontinental Resort at South Goa

If you happen to be holidaying in South Goa and wish to indulge in some lip-smacking Goan cuisine, you should definitely drop by Corta’s, the beach facing restaurant of the Intercontinental Resort, a five star luxury property run by the Lalit Group.

 
This restaurant is located on the Rajbaga Beach in Canacona district and in front of the Intercontinental Lalit Goa Resort area. The entire restaurant is very tastefully designed with a wood and haystack theme. This beach shack restaurant is also voted as the finest beach restaurant in Goa.

 
During the months of November through April when this restaurant is open, one can experience the frolic of local cuisine of Goa along with an exotic range of sea food and grills made from daily fresh catch and vegetables. The food served here offers a wonderful mix of food styles from all over the world.

 
The kitchen at Corta’s is influenced by the Portuguese and European cuisine,  with a rich use of tomatoes, potato and cashew nuts. However, the local coconuts are a favourite here and can be found in many dishes.

 
The few delicacies offered at Corta’s are Chicken cafreal, pork sorpotal, chorizo, Pao, Lobster peri peri, pomfret rechado and prawn belchao. In terms of desserts, they offer the Alle Belle, Jenie’s port wine poached, Banana trifle, Bowl of fresh fruits with coconut whipped cream and Portuguese Custard Pie. Out of the dessert menu, my personal favourite is the Alle Belle.

 
Overall, the menu is pretty well rounded with options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian eaters. The menu spans Appetisers, Soups, Preparations from the Clay Oven, Rice, Noodles, Pasta, Breads, Grilled Food, Brew and Desserts.

 
The restaurant offers 64 covers and is open for both lunch and dinner and offers special sun downer cocktails. This restaurant offers its guests a wonderful mix of great ambience and delicious cuisine.

 
It’s rustic, yet creative look and its proximity to the sparkling Rajbaga Beach and the lapping waves of the Arabian Sea make it a wonderful and unique venue for a great dining experience. In terms of price, the place is slightly expensive, but totally worth it.

 
I would recommend this restaurant with two thumbs up, but if such expensive places are not your cup of tea, then you can possibly check out these cheap city breaks.

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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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