Are you craving for the sand to slip through your toes, feel the sea breeze on your hair, hear the music of waves hungry to touch the shore, sipping in a cool long drink, then the right place for you is South Goa beaches. South Goa beaches are a contrast to North Goa beaches.
Following are some of the many beaches dotting South Goa. Enjoy!
Bogmalo
The Bogmalo beach is small with a sandy stretch surrounded by three hills, lush with greenery. Unlike other beaches in Gao, this attractive beach is clean and less crowded. The beach is 4 Km from Dabolim Airport and 10 km southeast of Vasco. 5 Kms from here is Sao Jacinto Island with old quaint houses and chapel.
Velsao
The beach here is quiet and peaceful. It is 4 Km from Verna, 17 Km from Dabolim airport. You can visit Velsao Chapel.
Arossim
It is located to the south of Velsao beach and north of Utorda Beach. It is 22 Km from Dabolim Airport and 35 Km from Panaji. A visit to the old Church Cansaulim is recommended.
Majorda
Majorda beach is 26 Km from Dabolim Airport and 37 Km from Panaji. You can visit the 1588 church Mae de Deus Church, which is a fine example of period architecture.
Utorda
This beach is as beautiful as any other beach. Quiet and beautiful. Tourists visit Betalbatim Village and the church of our Lady of Remedios built in 1630.
Colva
Colva is the only beach in South Goa bustling with people and adventure sports. It is overcrowded on weekends and during holidays. During October pilgrims visit Colva to pray in the Infant Jesus Colva Church. It is 26 Km from Dablim Airport, 8 Km from Margao Station and 36 Km from Panaji.
Benaulim
Benaulim is a beautiful beach. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Parashurama’s arrow landed at Benaulim when he shot it into the sea and Gao got extended further into the sea. It is 2 Km south of Colva. You can visit St.John the Baptist church built in 1581, which has Hindu influence. The Holy Trinity Church is another interesting place to visit. A gallery depicting the lives of Portuguese royals attracts many visitors.
Semabatim
This is a quiet and secluded beach located 1 Km from Colva.
Varca
This has the longest stretch of white sand beach. It is referred to as two beaches – Varca and Fatrade. You can visit many of the whitewashed churches and take pictures of the coconut groves, farmland, and paddy fields.
Mobor-Cavelossim
The Sal River forms the Mobor Peninsula when it merges with the Arabian Sea. Mobor is towards the south of Covla, at the southern end of the Salcette coastline, where Sal meets the Arabian Sea. Dabolim airport is 35 km away. You can visit Cabo da Rama Fort, which is in the south of Mobor in the adjoining Canacona taluka to get an insight into Goa’s rich history. You can also visit the Shree Chandreshwar Bhutnath Temple, near Paroda in the neighboring Quepem taluka.
Palolem
Palolem is the beach in Canacona, the southernmost town of Goa. The market town of Canacona is also known as Chaudi. This mile-long beach is very picturesque, with shady palm trees and silvery sand. At the far end is an island-like peninsula to which you can walk during low tide. During evenings, the beach is beautifully lit. There are colorful lampshades in shacks made of rice straw, jute, bamboo, paper mache or plain cloth. The shacks lend color to the coastline at night.
In the southern end of the beach is a stream and near it is a large cup-shaped rock called the Pandava’s Drum. Tourists throw stones on top of the rock to hear the sound that emanates from it, provided that you hit the right spot. At the northern end of the beach is an island. It is 67 Km from Dabolim ariport and 43 Km from Margao station.
Interesting places around Palolem:
Patnem and Colom Beach
Rajbag Beach
Galjibaga Beach
Agonda
This beach is very rarely visited by tourists. It is 10 km north of Palolem on the Canacona coast.
Betul
The Betul hillock rises on the opposite bank from where the Mobor sandbank ends. Witnessing the sunset from the beach is an exhilarating experience. With fruit trees surrounding the beach, it makes for a beautiful sight.
Place Statistics:
Type of Place: Beaches facing Arabian Sea
Situated: South Goa
Transport: Well connected by road and rail
Facilities: Nightspots, Adventure Sports, Body Paining, T’ai Chi and Yoga classes, Dolphin Spotting Cruises, Boat Rides, Fun Cruises, Multi Cuisine Restaurants, Ayurvedic Centers, Resorts, Tents, Tree Houses, Beach houses, Beach Parties, Shacks, Log cabins are available.
Adventure Sports: Adventure sports: There are many adventure sports to indulge in. Among them are windsurfing, kite-buggy rides, paragliding, sand speed sailing and dolphin spotting.
Safety Information: It is risky to swim when there is high tide both in the sea and the rivers
