Goa has an incredible variety of beaches for such a small state, and each area has its particular character. From the wild and empty beaches of the very north, through to the more popular and busy tourist destinations, right down to the beautiful, quiet beaches of the far south. There's a beach in Goa that is just right for you. Read on, Goa's beaches are waiting to be explored...
	Calangute Beach

The Beautiful South... Bogmalo to Mobor

South Goa is very special. Apart from Bogmalo which is a bay at the top of South Goa, it's basically one long beach (about 15 miles), with the beaches named after the nearest fishing village. This area is less commercial but as more hotels have been built along the coast, the beaches have become more popular, although you can still walk for miles without seeing anybody, try it at sunrise and it will remain in your mind forever.

Bogmalo Beach. Our first impression was of how busy the beach was compared to the last time we visited. It was a Sunday when we visited and we discovered it is extremely popular with the locals, so if it's peace and quiet you're looking for we advise you to avoid the weekends. The beach is only 300 metres long and dotted with a few beach shacks and is protected from the currents and tides by the natural bay making it easier to swim in the sea. As the day fades into twilight, what better way to end it than by sipping a local cocktail at a 'hut' like 'Joets' while watching the sun setting on the distant horizon.

Velsao Beach is by far the quietest beach with several small hamlets inland. Beach shacks are rare and it is very beautiful and unspoilt. The Velsao area is ideal for a very quiet, relaxing holiday.

Arrossim Beach and Uttorda Beach, just south of Velsao, are also very quiet and signify the start of the beautiful, continuous beach that finishes 15 miles away by the River Sal. The beach here is wide, beautifully sandy and extremely picturesque. The Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa is located on this stretch, and it's here where watersports are available, followed a little further down by the Kenilworth Hotel with a handful of shacks on the beach. At the Arrossim end of the beach, in an elevated position is one of the most popular shacks called 'Zeebop' which is the best place to sit with a cold beer in the afternoon whilst enjoying the superb sunsets. Well worth a visit.

Majorda Beach is one of the most famous of the southern beaches. This is due to the Majorda Beach Garden Resort, which is a very well established and popular hotel. There are many beach shacks and even the hotel's own is competitively priced. A couple of the shacks were proudly advertising the fact they now sell Cider, the latest addition to an ever growing drinks menu. There is a nice breeze in the afternoons and a 15-20 minutes walk to the left will take you to our brochured Nanu Resort.

Betalbatim Beach is the beach directly north of Colva, an approximate 15 minutes walk, and dominated by the Nanu Resort. The beach here has several beach shacks (we counted 8 on our most recent visit), increasing as you get closer to Colva. This is still a relatively peaceful beach and is great for an afternoon stroll along the shore. Dolphins and birds of prey are often sighted here and everyone is friendly, that's why it is so popular with our guests and people visit year in and year out.

Colva Beach is quite a busy beach with shacks on stilts, 'Kentuckee's' open 24-hrs, and a few bridges leading to the Colva roundabout, the main hub where you will find transport, shops, stalls, bars, restaurants, and the main road into Margao. It has got busier over the last few years and is very popular with day visitors; best to go on a week day if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle.

Sernabatim Beach is a continuation of Colva Beach heading south towards Benaulim. The sand dunes are much higher here and the waves seem to break further out, making swimming easier. We found 'Anthy's' is still a fantastic choice for relaxation and good food; this area is easily walkable from either Benaulim or Colva. It's a quieter section of beach and the sunsets are unbelievable. There is nothing nicer than sitting in a beach shack on the dunes downing a beer (or two!).

Benaulim Beach can be identified when you spot 'Johncy's' and a car park signifies the end of the beach road leading from the 'Royal Palms'. There are usually quite a few people as you initially step onto the beach and several shacks with sunbeds and umbrellas. Once a pretty quiet beach we found it much busier with shacks and sunbeds now extending pretty much along the whole section of beach and watersports are also available.

Cavelossim Beach has really become very popular during the last four years. As more hotels have been built, the area has developed into a village with lots of shops, bars and restaurants. If you're looking for a bit of life but nothing too hectic then it's absolutely fantastic. Mike and Edwin (cousins), remain popular with their restaurants in central Cavelossim, 'Mike's Place' and 'The Goan Village', as well as offering beach parties with fireworks at their shacks on the beach. There are many shacks to choose from and many guests befriend the locals in this area and come back to visit good friends.

Mobor Beach is the last section of beach, separated from the next stretch by the River Sal as it meets the Arabian Sea. The beach is wide, the sand yellow, and there are beach shacks for sustenance. A couple of 4* hotels are located here including the 'Holiday Inn', as well as 5* 'The Leela' and it is a walkable distance (quicker by beach) from Mobor into Cavelossim. This area attracts lots of dolphins and most of the trips taking holidaymakers to spot them set off from here. If you are into the local wildlife, do go up the River Sal to see the bats, their wing-span can reach up to a metre. This area is stunningly beautiful and should be high on your agenda of places to visit.

Cola, Canacona. There are many beautiful beaches along the coast of South Goa and Cola Beach in Canacona is an exceptional example. The scenic drive to this hidden location is an unforgettable experience in itself but nothing can quite prepare you for the beauty and the tranquillity that awaits you. When you catch your first glimpse of the beach from above the palm trees it completely stops you in your tracks; you are looking down on paradise. As you enter the picture postcard setting you know that you have found a true heaven, a place that takes your breath away. A unique and enterprising idea has complemented this bay to perfection. A number of beautifully hand-made tents from Rajasthan have been brought to the bottom of the hillside and these offer the opportunity to stay at this lovely place for a night or a few days. See your rep. for more details. If you're looking for the ultimate beach experience Cola will live up to your expectations of complete peace, relaxation and exotic beauty.

Agonda Beach is another relaxing find of great beauty. A lovely, sandy stretch of beach with a number of places to stay and eat. We visited this beach on a Sunday morning and it was the perfect setting. A small herd of about eight or nine cows were lazing in the shade watching a group of small boys playing football on the shoreline. We could have happily stayed here all day and can recommend it as a worthwhile day trip for beach lovers.

Palolem Beach is also known as 'Paradise Beach' and is very picturesque. About a mile long, the beach curves to an island-like promontory with coconut palms bordering the sand. Palolem just a few years ago was very quiet but it has changed. There are now hundreds of shacks offering almost any type of cuisine you can think of, shops, bars and pubs. Many small basic accommodations fringe the beach, most of them are built on stilts and look as though they are about to topple over but this does not seem to deter people from staying in them. Although this beach used to be known as idyllic and peaceful, it is now the liveliest beach in the south and at times is as lively as Baga. At eight o'clock on a Sunday morning it was bliss, not a soul in sight except for the fishermen preparing to go out to sea. It was almost like it used to be years ago but then we found the reason why. There had been a huge party on the beach the night before which only finished two hours before we arrived, so everyone was still sleeping. The party scene has definitely found Palolem, it is popular, full of life, people and music (except at eight o'clock on a Sunday morning!)