Goa Beaches
India’s best known beach destination, Goa was a Portuguese settlement for several hundred years and their legacy includes small white churches scattered through the towns and villages, a Christian tradition. Goa has been attracting visitors to its long golden beaches since the 1960’s, but facilities have much improved since then. North Goa is more developed, with towns like Anjuna attracting traders from all over the continent and hundreds of visitors to its weekly market, while South Goa is quieter and generally less developed.
Whether you choose the north or the south, there is no shortage of wonderful beaches, dotted with small family-run restaurants, teams of fishermen hauling in nets, and good-quality hotels.
Some of our favourites which are less crowded and more relaxed are listed below, and in the following pages.
SINQUERIM BEACH
Located 13 kms from the state capital Panaji, this clean white sandy beach is just a stone’s throw away from the historic 17th century Fort Aguada which was built by the Portuguese to defend them from any attack from the sea route. There is uninterrupted firm sand from here all the way north to Baga if you want a long beach walk. One can enjoy water-skiing, para-sailing, Angling, scuba diving and windsurfing. One can find a large number of tourist resorts and hotels that provide excellent accommodation close to the beach. There are also a number of good restaurants situated nearby that serve some tasty dishes and drinks.
BAMBOLIM BEACH
Situated in a shaded spot before the mouth of the river Zuari, this largely undiscovered beach makes Bambolim an easily missed spot. Lying along a hill, this beach is carpeted with broken mother-of –pearl and other shells is a blessing for avid shell collectors. Thick coconut groves line the beach and offer a much needed canopy for privacy in the shade.
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