Beaches In Goa – Which Ones To Visit?
Goa and beaches are almost synonyms. Aren’t they? Well, even though I’m not a big fan of beaches, my first few trips in Goa were mostly about visiting various beaches.
I have to say that the beaches of South Goa are different from the ones in North Goa for the simple fact that the former are quiet and less touristic while the latter are usually super crowded.
It’s up to you what you want to choose. Go for North Goa beaches if you want some spunk and spice. Chase South Goa beaches for peace and serenity. That said, there are less touristic beaches even in North Goa while South Goa also has a few noisy beaches.
I’d suggest that you should totally avoid crowded beaches at this time, as you are highly likely to catch infection in such places. It would be wise and responsible to choose beaches that are safe to visit during COVID – beaches that are not so touristic, where you can walk endlessly or sit quietly without coming in close contact with anyone.
Beaches In Goa – Which Ones To Visit?
Beaches in Goa that I have visited –
If you are wondering which goa beach is the best, here’s a quick review to help you decide where to go for your ‘beach’ time in Goa.
North Goa
Baga Beach – the most vibrant beach.
Ashwem Beach – the most stunning beach.
Sinquerim Beach – the best beach for sunsets.
Calangute Beach – the dirtiest beach.
Anjuna Beach – the most crowded beach.
Miramar Beach – the most lacklustre beach in Panjim.
Mandrem Beach – a beach with white sand and clear water.
Morjim Beach – the most picturesque beach.
South Goa
Majorda Beach – the most peaceful beach.
Colva Beach – the most crowded beach.
Sernabatim Beach – the most beautiful sunsets.
Carmona Beach – one of the lesser-known beaches.
Baga Beach
I have experienced the atmosphere at Baga beach quite a few times – the vibe is different in different seasons.
Baga was super vibrant and colourful in December while it was totally sad and gloomy during the monsoons. And surprisingly, the vibe in May was relaxed. Baga is lovely in the summer evenings.
So yes, you have reasons to visit Goa in summers, too.
Ashwem Beach
If you are a sucker for sunsets and beaches, don’t miss Ashwem Beach, which is located in the coastal village of Mandrem. It’s one of the quieter places of North Goa, where you will also find quite a few nice Goa beach resorts.
What makes Ashwem more inviting is that you can find your solitary spots to chill even in the midst of people.
Sinquerim Beach
I loved the vibe of Sinquerim beach. The sunset was beautiful, too. There’s a calm vibe to it despite the touristic crowd.
You can also visit the very famous Aguada Fort, which is close to the beach. You will also find plenty of buzzing restaurants and shacks that serve some great seafood and cocktails to season your evening.
Calangute Beach
Calangute is not a pretty beach. It is a bit dirty, too. You may still want to visit it in the early morning for a walk, as it’s the largest beach in North Goa.
Besides, you can enjoy simple stuff like beachside chai and breakfast – bread and omelette.
Mandrem Beach
I stayed at Riva beach resort on one of my Goa trips. The adjacent beach was the Mandrem Beach. I wouldn’t say the beach was great, but it was still fun to sit in your balcony and watch the sea waves for hours.
The surroundings of the resort were unlike the rest of North Goa. Although I didn’t like the resort much, it was definitely a time off from the daily grind.
Morjim Beach
Morjim beach is one of my favourite beaches in Goa. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. You can walk, admire the natural beauty and just be.
I stayed at Leela Cottages, which was right at the beach. I’d suggest that you should always choose hotels in Goa close to the beach.
I don’t have any photos of Anjuna and Miramar because I didn’t really spend much time at those beaches. Goa has a cluster of beaches that it becomes a little overwhelming when it comes to deciding where to go. But I guess, it’s okay to be spontaneous as long as you know that you can run to another beach if you don’t like one.
Majorda Beach
Majorda beach has one of the longest coastlines, which makes it appealing for joggers. It’s located between Utorda Beach and Betalbatim Beach. It’s barely a kilometre from Vivenda dos Palhacos, a heritage hotel in Majorda.
I have fond memories of getting up early and going for a morning walk at the beach. It used to be so serene – the lushness of the foliage, the chirpy birds and the absolute quiet.
Colva Beach
Well, if you want to avoid the crowd, skip Colva beach. I wouldn’t recommend it at all. I visited it and left it in five minutes!
However, the sunset is amazing from Colva beach. It’s a joy to watch the madness in the sky!
On the contrary, you might want to give it a chance in the early morning when there are no people and see how the beauty of the beach comes out.
Sernabatim Beach
I have very special memories of Sernabatim beach – it was the first beach that I visited with my husband after we got married. We stayed at Baywatch Resort, which is quite close to the beach.
It was such a calming experience to walk on the white sand, sit under a shack and just embrace the balmy breezes.
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Carmona beach
Carmona is perhaps one of the quietest beaches of South Goa. It is beautiful! The sunset is mesmerizing!
In fact, even the surroundings of Carmona beach are quite deserted. We had an adventure of ‘no cabs available’, which made us walk our way to where we were staying. I’d suggest that you should have your own vehicle or rent a car in advance.
That’s about it.
Alternatively, you should be curious to explore the offbeat Goa, which is beyond its beaches.
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What’s your favourite beach in Goa?
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