The sun on your face, the wind in your hair, the sand under your feet and the clear water forms the cherry on top for your summer day at the beach.
Goa has every reason to boast about its beaches. They are quite shallow and one can wander into the sea to an extent before it goes deep. There are three main beaches in Northern Goa — Anjuna, Baga and Calangute.
At Anjuna beach, you can spend time sun bathing or watching the sunset from the rocks. It isn’t your typical quiet beach. It is the happening place for the night crowd during the tourist season. Anjuna is famous for its nightlife and parties. Stick around till Wednesday for the flea market experience. Brush up your haggling skills, shop and take home some great souvenirs, clothes, jewellery and shoes. The nearest town is Mapusa and the bus can take you to Anjuna beach.
Beached!
Baga is comparatively quieter. If you’re looking for a lazy, laid-back summer with some great food, drinks and music, then this is the right place for you. There aren’t any water sports in Baga that you can engage in, but a visit to the old Portuguese forts are sure to take you back in time. Baga is approximately an hour’s drive from Vasco da Gama port town and the nearest railway station is Margao.
One of the most popular beaches in Goa, Calangute is a treat for the adventure sports freak in you. There are a number of water sports operators and you can choose from a variety of activities like parasailing, wind surfing, paragliding, water skiing and riding water scooters. It can cost anything from Rs. 200 to over Rs. 1,500, depending on the level of risk involved. June to September is off-season and therefore, water sports activities are suspended during this time.
You can also do tons of shopping here — from Goan dresses, jewellery to electronic devices. The shoreline is also dotted with a number of tattoo parlours. Young boys roaming around with paints for temporary “tattoos” is a common sight. The nearest railway station is Thivim, which is about 20 minutes from Calangute.
The tourist season in Goa is from October to February. Foreigners throng the beaches during this time of the year and the summer months from March till May-end are just as busy.
The crowded beaches here don’t take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Apart from looking forward to a nice, laid-back vacation, you can roam the town, hire bicycles or motorcycles or take the local buses to get around. Visit the old Portuguese forts and churches if you want to admire some beautiful and elaborate architecture.
