Ever heard of Goa Tribal Festival? No, it’s not a psytrance party but a festival that involves REAL tribes of Goa. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you must be aware that San and I were volunteering in Goa and living here for a few months. In fact, I often call Goa my second home because I have visited it more than 20 times, but I never got an opportunity to meet Goa’s tribes.
Anyway, so talking about Goa Tribal Festival, are you must be wondering what it is all about, so here’s the basic info you need to know before I tell you what I did here:
What is Goa Tribal Festival?
A food stall at Goa Tribal Festival
Goa Tribal Festival is an initiative by the local villagers to spread the awareness about Goa’s unique culture, heritage and core. To be specific, the community that took the initiative to organize this two day festival is the Adivasi Sangatna of Quepem village. The idea is to preserve and celebrate Goa’s age old traditions, which are not just limited to food or but also craftsmanship, games, folklores and more!
Many of us have visited Goa many times and spent most of our time on beaches and parties, but how many of us ever got a taste of Goa’s old culture? I hardly ever did! And no, Goa’s old culture is not just limited to Old Goa’s churches and Portuguese influences, but is so much more. It’s got a lot to do with Goa’s oldest communities, which I got to meet at Goa Tribal Festival.
Where is Goa Tribal Festival Celebrated?
The 2017 edition of this festival, where I went was held at Village Panchayat Ground, Xeldem. Xeldem is in Quepem, which is in South Goa. Yes, Quepem is where the famous Goa Carnival is also celebrated. If you get a chance, do visit it because it is on the banks of Kushawati river and is scenic.
When is Goa Tribal Festival Celebrated?
It is usually celebrated in the beginning of the year. I went for the sixth edition, which was on January 7th – 8th 2017.
My day at Goa Tribal Festival
Ok, enough about the facts but I’m dying to tell you about my day here. After an amazing breakfast at Miramar Residency, we started our journey to Xeldem for the festival. I’m not a fan of Miramar and it’s my least favorite beach in North Goa, but the area around it is very crowded. However, the drive from here to Quepem is really beautiful. For many kilometers we could only see lush rice paddies. Everything around us was very green.
First Impressions
An hour later, we were in Xeldom. It was time to enter the festival! Let me be honest, I was expecting an overly crowded area like a Diwali mela or something like a Goan flea market but as I stepped out of the car, I felt I had gone back in time. I saw a spacious ground with a lot of room to move around. An elevated area was set up, with many chairs around it – like an old fashioned stage.
The Stalls
Villagers crafting new things at Goa Tribal Festival
Around the stage were a few stalls and behind the stalls which were made with bamboo and coconut leaves – very old school and charming! Yes, this is the first area that caught my interest. Believe it or not, I must have taken 20-30 rounds of this area to sink as much details as I could. Most of these stalls were being handled by local women from various tribes. Some of these stalls were food related and the others were the ones where the tribes were crafting new things such as mats, brooms, flower tiaras, etc. I got to witness how they meticulously crafted these items with palm leafs and paddy grass.
The People
A beautiful tribal woman at Goa Tribal Festival
The women behind the stalls wore beautiful red sarees with puffed sleeves blouses, which were draped a tad higher when compared to the rest of India. They all had flowers in their hair and smiles on their faces – the real hippies!
Beautiful Young Women at Goa Tribal Festiva
I also saw groups of younger women and children that were moving from stalls to stalls – all traditionally attired.
Beautiful Children at Goa Tribal Festival
The Age Old Apparatuses
A big thanks to Goa Tourism for hosting Drifter Planet in Goa to experience Goa’s history through Goa Tribal Festival.
PS: Drifter Planet contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will earn a little commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us reduce the costs of keeping this site active. Thanks for reading!
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Goa? I bet it’s the beaches or palm trees. Same with me, because in my many visits to Goa and even living here, I usually stuck to the coastline.
If you look at the map of Goa, you will notice there is a lot more to Goa than just the coastline. No doubt the coastline is spectacular but after many visits, San and I decided to visit the eastern part of Goa… or you may call it “the other side of Goa”.
Goa is massive, so in order to explore the other side, we decided to stay at a place from where we could easily access the places that we wanted to see. We didn’t have a specific plan, but had a general idea that we wanted to see a few waterfalls, visit a spice plantation and Goa’s forest area. Just for this purpose, we decided to stay at a centrally located place called Dudhsagar Plantation.
With hardly any research about the place or the surrounding area, San and I hopped on to our scooter and drove from Anjuna in North Goa to Dudhsagar Plantation. In just about two hours, Google Maps announced that we had reached our destination, which felt like middle of nowhere.
Inside Dudhsagar Plantation
We saw a little board that confirmed that we were at the right spot. As we entered, we saw a little cow shed on our right and a few chickens walking around on our left. As we followed the path, we saw palm trees, banana plantation and many other tall trees. We were inside a tropical garden!
Exploring the other side of Goa with Dudhsagar Plantation
A man who introduced himself as Ashok greeted us and took us to a gazebo. We sat here with him and found out that Dudhsagar Plantation is aa family run place, which was started by Ashok’s parents Doris and Ajit Malkarnekar. Inside the gazebo, I saw many other people sitting who appeared to be from different nationalities. We couldn’t help but wonder if they were all one family. We got our answer within the next few minutes
Beautiful Family
Adorable Family at Dudhsagar Plantation Farmstay
Ashok’s father is a Goan and his mother is from Germany. Ashok himself lived in Goa, Germany and Indonesia, and his wife is from Indonesia. Ashok’s sister lives in Mandrem and is married to a Goan. Ashok’s brother, who looks a lot like Ashok is married to a girl from Russia. Quite an international family, no?
Free Spice Plantation Tour
Free spice plantation tour at Dudhsagar Plantation Goa
After the introduction, we put our luggage in our large airy room and were ready for a tour. As we walked further, I realized how massive this place was! Ashok informed us that there were more than 150 kinds of different plants and trees in this plantation.
The first thing we saw was pepper, which was easy to recognize. We saw yellow turmeric, white turmeric, cardamom, bimla, cashew, gooseberry, cinnamon, lemongrass, mace, chilies and many more things. Of course I don’t remember everything but I do remember that cinnamon leaves were very sweet to chew and the taste kind of reminded me of Christmas.
Pepper at Dudhsagar Plantation, Goa
The most interesting thing for me was the lipstick flower. It is a natural coloring agent, which is used in food and cosmetics. The tour of the spice plantation must have lasted 45 – 60 minites, during which Ashok educated us about the fauna and entertained us with his jokes.
Fenni and Urak Distillery
Fenni Shots after the spice plantation tour at Dudhsagar Plantation, Goa
At the end of the tour, Ashok informed us that they even have a Fenni distillery in the farm. Fenni is a local alcoholic brew of Goa, which is made with cashews. He took us to the distillery and told us about the process. Honestly, I have had really bad experiences with Fenni before so I wasn’t so interested, but Ashok made us try a shot with Bimla (citrus fruit) and I had to change my mind. He also made us try “Jungle Juice” which is made from Urak. Urak is the first distil of cashews before Fenni. I fell in love with Jungle Juice and drank a lot of it. You’ll be surprised to know that I had no hangover the next day and woke up clearheaded, despite multiple late night Fenni shots. If you also hate Fenni like I did, you need to try a glass here and you’re gonna change your mind.
Water Well
This may make you laugh but I have never drawn water from a well and I got very excited when I saw one here. I played around with it for a long time but finally managed to draw just a liter of it.
Variety of Animals
Guess what – on our little exploration walk with Ashok, we saw a deer inside his farm! A little while later, I saw a bison at a distance. When I thought things coulnd’t get more interesting, I saw a wild hedgehog here. No, these are not Ashok’s pet animals but the farmhouse is near Bhagwan Mahavir Forest Sanctuary so some of them come here for a little stroll.
Farm animals at Dudhsagar plantation, Goa
Too bad the deer was so fast and shy that I couldn’t make a picture. By the time the other animals were there, I didn’t have any camera battery.
Natural Swimming Pool
Organic Natural Pool at Dudhsagar Plantation Goa
If things couldn’t get better, Dudhsagar Plantation also has a natural swimming pool inside the farm. No chemicals or bleach is used here to clean the water but a few plans are grown in the corners to purify the water.
Did I mention that everything that grows in Dudhsagar Plantation is organic? Moreover, there are no pesticides used, so everything can be handpicked and eaten directly from the trees. During our time here, we got to eat freshly made home food from organic farm produce.
I love Goan seafood and I don’t remember ever eating vegetarian food in Goa. However here, I couldn’t help but taking three helpings of every meal because it was so darn good! Chapatis, rice, Konkani daal, two kinds of veggies, buttermilk, salad and dessert – the food here was perhaps the best food I have had in Goa. It felt healthy; it was not oily and was light. Seriously, I can eat this food my whole life without getting bored.
Self-Sustainable Fuel and Biogas
I have seen this at music festivals, but I was very happy to see that almost everything gets recycled here. At Dudhsagar Plantation, they care for the environment and recycle everything.
Swimming in a Clean River
Amazing river swim outside Dudhsagar Plantation, Goa
Right behind the farmhouse is a little river, which comes from Dudhsagar waterfall. If follow our blog, I’m sure you know by now how much we love jumping inside rivers, waterfalls and natural swimming holes. It was a good way to end our day here and cool off inside this river’s cold water.
Little river behind Dudhsagar Plantation, Goa
Our Exploration Outside Dudhsagar Plantation
Honestly, we had so much fun inside Dudhsagar Plantation that we forgot we wanted to explore the nearby areas. Ashosk literally had to kick us out so that we wouldn’t miss out what’s outside
Dudhsagar Waterfall
San and I enjoying our cold dip at Dudhsagar Waterfall
Visiting the famous Dudhsagar Waterfal was the most obvious choice, because it is very close to where we were. This is India’s tallest waterfall and I had only seen it from the train while crossing Goa. To avoid the crowds, we arrived here at 9 am on our scooter. Since the waterfall is inside Bhagwan Mahavir Forest Reserve, we were not allowed to take our scooters inside, so had to buy jeep tickets.
A single jeep holds 6 people and costs around INR 300 per person, including the life west. And no, you can’t enter without a life vest. Even though the waterfall attracted quite a lot of tourists, we found our personal swimming area and had a lot of fun swimming in the cold water here.
Bhagwan Mahavir Forest Reserve
Even though we had entered the forest reserve when we visited the waterfall, we were not really allowed to explore on our own because of the jeep restriction. Just for this, we decided to enter this forest reserve from Surla. We couldn’t; help but stop after every few minutes to make a few photos because everything was very beautiful and green inside. We also met a lot of monkeys here.
Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall
Tambdi Surla Temple, Goa
If you enter the forest reserve from Surla, you can also visit an ancient Hindu temple that’s inside. What’s unique about this temple is that it is made with black stone where as most of the temples are usually white or multi colored. There is a nice garden outside, which looked a little too well kept for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, but the forest and the temple had a very wild look, so the excessively well kept garden looked out of place. Oh and there is a hike to Tamdu Sural waterfall from here, which you should seriously consider if you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
Village Exploration outside Dudhsagar Plantation, Goa
If you like walking, you are going to love a little map that Ashok has made. This map depicts a route that he has made which you can follow to visit the nearby village and see some interesting sights. It is total 8 KMs, so do this only in the morning when the weather is cooler.
Anyway, if you’re heading to Goa, I urge you to try something different and explore the other side of Goa. Stay in Dudhsagar Plantation Homestay and experience the simple life. Cleanse your system by eating organic food here and chill in the natural pool. If you’re really adventurous, then don’t miss the forest area that only a few people visit. Oh and you can book Dudhsagar Plantation on AirBnB. Use this link to book and get a $15 discount.
Visiting Goa soon and need more info? Feel free to ask me anything! Post your questions as comments below and I’ll answer as soon as I can.
PS: Drifter Planet contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will earn a little commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us reduce the costs of keeping this site active. Thanks for reading!
This guide is about Goa Flea Markets. Besides shopping in Goa, we also suggest you read our other blog posts about it – visit this page.
Apart from the beaches, Goa is famous for its lovely flea markets that are sure to win your heart. Whether you like to shop or not, you should surely visit them for the experience. With their vivid colors, spicy aromas, interesting sights, and funny sounds, they will wake up all your senses.
Arambol Sunset Beach Market – North Goa Beaches and Beyond
Some of the markets on this list started years back and have an interesting history of how they came into existence. Many of them start only during the high season, which is November to March, while some are open throughout the year.
As many of you know, I love Goa and am now living here since the last few months. While I am volunteering in Goa, I am visiting some of these markets every week and still I’m not bored of them. Whether you’re visiting Goa for a few days or are living here, a visit to these markets is a must. So, here’s a list of Goa Flea Markets that you should visit while you’re here:
Flea Markets in Goa:
01) Anjuna Flea Market
Goa Flea Markets – International artisans at Anjuna Flea Market
Back in the 1960s and 70s, when the hippies first arrived in Goa, they chose Anjuna as their home. Many of them sold the last of their material possessions from their home countries here to make money. The 70s are over but this market still remains.
Every Wednesday, many artisans from not just all over India, but also from all over the world set up stalls here. Anjuna Flea market stretches from the beach shacks area of Anjuna to the other side of main road where there are paddy fields. Here you can check out a massive collection of clothes, jewelry, bed sheets, wall hangings, hammocks, etc. The best time to visit is from 5 pm onwards when the sun is not very strong and some bars and shacks play live music.
Anjuna Beach is close to many other beaches of North Goa – Vagator Beach, Baga Beach and Calangute are nearby. I’m not the fan of Baga and Calangute beaches because they are extremely crowded.
This market starts at 9 am and ends at sunset time, i.e., 6 pm on every Wednesday. This market exists only during the main season – November to March. To know more about Anjuna flea market, you can check other travelers’ reviews on TripAdvisor.
02) Saturday Night Market, Arpora
Considering Goa’s tropical temperature, a night market obviously makes more sense. As the name suggests, this market is set up only on Saturday night during Goa’s main season (November to February). This was the first Saturday Night Market in Goa that I ever visited, and it’s my favorite.
Arpora’s Saturday night market is a tad “high end” if you compare it to Anjuna flea market. With live music, international food stalls, fire dancers and colorful stops, a trip to Saturday night market is an experience to remember. This market usually goes on till 2 am, after which it continues like an open party while the shop owners pack up their stuff and gradually leave.
From Christmas to New Year, which is Goa’s peak season, it is recommended that you arrive here early to avoid the crowds. Alternatively, reach by midnight and stay till 1 or 2 am. While here, eat some food, drink a few beers and watch a few live performances to make the most of it.
It is worth noting that Goa has two markets on Saturday nights in the same area – Arpora / Baga. The one in Arpora is bigger than the one next to Baga river. This market is commonly referred to as “Arpora Night Market” or “Saturday Night Market Goa”, while the other is normally called “Mackie’s Night Bazar”, or just “Mackie’s”.
Saturday Night Market Timings:
This market starts on every Saturday during the main season at 6 pm and ends at 2 am. Again, the main season is from November to March. To know more about Arpora’s Saturday night market, you can check other travelers’ reviews on TripAdvisor.
03) Mackie’s Night Bazaar, Baga River
Goa Flea Markets – My sister Priyanka Bajad at Mackies Saturday Night Market
Mackie’s Night Bazaar is not to be confused with Arpora Night Market, which is also on Saturdays. Although Arpora’s night market is the more famous one, Mackie’s is the original night market of this area and is closer to the river Baga.
This market features many food stalls, live bands and shops.Mackie’s Night Bazaar ends starts at 6 pm on Saturday nights during the high season and ends at 1 in the morning.
Mackie’s Night Bazaar Timings:
This market starts at 6 pm on Saturdays and ends at 1 am. Mackie’s Night market only exists during the main season, which is from November to March. Arpora can be easily reached from the nearby Baga Beach or Mapusa Market.
Unlike most of the listings here, this market exists everyday. This market starts a little before Arambol Beach main parking and extends for more than 3 kilometers till the end of Arambol. Oh, and Arambol is one of our favorite places in Goa by the way.
Arambol is near the North most tip of Goa and has developed into a little hippie village over the decades. The prices here are a bit lower as compared to Anjuna flea market and Saturday night market.
This market is as colorful as Anjuna flea market and has a range of things such as spices, hand made soaps, glass pipes, hammocks, bags, clothes, tea, jewelry, bongs and chillums, etc. A lot of people that set up shops in India’s Parvati valley area in the summers set up shops here during the winters, which is Goa’s high season.
Arambol Street Market Timings:
Arambol Street Market is open everyday from 10 am to 9 pm.
05) Arambol Drum Circle & Sunset Beach Market
Arambol Drum Circle Beach Market
Out of all the flea markets in Goa, Arambol drum circle market is my favorite for many reasons. This market starts a few hours before before the sunset where travelers from all over the world sell their hand made creations.
More than just a market, it is a party on the beach where people bring their drums, handpans, Didgeridoo (didjeridu) and meet here everyday to make music as the sun sets. It is common to see performers at this time with their juggling balls, hula hoops, poi and many other props. With things like handmade clothes, food, jewelry, glass pipes – this market looks like it is right out of a music festival.
Arambol Drum Circle Beach Market Timings:
Arambol Drum Circle flea market starts everyday a little before the sunset. Like many other markets in this list, this market also exists mainly during high season.
BONUS: Watch my video about Arambol Drum Circle
06) Chapora Fish Market
Goa Flea Markets – Chapora Jetty
What better place to buy fish than a fishing village? Chapora fishing village near Chapora River is an affordable answer for your seafood craving.
The best time to visit this market is from 4 am to 6 am. This is the time when many fishermen return from their quest and their wives sell freshly caught fish. You can find things like tiger prawns, king prawns, lobsters, mussels, crabs, kingfish and Pomfrets at a very good price.
Chapora Fish Market Timings:
Chapora Fish Market starts everyday in the morning from 4 am to 6 am and then again in the evening from 4 pm to 6 pm. This market is closed during the rainy season.
If you’re looking to buy local Goan produce and goods, Mapusa Friday Market is the place for you. Just like Chapora fish market, Mapusa market is also a place that locals love to visit. In fact, the main Mapusa market is open everyday, but the special flea market opens on Friday morning.
If there is one place where you can find everything that Goa is famous for in terms of shopping – that is Mapusa Market. Goan cashews, spices, Goan sausages, cashew Feni, toddy palm Feni, organic food, earthen pots, meat and fresh fish are some of the few things that I suggest you buy from here. You can find everyday things that you need to run your house as well as a lot of food. This is a day market and closes as the sun goes down.
Mapusa Friday Market Timings:
Mapusa Friday Market opens early morning on Fridays and ends at around 6 pm.
Have you visited these flea markets of Goa already and have a few tips to share? Let me know in the comments.
Goa Flea Markets – A Guide to the colorful Flea Markets of Goa
PS: Drifter Planet contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will earn a little commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us reduce the costs of keeping this site active. Thanks for reading!
If you’re following us on Facebook, you must have noticed that we’re in Goa. No, we are not here for a week or two but are here for a few months. We’re not “holiday”ing here but are volunteering in Goa. This is our way of slow travel because we want to make our way to Sri Lanka by January 2017.
So what exactly are we doing in Goa?
A little work in the hostel..
I’m volunteering in Goa ‘s Red Door Hostel in Anjuna. The same hostel also has a restaurant where San is working in the bar and kitchen. We get two meals a day here and get to sleep for free. I don’t get paid because I’m a volunteer but San get a little money because he’s a professionally trained chef. Both of us work for half a day and get a day off per week. Our work is very relaxed and a lot of fun.
2016 was a very crazy year. I traveled to 10 countries and didn’t even get a chance to write about them all. I had to take a forced break from blogging while I was attending back-to-back music festivals and later preparing for my German examination. Sitting behind the hostel help desk for half a day has given me a little stability that I needed. I’m finally getting some writing done.
And a little party..
Goa is the birthplace of Psychedelic Trance genre and a typical old school Goa party has no match. This is where I got my first taste of Psychedelic trance music back in 2004 and I was hooked. So yes, we are partying a LOT here. Again.
Why did we choose Goa?
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, I’m sure you know by now how much I love Goa. A lot of people hate it because it’s getting touristy, but which place isn’t? Honestly, Goa is massive and there are many empty areas. It’s mostly the beach belt that gets crowded and we have our own secret spots. We’re in North Goa, which is busier than South Goa.
The cost of living in Goa is definitely lower than most of the places we know of, so it is easy to survive here with little money. The fact that we’re sleeping and eating for free has made it possible for us to live off the earnings of our travel blog. Goa is a good place for digital nomads.
I visited Goa for the first time in 2004 and have always wanted to live here. After finally finding courage to quit my full time job, I can finally make my dream come true. Better late than never, don’t you think?
Want to meet us?
A lot of my friends and blog readers are in Goa at the moment because it is a popular spot to celebrate New Year’s Eve. If you’re planning on visiting, do check out my post about Goa travel tips and my detailed guide about North Goa Beaches. It has some amazing hotel and hostel reccomendations too. Oh, and send us a message on Facebook or Instagram if you want to meet us in Goa.
PS: Drifter Planet contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will earn a little commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us reduce the costs of keeping this site active. Thanks for reading!
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In the past few years, I have seen many Goa travel tips on different websites that say things like “carry sunscreen” or “carry comfortable flat sandals or flip flops”.
Yes, these tips are correct but don’t you think they are pretty darn obvious?
Of course, if you’re visiting a beach destination, you’re going to have to carry sunscreen and flip-flips.
Anyway, I want to help first-time Goa visitors and have decided to share a little more insight about things you need to keep in mind before visiting Goa. Here are some essential Goa travel tips to help you get the most out of your visit to this glorious destination.
Travel Tips for Goa
Table of Contents
1) Visa for Goa.. umm India
Based on the volume of people who visit my website from other countries, I feel it is necessary to add information for obtaining a visa for India in this article.
If you don’t know this already – I’m married to a German and he often applies for a tourist visa to visit India. India doesn’t offer a visa-free entry OR a visa on arrival but you can apply for an eVisa. Sadly the government-run website for an eVisa for India or a general tourist visa for India is not so simple to use and usually gives errors on things as simple as picture upload.
Based on the number of painful hours my husband has spent on the Indian embassy’s eVisa website, I highly recommend you make things simpler for yourself and check iVisa. We availed their service when we were in the Philippines and it really made things simpler for us.
Goa doesn’t just have high and low seasons, but it also has peak and moderate seasons. Here are some more details:
Good to visit but rooms are expensive because of the high demand
High Season
Most of the shacks, and beach bars are shut but it’s a good time to enjoy Goa’s rainy season
March to May
Moderate Season
Good time to visit. Shacks and beach bars begin shutting down for the season. Look out for season closing parties.
May to August
Low Season
Good time to visit. Shacks and beach bars begin opening up for the season. Look out for season-opening parties.
September to October
Moderate Season
Good to visit but rooms are expensive because of the high demand
November to Mid December
High Season
Mid-December to Mid January
Mid-December to Mid-January
Peak Season
Do not visit around this time. Room rates skyrocket. Lots of traffic jams and Goa loses its amazing vibe.
The low season is from May to mid-September, the High is from November to the middle of December and the peak is from the middle of December to the middle of January.
Avoid visiting Goa during the peak season because you will waste a lot of time in traffic jams.
If you must visit during this time, try to find the most secluded beaches. Chances are, even those beaches will not be secluded during the peak season.
During the New Year and Christmas time, many city folks from all over India (especially Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore) visit Goa.
3) Where Not to Stay in Goa
I have mentioned this before and I want to mention this again – Goa offers way more than Calangute – Baga – Candolim or Anjuna beaches. Trust me, these above-mentioned beaches are definitely some of the most crowded ones and no longer have a “Goa vibe”.
For more details about where to stay, check out my post about North Goa Beaches and beyond.
4) You DON’T need to book a place to stay in advance, unless…
Unless you’re visiting very late at night and don’t have time to hunt for a bed, or you’re visiting at peak season, which is December 20 to January 5, I’d recommend you not to prebook your place.
Most travel websites will brainwash you into booking a room because they sell rooms on their websites or on a commission basis. If you book in advance, you miss out on places that don’t advertise on the internet but only through word of mouth.
Suggested post: Amazing and colorful Flea Markets of Goa that you need to check out
5) Save money from Goa Airport to your hotel
If you’re visiting Goa, most likely you’re going to arrive here by flight. Unlike most of India, tuk-tuks are not so easily available in Goa.
The cost of traveling in Goa is usually low except the taxis are expensive and unfortunately that’s the only mode of communication you will find at the airports. However, there is a way you can save money on your taxi fare.
At the prepaid taxi counter queue just at the exit gate of the airport, just ask around and try to find fellow travelers who are heading in your direction. Most likely, you will easily find people to share a taxi with for your destination. This has always worked for me!
6) Reaching Goa Airport by Bus
It is possible to get to the airport by bus. From North Goa (let’s say Morjim), take a tuk-tuk (or taxi) to Silom or Mapusa bus stand, and from there catch an express bus to Panjim (Panaji). From Panjim, you need to catch a bus to Vasco and it will drop you 2 KMs away from the airport.
Make sure you let the bus driver know that you have to reach the airport because there’s no proper bus stop where they will drop you off. Do this only if you’re ready to walk with your luggage.
Keep in mind that the last bus from Panjim to Vasco departs at 7 and the queue behind the ticket counter is usually massive, so take out an extra 30 minutes or more for this.
Similarly, if you’re in South Goa (let’s say Agonda), you need to take a tuk-tuk to the nearest bus stand and then take a bus to Margao Bus Terminal. From Margao, board a bus (or Kadamba shuttle) to Vasco. Try finding a bus that goes from Maragao to Vasco via Majorda. Again, make sure you inform your driver that you need to get to the airport so that he can drop you to the nearest point.
Do this only if you have a lot of time before your flight. It took us 4 hours to travel from Vagator to the airport by bus. Looking back, it isn’t worth the hassle but those were my backpacking days when I had a lot of time and hardly any money.
7) Best Way to Explore Goa
The best way to explore Goa is by renting a scooter
If you like walking, you will only be able to explore your beach area and around. If you want to explore further, I’d recommend you rent a scooter.
Exploring Goa on a rented scooter is the best and the most affordable option. These scooters are usually available for INR 300 – 500 per day.
Please make sure you carry your driver’s license because there are many checkpoints. It is possible to rent cars too but many spots can only be accessed by scooters or on foot.
8) Where Not to Swim in Goa
In Goa, certain areas are marked by red flags which means it’s dangerous to swim there. The sea will appear to be calm but the undercurrents are powerful and dangerous. If you go inside, you will be transported to the open sea much faster than you can swim.
These are the situations when people drown because they try to fight to current in their panic. Most likely, you will see a lot of people in the water already but please follow the rules and don’t be an idiot.
Oh and on a side note, don’t swim in the stretch of ocean in front of Curlees and Shiva Valley of Anjuna because I have personally seen people puking in that water after Anjuna’s crazy parties.
9) A tip about Goan Food
Delicious Goan Food
Do you love Indian food? You’re going to LOVE Goan food. However, keep in mind that the Goan curries are spicier than most of the Indian curries.
If you can’t handle spice, make sure you inform your restaurant staff to go easy on the chilies. I love spicy Goan food but San can’t handle the chili overdose.
10) How not to get ripped off
Shopping in Goa is fun because of the variety of things that you can buy. Lamps, incense sticks, swimsuits, clothes, jewelry, tea, spices, fruits – almost everything that you will possibly need will be available on the streets.
While grocery stores have fixed prices, street shop vendors will hike the price when they see that you’re not a local.
To avoid getting ripped off, you need to learn how to haggle like a pro. As a rule of thumb, cut the quoted price in half and then negotiate your way to a middle figure. Do not forget to smile when you do this.
If you find something unique at a high price, most likely it’s handmade, and maybe it’s worth the price, so just buy it.
11) Find the best parties in Goa
A PsyTrance party in Goa
Ok, so you have heard that Goa is the birthplace of psychedelic trance and you want to experience a typical old-school Goa trance party. But how to find the best PsyTrance parties? Well, stay in the Vagator area and just follow the music. There is usually a party every night.
Ask around and you will find out. When you reach the party and if you ever get hungry, you will definitely find affordable snacks right outside the parties.
Outside every party are rows of Ammas (older mother-like women) with stoves selling cheese omelet buns, burgers, cigarettes, water, and tea. These Ammas usually know where is the next party so just ask them.
12) Be Safe in Goa
While Goa is safer than most of India and perhaps many parts of the world, it doesn’t hurt to take typical safety precautions. Trust your instincts and don’t accept drinks from strangers. When in doubt, head to the nearest shop and contact a local to seek help.
13) Respect the Culture, the Nature and Goa way of life
Yes, Goa is perhaps the most open-minded destination in India and the locals are liberal. But please don’t treat their home as your “nonstop party on the road” destination.
I don’t know why I’m even typing this but I feel it’s my responsibility to inform you that you should cover yourself a little more than what you do at the beach if you end up visiting any of the churches.
Please don’t leave your trash on the beach. If you find any, just pick it up and put it in the nearest dustbin. Oh and don’t forget that most of the shacks (beach bar and restaurants) are run by families and you should not expect a five-star service. Appreciate what you get and don’t forget to smile.
Enjoyed these Goa travel tips? Why not share with a friend? If you live in Goa or have visited it a few times, why don’t you add your own tip in the comments?
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Goa Travel Tips – things you need to know before visiting
A detailed guide to the beaches of North Goa. You think North Goa is full? Yes, it is full but only if you visit the likes of Anjuna, Baga, Candolim and Calangute areas. Those who wander beyond these beaches will fall in love with this wonderland. Yes, I have visited South Goa also and just like North, there are some crowded as well as empty beaches. Bonus: North Goa Beaches map.
Goa will always hold a special place in my heart. The vibes, the people, the energy, the beauty, the food, and even the roads – there is magic in everything here. Goa is not a city but it’s a state (province) and it’s massive! No matter how many times I visit, I always end up discovering a new spot here. Yes, I love Goa.
Arambol Sunset Beach Market – North Goa Beaches and Beyond
As Goa Gil once said “Goa is not a place, Goa is a state of mind.” I’m in Goa state of mind right now, hence I have decided to write this guide. To make things easy for you, this guide is ONLY about North Goa, i.e., the top half of Goa. You can find information about North Goa’s beaches, including some hidden spots that only a few people will want to tell you about. North Goa beaches vs South Goa beaches – wondering which one is really better? Keep an eye on my website for a detailed guide about beaches in South Goa too!
The beaches of Candolim, Calangute and Baga are the most popular beaches in North Goa but I discourage my readers to visit them. Why? Because they are crowded and dirty. Moreover, they have an un-Goa-like vibe. (Yup, I’m a Goa snob). Apart from these beaches, there are many other amazing beaches that you can visit which aren’t so crowded. Even if you have visited once, this guide will still come in handy for your next Goa trip because North Goa is very big.
Oh and if you’re wondering how I know Goa so well, it’s because I have visited it close to 20 times and San & I am lived here too for a while. We love this place so much that we decided to move here for a few months. Moreover, we also collaborated with the Goa Tourism board and visited Goa Tribal festival in early 2017.
For your benefit, I will divide North Goa in 5 zones –
Detailed Map of North Goa Beaches by Drifter Planet
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Here our detailed guide with a list of North Goa beaches starting from extreme North to South (of North Goa). Not just things to do, Goa map for the beaches of the North, this guide also has our top recommendations of hotels in Goa for every beach. Some of the best beaches of Goa state are in this part.
Zone 1 – from Terekhol to Kalacha Beach
This zone starts from Terekhol River, which is at Goa – Maharastra border. The end point of this zone is at Kalacha Beach. These beaches are secluded and are perfect for spending an entire day if not more.
01 | Keri Beach (or Querim beach)
On the way to Keri beach and Terekhol fort
Querim beach, also known as Keri beach is on the North most tip of Goa and is quieter than even the so called quiet beaches of Goa. This is on Maharashtra – Goa border which is separated by Terekhol River.
The beach is of course beautiful but for me, it was the drive from Arambol to Keri which was special. There are many spots where one can stop to appreciate the beauty. In fact, there is two points on this way where you can see an amazing view from a higher level.
The best part: At the entry of this beach, there is Ajoba temple. This temple is round, colorful and looks very psychedelic. Many people claim that there is a small tunnel through the hilly cliffs which will take you to the other side, but I have never seen it. If you find such a tunnel, then please let me know.
What to do at Querim beach / Keri Beach: Explore the rock formations. If you’re lucky, you will find a little cave. Hop on a ferry boat to visit the nearby Fort Terekhol (or Fort Tiracol) and enjoy the excellent views.
Perhaps my favorite beach in this list, it cannot be reached by a road. It can only be reached by walking from Arambol beach and crossing the market area along the cliffs. It is possible to paraglide here.
Sweet Lake opposite Kalacha beach, Arambol
The best part: It has a sweet water lake opposite the beach where it’s a pleasure to swim. This lake is commonly known as the “sweet lake”. Even though it is technically opposite Kalcha beach, the lake is commonly known as “Arambol Sweet lake“. I think it’s beautiful! Where else will you find a beach and a lake that’s walking distance from each other? This lake is one of my favorite places to visit in Goa.
What to do around Kalacha beach: If you walk from the sweet lake to the direction of the jungle along the stream, you will find a few spots where it’s possible to take a mud bath. As you walk further, you will reach an old Banyan tree. Under this tree a baba sits who lives here during winter months.
Zone 2 – from Arambol Beach to Chapora River
This zone has a few hippie villages, yoga communities and artists from all over the world who call this place their home. Find a place to stay on these beaches so that you’re away from the main crowd but not too far from night life.
A Shack on Arambol Beach – A Guide to North Goa Beaches
Arambol village is a little disconnected from most of the North Goa, because of it has maintained its low key charm. Many people say that the hippies who came to Goa back in the 1960s and 1970s all moved to Arambol village from their original place – Anjuna.
This village has evolved into a self-sufficient are where you can find almost anything. Finding budget accommodation here is never a problem and I have never seen a resort here. This beach is much bigger than the nearby Kalcha beach and has plenty of shacks where you can chill over a pint of King’s beer.
It is usual to see a musician or two on the beach making music around the as the sun sets. Arambol has a very active Yoga community with multiple workshops. So if you like keeping fit while traveling, Arambol is the place for you!
Arambol’s Shopping Street – Guide to North Goa Beaches
The best part: Arambol has the most interesting street market where you can buy a variety of things for a bargain. The narrow lanes of Arambol will give you sensory overload because the shops have everything – spices, bed sheets, lamps, clothes, jewelry – sab kuch milega!
What to do in Arambol: Walk around on Arambol village’s inside lanes and visit some interesting cafes (or bars). Visit the beach during sunset and watch the famous Arambol Drum Circle and sunset beach market.
As per me, Arambol Drum Circle is one of the best things do do in Goa. Walk from the northern end of Arambol beach to enter Kalacha beach and to the famous “sweet lake”. Oh and here’s a video that I made of Arambol Drum Circle – watch it and enjoy!
Recommended places to stay on Arambol Beach and around:
This beach can be accessed crossing a small bridge to over a narrow canal. This beach is beautiful but strangely not many people visit it. Compared to the nearby beaches, this beach has very few shacks which is what makes it so special. Over the recent years, a small section of Mandrem has suddenly gained popularity and it has one of the best hotels in North Goa – Aura Spa Retreat.
The best part: There is a cliff opposite this beach across the road which offers a good view. Climb on this cliff for a spectacular sunset experience.
What do do in Mandrem: Sit at the End of The World beach shack and enjoy the view.
Ashwem Beach Mandrem, Goa – North Goa Beaches and beyond
Ashwem is perhaps the most scenic beach of Goa because of the river flows into the sea dividing this beach into two. It is not as crowded as Arambol or Anjuna, but has a lot more shacks as compared to the nearby Mandrem beach.
The best part: Depending upon the weather, the river forms a shallow fresh water lake and a small sand spit on the extreme right side. This sand spit and a little river island appears or reappears depending on the tide and the weather.
What to do on Ashwem beach: try to get inside the lake or the river if you can. It’s fun!
Sunset at Morjim Beach – Guide to North Goa Beaches
Morjim is the best and the cleanest beach of North Goa. This beach has a sandy triangular area with waves on two different directions. During low season, this beach is usually empty but I have seen a few kite surfers here when the season is high.
The best part: This beach has an area that is dedicated for nesting Olive Riddley turtles.
What to do on Morjim beach: Swim. This beach is perfect for a swim and is clean so enjoy your time in water here or just kitesurf! Drive around Morjim and explore the nearby village – Siolem. Siolem village is very green and it’s always easy to find a few family run restaurants here where you can eat a delicious fish curry thali.
Places to party in Morjim: Tesso Waterfront and Marbella Beach are two famous clubs in this area. Both of them play Techno music.
Zone 3 – from Chapora Fort to Anjuna Beach
A PsyTrance party in 9 Bar, Vagator – A Guide to North Goa Beaches
This is the party area of Goa where it’s possible to find a good PsyTrance party every day. From underground psychedelic parties to commercial techno parties – this area has it all. Moreover, you will also find some of the best restaurants of North Goa here.
Although Anjuna – Vagator area gets crowded during the peak season here but if you know your way around, you will surely find many empty areas. If you’re looking for cheap hotels in Goa, then Anjuna may not be the best place to stay.
07 | Big Vagator Beach
A cow on Big Vagator Beach – North Goa beaches
Unlike most of Goa beaches, this beach can be accessed by climbing down a cliff. This beach is rocky beach and is frequently visited by cows.
The best part: This beach is divided in a few small parts because of the rocks. Some people call the first part “Chapora beach”. The bigger part is called Big Vagator, which will further lead you to the next beach in this list.
What to do on Vagator beach: Vagator beach is next to Chapora fort which offers stunning views of this beach on one side and Siolim river on the other side. Visit this fort around sunset to make the most of it. Moreover, it’s a 2-minute climb which can be painful if the sun is strong (mid day) or can be pleasant as the sun begins to set.
Ozran beach or Small Vagator Beach – North Goa Beaches
Small Vagator is a tiny beach as the name suggests. This beach is perfect for watching sunsets as you sit on the rocks and sip Kings beer. This is my favorite place to stay in Goa during mid season. I highly recommend you stay at Cochichos Resort if you’re looking for a place to stay in this area.
The best part: As you walk along the end of Ozran beach, you will notice a carving of Lord Shiva’s face on one of the rocks. This carving was done in the 1990s by an Italian traveler.
Shiva Rock Faces in Vagator – Faces on the Rocks – North Goa beaches
What to do in Vagator: Vagator has some of the best bars and party areas of Goa. Try to attend a typical old school Goa trance party in 9 bar or Hill top.
Recommended places to stay on Ozran Beach: The best is Cochichos Resort but it gets sold out very soon. Ozran and Vagator beaches are together, so I have combined the hotel / hostel list. Please refer to the recommended places to stay in Vagator.
09 | Anjuna Beach
While Anjuna area is good for parties, the beach is bad for a swim because it’s very rocky and the water doesn’t feel clean. At the end of this beach, you will find Curlies shack which is perhaps the most famous shack in all of Goa.
The best part: The best part of Anjuna is not the beach, it’s the back lanes! While most of the beaches have straight back lanes where it’s easy to keep a track of the direction, Anjuna’s roads are more like a maze. Some of my favorite and coolest places to stay in Goa are in Anjuna’s backlanes.
Anjuna has one straight road which has a few ATMs and a hated Domino’s pizza joint. This road goes to the beach and connects to a many other small streets.
Curlies Shack, Anjuna Beach, North Goa
What to do in Anjuna: Back in the 1960s and 70s, many hippies visited Goa and did not leave. Anjuna was their home and they often sold their belongings on the streets. Soon artists from all over India joined them and started selling their handicrafts. This is how Anjuna Flea Market started and has evolved over the years. It’s a must visit for any traveler.
Red Door Hostel in Anjuna, Goa – North Goa Beaches
Also, Anjuna is famous for its parties so check out places like Curlies, Shiva Valley, UV Bar or Pirate bar (it was earlier known as “Hippie bar”) for a psytrance beach party that usually goes on till early morning. If you’re not into psytrance, you may want to check out Liliput cafe.
This is perhaps the most crowded part of Goa. These beaches are frequently visited by Indian families because they are considerably closer to Goa airport as compared to most of the beaches on this list. Sadly, this part of Goa gets more visitors than it can handle, which is evident from the amount of traffic jams that one has to bear. This area also has some of the most 5 star hotels in Goa.
These beaches are connected and you can reach from one to another by just walking on the sand. Please don’t completely write off this part of Goa because of my post. If you visit Goa during low season, then I recommend you make a day visit to this part of Goa to visit some famous restaurants and Fort Aguada.
These beaches also have many water-sport options available, such as jet ski, banana boat, para sailing, etc. Of course by now you know that this is my least favorite part of Goa and I don’t recommend you visit this are if you’re visiting Goa during peak season.
10 | Baga Beach
Baga River, North Goa Beaches
One of the most famous beaches in Goa, Baga is very popular for young Indian travelers. This beach starts at Baga river and ends at Calangute beach. The beach is dotted with many beach bars and shacks. The most famous restaurant in this area is Bittos. If you visit, do try their seafood platter, which is surprisingly affordable for the amount and quality.
One of the most famous street of Goa is here and is called “Tito’s lane” which has been named after the famous nightclubs of this area – Club Tito’s. Other party areas are Club Mambos and LoungeFly.
Things to do in Baga: Visit the nearby village – Arpora. The location of Goa’s famous “Saturday Night Market” in Arpora. This market is a lot of fun to visit because of live music, performances, good food and of course a fantastic market. Saturday night bazaar takes place on Saturday nights from November to February every year.
Places to Party in Baga: Club Cabana in Arpora where there is a ladies night every Wednesday and it’s an open bar with unlimited drinks for women. Men can pay INR 1000 to enter and also drink unlimited drinks. Other party places are Club Tito’s, Mambos and LoungeFly.
11 | Calangute Beach
Parasailing on Calangute Beach – North Goa Beaches
Perhaps the most crowded beach of Goa, this beach will offer you sights of families fully clothed and in water. You will also spot many newly wedded couples wherein women are inside the water wearing expensive gold jewelry and high heels. This beach is what I had in my mind when I wrote this post about what not to wear on the beach.
Recommended restaurant: Souza Lobo
Recommended place to stay: None. Please do yourself a favor and don’t stay here.
12 | Candolim Beach
Candolim is one of the better beaches in this zone. It is definitely not as crowded as the above two beaches and if you’re lucky, you may find yourself a decent shack with good reggae music and King’s beer. This beach is frequently visited by retired English couples and you will find that most of the bars play “The Beatles”. In fact, the first time I ever saw a beach in my life was Candolim!
This beach is further south of Candolim and is home to a few high end resorts, including the famous Taj (one of the best hotels in Goa). This is the most peaceful beach of zone 4 and has only 2-3 beach bars (shacks). Do visit the nearby Fort Aguada while you are here. Right next to Fort Aguada is Central Jail of Aguada, Goa.
Zone 5 – Nerul river to Dona Paula beach and beyond
This zone is the remaining part of North Goa which is beyond Fort Aguada. It has some of the smaller beaches of North Goa. This part of Goa gets fewer visitors as compared to zones 3 and 4. It is mostly inhabited by locals with fewer accommodation options for visitors. I have limited knowledge of these beaches but here you go:
14 | Coco Beach Dandarim
Coco beach Dandarim Goa is a small and rocky beach with almost nothing on it except a place that you can rent on AirBnB called Ahilya by the Sea. This little property is new but it’s already a favorite of travel writers from Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and India Today.
15 | Miramar Beach
I have visited this beach only once with a local. I like how things are affordable on this beach because it is frequently visited only by the local Goans. I ate a memorable meal of sorpotel (Goan pork delicacy) in a local restaurant near the beach called De Silva’s. Oh and if you’re in a mood to head to a casino in Goa, then Miramar is the place for you.
On the way to Miramar beach from Panjim road, there are many river side casinos where you can try your luck. As you drive on this road, you will notice a row of casinos next to Mandovi river. One casino that stands out is Casino Royale.
Casino Royale next to Mandovi river near Miramar Beach
16 | Dona Paula Beach
This beach is on a triangular part of Goa, so can be called a peninsula with a smaller Dias beach on the other side. A jetty connects to a spot in the middle which is called
“Dona Paula viewpoint”.
17 | Bambolim Beach
Perhaps it was Grand Hyatt North Goa which put this beach on the map for most of the non Goans. They say it’s easy to find oyster shells here. Let me know if you ever find any!
18 | Siridao Beach
This is a long strip of fishing beach that is divided in a few parts by rocks. At the extreme south corner is a Chapel of Jesus Nazareth.
Where to go after North Goa?
South Goa
South Goa can be reached by a scooter, car or a bus. Travel time can be anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, depending on how far you want to go. Watch out for my guide to South Goa’s beaches which will be published soon.
Hampi
Hampi can be reached by an overnight bus from Goa or an early morning train. Hampi is a unique destination with ruins of an ancient civilization and weird geology which will make you feel like you’re a part of Star Wars movie. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. Read my guide to Hampi here.
Gokarna
A little beyond South Goa is a hippie destination called Gokarna, which can be reached by a 3 hour train ride or car ride from Goa. Gokarna is famous for its “OM” beach, which is in the shape of ॐ (Om). Watch out for my guide to Gokarna which will be published soon.
Have you been to North Goa already and have a few tips to add? Let me know in the comments section. If you enjoyed reading this guide to North Goa beaches and beyond, please share it with your friends on Facebook.
Namaste, Guten Tag!
I'm Sonal from India, living in Germany and exploring Europe. I've been writing about my travel adventures since 2015. I often travel alone (and sometimes with my husband & our toddler).
I love nature, adventure, hiking to viewpoints, Yoga, and road trips. I love creating itineraries and in-depth travel guides which will help you make the most of your trip.
