This one was the ‘cherry on the cake’ of all the trips I made in 2019. And just a slight exaggeration to add to its worthiness, we canceled our trip to Singapore, or rather I should say that we postponed it, to have a lovely excursion with 2 of my best mates and their wives and one kid. A family vacation in Goa. Subtle right!! And we do not regret it at all. (PS: this was not sarcastically said if you might be thinking so).There is so much more to explore in Goa than only Beaches and cheap liquor. However, one thing that we missed because of it being a family trip was Goa’s Nightlife.
Let’s get into the details…
Days required– 4-5 days(more the merrier)
Nearby places to go – Goa although is the smallest state in India but still, everything can’t be covered in a single trip. Don’t miss the Dudhsagar trip.
Best time to visit –November to February is the peak tourist season here. Prices hike up during Christmas and new year.
Summers here are really hot plus humid to explore the region but early morning and late evening one may be able to sit and relax at the beaches.
Monsoon paints Goa in a completely different color, especially South Goa but beach activities become highly restricted and shacks around them are closed. But this offseason makes Goa lighter on the pocket and very picturesque.
Dudhsagar is also closed during heavy rainfall.
How to reach –
By Air – Panjim has Dabolim airport which has very good connectivity to all major cities in the country.
By Rail – Margao in South Goa and Vasco in the central region are the two main railway stations that connect to all major cities in the country.
By road – many buses (govt. As well as private) runs from nearby states.
Self-drive – people from Maharashtra and Karnataka prefer a road trip to Goa because of the terrain around the roads which is highly soothing.
How we traveled – All three of us couples were at three different cities – Jaipur, Ludhiana, and Mumbai. We reached Delhi by train and then took a direct flight to Goa. The other two met in Mumbai and reached Goa by train.
Where to stay – Like most of us, much of our planning time was wasted in deciding that we should book accommodation in North or South Goa and finally we fixed on an Airbnb in Colva, South Goa.
You can stay in North Goa, Panjim or South Goa. Each one has its pros and cons.
A complete review of the Airbnb stay and South/North Goa dilemma will be published separately so that you can decide for yourself.
How to go around – Use GOAMILES for airport pick up and drop facility (available on play store). They are the Uber/Ola of Goa(these services are not available in Goa). Taxi union rates are quite high in Goa. It is fairly easy to roam in and around Goa. Rent a 2/4-wheeler for your own and the rental shops can be found almost everywhere where they provide rental scooters, bikes, and cars. Another option is booking a whole day taxi for yourself but it will cost you around Rs.3000-4000 depending on the distance and time.-
Places to visit – The list will be long if I start mentioning the beaches to visit in Goa. Here are a few beaches popular among visitors.
North Goa – Most loved and famous beaches in Goa and hence are crowded too. Nightlife, water activities, from cozy relaxing beds to a candlelight dinner by the beach…You name it and it would be there. With permanent and temporary shacks along the whole stretch of the beach which offer good music, beer and the happening vibe one just cannot get bored here. From morning sunbath to late-night chills everything is possible.
Candolim, Baga, and Calangute beaches are the most famous ones. Another one worth mentioning is the Sinquerim beach near Aguada fort for its quiet and peaceful vibes.
South Goa – Down south, it is the complete opposite of the North Goa. Beaches here are much cleaner, greener, and less crowded than North Goa. Colva, Agonda, Palolem, Butterfly beach are some of the famous names in South Goa. These have become popular because of their good mix of quietness and liveliness at the same with strings of shops, eateries, and resorts. These are located 30-50km from the Goa airport.
Water Activities – parasailing, boat rides, banana rides, jet ski, and other activities are common at Baga and Calangute beach.
Casino – Big Daddy, Casino Pride, Casino Pride 2 are some on-shore casinos at River Mandovi. There are cover charges which include entry and dinner at Casino. Goa is the only place in India where you can have this experience.
Arpora Saturday night market – close to Bagabeach., starts after 7 pm and only on Saturdays. This is kind of a flea market where one can enjoy live music with shopping for Goa souvenirs, itsy bitsy stuff, and food stalls. Variety of hippy clothes, decorative items, artificial jewelry, face masks, and much more to make you Goa party-ready would be available here.
Chapora fort – more commonly known as Dil Chahta hai Fort is an old ruined fort in North Goa. The best time to visit the fort is early morning or evening as it is exhausting to cover this fort in the noon. But it offers good scenic backgrounds of the Vagator beach.
Dudhsagar waterfalls – 70km from the airport, this majestic waterfall is a part of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. Falling from a height of 1000ft, this waterfall can be reached by a jeep or one may trek(10km). For a comfortable trip, reach the booking counter in time, pay for the jeep and life jacket and you are good to go. Also, there are few trek routes to reach the waterfalls which are around 10-14 km long and give you some of the amazing views of the waterfall.
Sahakari spice plantation – On the way back to Goa from Dudhsagar falls, usually, there is a stop at this spice plantation that provides an informative tour of the spice garden and Goan meal for the entry fee of Rs.400 per person.
Fountainhas – Reminder of Portuguese culture and history in India, this place is usually missed by the visitors in Goa. Best explored on foot, these colorful narrow streets have monuments and houses dated back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
Churches of Goa – Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, and Church of St. Francis of Assisi are located in Panjim just opposite to each other. There is also an archeological museum nearby.
Se Cathedral houses the Golden Bell which is the largest in Goa and among the best in the world.
Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the oldest churches in India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is one beautiful church in Panjim – Immaculate Conception Church which reminds of the Portuguese influence in Goa.
Where to eat – You are in Goa – Land of fish and feni. Do try their Goanthali and beer. They have a wide variety of seafood – crabs, prawns, fish, lobster. Also, you can find eateries serving other local and international cuisines as well-.
Itinerary –
Day 1 – we took an early flight for Goa and reached there at 8 am. We booked a cab through Goamiles(which is much cheaper than local taxi union rates) to our Airbnb accommodation in Colva, South Goa. Just after crossing the highway, we felt that our decision of staying in south goa was correct. It was a single road with greenery all around with a few vibrantly colored houses scattered on the stretches around.
It took roughly 30min to reach and check-in, and after unpacking some stuff we ordered our breakfast through Swiggy(yes, both Zomato and Swiggy are available there). Our friends arrived around 12 Noon and a little later, the first thing we did was to get rental bikes. They provide free pick up and drop facility. Rent the vehicle acc. To your need. You can take a bike, scooter, or car. Usual timing is 9 am to 6 pm but you can bargain with the owner for time and rent fee. Refuel according to your need as they don’t refund/return fuel and you will not find fuel station easily in South Goa. For emergencies, every other shop around, sell fuel for some extra charge.
We first had lunch at a restaurant nearby. It was really hot outside around 2 pm even in November so we waited there till 4 pm and then headed for our stop – the MOBOR Beach which was 15 km from Colva. The way to the beach was very scenic with some villages in between, paddy fields, a few swamps, and churches. Not completely desolate but you will find very few vehicles and very few tourists there and the same was the case when we reached the beach. Other than a dozen of foreigners, there was no one on the beach. Clear water with shades of green&blue was so tempting that we could not stop ourselves from getting into it. After spending an hour for the blissful photo session here, we headed for another beach nearby – VARCA Beach. This one was too so pleasant to stay and we just relaxed here and witnessed the sunset.
We came back to our resort in the evening and enjoyed the lazy night with pizza and beer.
Day 2
We had booked an Innova for the North Goa tour as it was 50 km from Colvawhich made the day convenient for us as a group with a kid. This is a major and probably the only disadvantage of staying in South Goa. As a first time visitor, we did not want to miss the north goa experience too. Our first stop was Chapora Fort(aka DIL CHAHTA HAI Fort). It was my strong desire to get to this fort with my dearest friends and get clicked there. The cherry on the cake was that we found a small trek near to fort which had the clear blue ocean at its end which was kind of a cliff(but not exactly as one would assume). Almost a deserted walkway, full of nature and an oceanic breeze to welcome you, one may spend a complete day here itself. The view from the fort was mesmerizing with the endless ocean till the horizon in the front and a beach with a large green patch covered with palm trees on its sides. However, it was again very hot and humid that day but, the water bottles, hats, and the sunscreens kept us going and exploring the landscape even in the scorching heat.
We had lunch as we left Chapora fort and again waited for 2 hours to get past the bright sunshine. We reached the Baga beach around 4 pm. There are sufficiently big parking spaces and a tourist information center and the bathing facility near the beach. On the beach, many shacks were serving cold beer and seafood. We rented beds in front of the beach(Rs.100 per hour) to relax there. Few of us went for parasailing there which took an hour. If you had tried water activities anywhere else then there is no need to repeat it here as it is very crowded here at Baga. Also, one has to be careful while booking these water activities. For example, they charge Rs 900 for 1min of para-sailing at the booking counter by the beach. Now, once you are in the actual boat, the person-in-charge there will tell you that for Rs1400 we will increase the time to 5min. Now, one may think that he has to pay the difference amount which is Rs500 but no, they usually mean Rs 1400 above Rs 900 already paid. So, they may scam you by overcharging. So, keep it clear that what will be the amount before getting on the parachute to avoid an unnecessary argument.
After sunset, the beach got all sparkling with the lights around the shacks and the relaxing beds were replaced by the dinner tables decorated with candles on them. Later we left for Arpora Night Market (it opens only on Saturdays). This is a flea market where local and international artists and sellers had their products such as clothing items, decorative, jewelry, perfumes, etc on sale. After the tour, I can say that we should have stayed at the beach for a few more hours to enjoy the illumination, music, food at the beach. Also, we had a time restriction on our taxi booking and hence we had to leave early as we were 50 km away from our stay. So for everyone who doesn’t want to miss the lively nights of Goa, I recommended them to book their accommodation in North Goa.
Day 3
We had it reserved for the Old Goa trip and again hired Innova as we found it to be a more economical and comfortable option. We reached Old Goa and visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus, St. Cathedral, and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. They all are situated just across the road. Basilica of Bom Jesus has the St Francis Xavier’s tomb preserved carefully for the devotees. After lunch, we visited another beautiful Church – Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji. Most of us would have watched it Bollywood movies shot in Goa. It has very intriguing geometrical symmetries when seen from the outside. We had planned to visit Dauna Paula beach as well but it was closed for some reason so, we decided to return to our resort in the evening. We had the whole evening available and the pool in the resort was kind of inviting us. We arranged some music in the background and it was fun partying and relaxing with friends after 2 days of sightseeing.
Day 4
We woke up at 4 am for the Dudhsagar trip. We started at 5 am in our Innovaand reached there by 6:30 am. A few cars were already there. Local shops started opening and we had tea and Maggi for breakfast. The booking counter opens at 8 am which books a jeep for you. Then life jackets are rented compulsorily. We were the first one in the queue for the entry and it has its benefit as we were in the first batch to reach the waterfalls and afterward, it became so much crowded. A 4×4 Jeep takes you through the rough bumpy 45 min ride to the parking near the falls and then you have to walk for 10-15 min to reach the actual site. A gigantic waterfall coming through big rocks in its glory and collecting at the ground in an area of roughly 100 yards which makes itself a natural swimming pool is a treat to watch. Although none of us knew swimming, the life jackets on us gave the confidence to jump in that deep chilling water with stones beneath and fishes swimming along with us. It was frightening initially because we were literally floating on the water just with the help of the life jackets, but later it was fun only. An operational bridge with railway tracks on it halfway up on the waterfall with the occasional passage of train reminds of the scene from the movie Chennai Express.
The same driver dropped us back at the starting point. We witnessed a mild traffic jam inside the jungle on our way back to the booking counter because of the people coming later. Such conditions arise due to the fact that every vehicle gets 1.5hr to spend at the waterfall after which they should return. But because this time seems to be so less, usually people end up spending at least an hour more (for which they pay an extra amount)- which creates overcrowding at the location.
On the way back to Colva, we made a stop at a spice plantation. Though it was my idea to visit this place I regretted it when I tasted the food there. This place is nothing less than a scam as they charge Rs.400 per person for a tour and buffet meal which sounds good but after taking the first bite, you will know that you wasted your money here. Tour was good and informative. They also let you try their FENI but the food was awful.
In the evening, we decided to check out the famous Casinos in Panaji, our friends had a train to Mumbai and we had an extra night and day to us in Goa. I rented the scooter(Bike and car were not available at that time) and reached Panjim which took 2 hours(35 km)as there was heavy traffic on the way. We had to go back 35 km on a 2-wheeler so, we decided to cut short our trip to Casino. We went to Casino Pride 2 which is a newer version of their old onshore casino at Mandovi river. After paying for the cover charge, a speedboat takes you to Casino on the river. It was a 3-floor casino with 1st and 2nd floor comprising of all game tables and slot machines and the 3rd floor was the dining area with a dance floor where there was a dance group performing. We tried our hand at a few tables and slot machine games won a few bucks and headed back home.
Day 5
We had an evening flight so we decided to go to Colva beach which was a 5min ride from our stay. Beach was very different in the morning with very people there. Few foreign tourists swimming and locals going for catching fishes. We spent 3 hours there doing nothing but I think it was the best time of our trip.
We went back to our resort, got ready, and paid for the rental vehicle, and booked a cab through GOAMILES to the airport.
Expenses (2 people) for the entire trip – Rs.50000
Flights – Rs.19000
Airbnb – Rs.6100(our share for 4 nights)
Train(Ludhiana to Delhi and back) – Rs.4350(3AC)
Uber/Ola/Metro(Delhi/Ludhiana)- Rs.600
Taxi (Innova) for a day trip in Goa -3300(our share). Taxi cost around Rs3000-4000 for a day
Water activity – Rs.1300(parasailing at Baga Beach)
Dudhsagar trip – taxi to Dudhsagar –Rs.3000(Innova) + Rs500(Jeep safari per person fees) + 40(lifejacket charges) + Rs.50(per person Forest dept. fees) + Rs.300(each extra hour). Our share was Rs.2450.
Spice plantation visit – Rs.400 per person(tour and food included in fees)
Liquor – Rs.1250(my share. Liquor is very cheap there)
Goamiles/Uber(Pickup and drop from Dabolim Airport and Delhi Airport) – 1500
Bike rental and petrol-500+500+350 =1350
Food- Rs.4200
Shopping- Rs.350
Casino-Rs.3000(cover charges for a couple inclusive of entry and dinner and Rs.1000 coupon for playing)
Quick tips for fellow travelers –
- Choose your accommodation wisely. If you are in Goa for nightlife, stay in North Goa or Panjim. If you are looking for some peacetime and secluded clean beaches, stay in South Goa.
- Before renting any vehicle, check out its condition properly. Best is to make a video in front of the owner or shop before renting to avoid any dispute later. Confirm fuel status and pick up/drop facility and timings. Always ask for a new vehicle.
- Try Goamiles App if you are not a fan of a self-driving vehicle. It is very cheap when compared to taxi rates there.
- It is very costly to visit Goa in December especially in the last week of the year so if you are planning for a new year celebration in Goa, then plan and book accommodation and flights well in advance.
- Casinos in Goa are open 24*7 but they become lively after sunset. Most of them are on the Mandovi river. Casino pride 2 and Big Daddy are the most preferred choices. They have cover charges usually ranging from Rs.1500-3000 per person and dress code. Do check out their website or call them before visiting.
- Booking for Dudhsagar opens at 8 am. Reach there in advance for early safari. It gets crowded afterward. Carry swimwear and towels and water bottles with you. It is closed in monsoon and treks to falls are risky too.
Ratings(it is subjective and my personal opinion)
- Overall rating 9/10 The beaches of south Goa, a beach party in north goa, and casinos and churches in Panjim make Goa equally popular among domestic and international visitors.
- Expense 5/10 – Costly as compared to other big cities or tourist destinations. Flights cost around Rs4000-5000 and taxis are costly there. No Ola/Uber. Public transportation is not so popular among tourists. The only cheaper option is rental vehicles.
- Travel ease 9/10 – Travelling in and around Goa is fairly easy as you can get rental vehicles everywhere. The only issue will be when you want to go North goa from south Goa or vice versa as they are 40-50 km apart and it is very tiring and time-consuming.
- Food– I will not rate the food in Goa as I was not able to try any of the local cuisine or seafood as all other members were vegetarian including my wife. I hope to get another chance to taste the seafood of Goa.