For most of the people heading towards Goa, it is one long beach. But once they are there they realize this folly of them. Goa is a state though a small one and there is a large number of beaches, many towns and a good network of roads. It is a state of seven rivers and their estuaries, there are hills with lush green vegetation, and most of the tourists are needed to cover large distances to move from one place to other. Goa has a total coastline of 125 km and that makes people believe that it is a long big beach however illusionary it is. Some famous beaches of Goa are Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Dona Paula, Calangute Beach, Condolim Beach in North Goa and Colva Beach, Varca Beach, Palolem Beach, Benaulim Beach, Bogmalo Beach in South Goa.
North Goa Beaches
Betalbatim Beach
Across the Mandovi River linking Panjim with the north Goa beaches Betalbatim is the fishing and boat-building village. There is a ferry that shuttles to Panjim’s old steamer jetty. The village is inundated with traffic during day. Here you will find a small Sikh temple or Gurudwara, whose gleaming white Mogul domes and saffron pennant are visible from opposite shore.
Candolim Beach
Candolim at the far southern end of Calangute beach is a surprisingly sedated resort. Now with the increase in tourism the beach has been slightly transformed, to some for the best, to others for the detriment. To the south of Candolim, along peninsula extends into the sea, bring the seven kilometre white sandy beach to an abrupt end, Aguada Fort, which crowns the rocky flattened top of the headland is the best preserved Portuguese bastion in Goa. On the north side of the fort, a rampart of red-brown laterite juts into the bay to from a jetty between two small sandy coves. This picturesque spot is Sinquerim Beach.
South Goa Beaches
South Goa is predominantly virgin countryside. The beaches of South Goa are fantastic. Most of the beaches are isolated from anything that might disturb the peace, all you have to do here is enjoy the beaches, wonderful food and hospitality of the locals. The long stretch of beaches are Miramar, Dona Paula, Vainguinim, Bambolim, Vasco da Gama, Bogmalo, Velsao, Cansaulim, Arrosim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Cavelossim, Mobor, Betul, Cabo DA ram, Agonda, Palolem, Galjibag and Polem.
Miramar Beach
Miramar beach is located south of Panjim with a 2 km of dark sand stretch overlooking Aguada Bay. Though the beach is noisy and less attractive than other places in Goa, if you want a quick escape from Panjim, this is an ideal place. The best time to be there is in the afternoon when you will only find the fishermen fixing their nets and few odd cafes serving the tourist. It would be a waste spending your holiday near this beach. Buses to Miramar ply from the Kadamba bus stand every fifteen minutes.
Dona Paula Beach
Dona Paula, is 9 km south west of Panjim on the south side of the rocky hammer shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries. The views from the top of the peninsula over the Miramar beach and the Mormugao harbor are quite pleasant enough. Another attraction is the old fishing jetty which shuttles across the bay to the Mormugao harbor four times a day, this twenty minute ride is a great fun There are regular buses from Panjim till 9 p.m dropping the passengers at Institute of Oceanography, where you can usually pick up an auto-rickshaws into the town. There are lot of water sport activities in this beach.
Vainguinim Beach
The beach runs around in a bay from Dona Paula is Vainguinim beach where hotels stretches along much of it. The beach is totally safe from beach traders. The Jesuits had occupied this area towards the end of the 16 th century. It was an orchard, watered by two springs, that were surrounded by an acre grove.
Bambolim Beach
Bambolim beach is five kilometers from Panaji, towards South Goa, via the village of Santa Crux, It is very popular among early morning swimmers and is also considered a lovely spot for a picnic.
Vasco DA Gama Beach
Travellers flying into Goa land at Dabolim airport, 4km Southeast of unappealing Vasco DA Gama, the south’s first and largest Port. Vasco is laid out in a grid, bordered by Mormugao Bay to the north, and by the train line on its southern side.
Bogmalo Beach
Bogmalo is only 4km from the airport. Mormugao peninsula’s sun-parched central plateau tumbles to a flat-bottomed valley lined with coconut trees and red-brick huts. The sandy beach at the end of the cove is known as none other than Bogmalo Bay. Bogmalo is still to this day a small fishing village, with the beach being hemmed in by a pair of palm-fringed badlands. Due to its size and location there are some excellent about this beach. It is generally very clean, safe and free of persistent beach sellers. Bogmalo is very well known for its scuba diving as the boat sails out from this beach brings the guests back for a relaxing drink on the beach.
Utorda Beach
Seven kilometers from north of Colva is Utorda, idyllic strip of palm-ringed shore. Towards the north is Arrosim and towards the south is Majorda Beach. The entire long stretch of beach is lovely and peaceful.
Majorda Beach
To the north of Colva, the beach stretches 5km towards the headland of Bogmalo and Mormugao. Further to the south is Betalbatim and Colva. Towards the north is the most peaceful beach Velsao. Majorda beach is idyllic thing in our minds about these beaches is the total solitude that you will find, as you can walk for hours on end and only pass a handful of people. There are also a few excellent shacks that sell exquisite sea food, after you have worked up a good appetite with the walking.
Colva Beach
Colva Beach is approximately eight kilometers from Margao, the commercial centre of South Goa. It is the most popular beach of South Goa and hence the most crowded. Colva beach has good number of beach shacks. On weekends and festivals the beach gets fairly crowded with the city crowd of Margao.
