The beaches of Goa are the highlights of travel in this state, making Goa the premier beach vacation destination. The first beach stop over in Goa is Anjuna beach also famous for its flea market and rave parties, then visit Baga and Dona Paula beaches that can make any beach holiday a memorable one. All in all Goa's 100-km long coastline gives an enthusiastic beach lover an opportunity to discover new secluded beach sites every day.

Beaches of Goa

Anjuna Beach : Goa Carnival, as the name suggests, is exclusively celebrated in the Goa mostly by Christians. However, what is remarkable about the festival is that it refuses to be recognised as a religious event. Instead it is a symbol of Goan culture.

For any tourist coming to Goa, Anjuna beach is an irresistible attraction. Most of these tourists love lying on the golden sands of the beach and enjoy the delicious tropical fruits. A walk in the the evening during the sunset is also something that can be enjoyed by the tourists. The atmosphere of the beach whether during day or night is extremely delightful.

The waters of the Anjuna beach is considered much safer than other beaches for swimming especially at the southern end of the beach which is protected by a rocky headland. However, it is always better for tourists to enquire with local lifeguards before deciding to jump into the water. The full moon parties (acid parties), especially around year end are not to be missed since it is these lively parties that have made Anjuna excessively famous. For the rest of the year, the throbbing music played at the Shore Bar (situated right in the centre of the beach) keeps the atmosphere vibrant. The Guru Bar (further up the beach) is yet another destination that stays open well past midnight.

Attractions around the beach have a charming quality that will definitely be loved by the tourists. The prime attractions include the Chapora Fort, the Albuquerque Mansion and the Mascarenhas Mansion. The Chapora Fort was a stronghold of Muslim rulers before the Portuguese took it away from them. The fort later is still well maintained except few of the areas and provide for an excellent view of the Anjuna beach as well as Vagator beach. The Mascarenhas Mansion will delight the onlookers with its architectural brilliance especially the classic balconies. The mansion also boasts of few of the finest stained glass floral etchings. The Albuquerque Mansion with its octagonal towers and Mangalore tile-roof also draws tourists in large numbers.

Baga Beach : The churches of Goa are not just religious places where people come to offer their prayer, rather they are reminiscent of the era in the Goan history when Portuguese held sway of this small Indian state.

Baga beach, which is basically an extension of the Calangute beach, is more isolated than its immediate neighbour. Tourists visiting the beach can enjoy the scenic beauty of the beach which is markedly different from that of other beaches. The view of sunset, especially is outstanding.

Despite its beauty, Baga is more known as a destination for water sports (like Para sailing, water skiing and wind surfing) and fishing especially with the foreigners who use it a base.

The nightlife of Baga beach is much more vibrant than other beaches. Tito's is hugely popular with the tourists because it has the only dance floors with superb sound system outside the big hotels of Baga.

Baga boasts of the best restaurants in entire Goa. Tourists visiting Baga will find umpteen places to eat and that too on a reasonable price. The restaurants range from the usual beach shacks to swish pizzerias and terrace cafes where people can enjoy a traditional Goan meal (along with continental and mouthwatering seafood) or simply a cup of real espresso coffee. A candlelit dinner at the beachside is also a wonderful option for the tourists. The resorts of Baga include Cavala resort, Colonia Santa maria, Lua Nova.

Benaulim Beach : The churches of Goa are not just religious places where people come to offer their prayer, rather they are reminiscent of the era in the Goan history when Portuguese held sway of this small Indian state.

Benaulim beach is quieter than the other beaches of Goa and offers abundant opportunity to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Tourists can lay back on the sand and feel the coolness that floats in the air. It is also extremely pleasurable for tourists to simply walk on the beach and introspect for a while. There are hawkers and vendors on the beach, but not much crowd to disturb you. Even during the night, tourists can enjoy a privacy they have been wanting for a long time now. A beautiful candle night dinner is an excellent option.

Fishing can be enjoyed by those interested while swimming is also an option for tourists. The water in Benaulim beach is considered much safer for swimming, though it is advisable for tourists to enquire before they decide to take a plunge.

Adorning a hill, little beyond the village that surrounds the beach, is the church of St John the Baptist. The church is worth visiting by the tourists especially during the onset of monsoons when the feast of St John the Baptist is organised. The feast honours the saint's movement in his mother's womb when Mother Mary (Jesus mother) visited him. To pay their respect to the saint, many young men of the village jump in the village well.

Calangute Beach : Calangute is the premier beach attraction for tourists in Goa, who make this beach one of the most frequented one in the state. The beach is located at a distance of mere nine kms from the Goan capital city of Panjim, and as such commuting is never a problem for tourists. The name of the beach.

The golden sand of this 'queen of beaches' draws innumerable tourists from far and wide who love to lay back and enjoy the warmth of the sun rays. Adults and children alike find this beach enjoyable, though there is nothing really unique about the beach.

For tourists interested in water sports, Calangute offers considerable options. They can enjoy para sailing, water skiing and wind surfing in the afternoon when the wind direction is highly favourable. The sunset view from the beach is also something to be enjoyed.

A huge attraction for the tourists as well as the localities is the market, that fills the road from the town of Calangute to the beach. The items on sale include Kashmiri handicraft, Tibetan curios and jewellery and textiles from Rajasthan, Gujarat Karnataka. Tourists can pick up any of these items but they must remember to bargain as the prices are generally high.

Colva Beach : Colva beach is worth visiting anytime during the year, however, heavy rainfall between June to October can dampen the spirits of tourists who want to enjoy completely. So, the best time for the tourists to visit the beach is during the months of November to February.

Tourists coming to Colva find twenty kms of pristine white sandy beach soaked in sun. It is actually a perfect place for the tourists to relax and forget all the tension of their life. The swaying palm trees and rushing water contribute to sooth your tired soul to the utmost.

Swimming in the water is considered safe as compared to many other beaches of Goa. However, tourists are advised to enquire so as to avoid any untoward incident. The beach itself is full of sea shells and collecting them becomes a pastime for many visitors coming here.

Tourists visiting Colva can see the Nossa Senhora de Merces (Our Lady of Mercy) Church and offer their prayers. The church becomes a centre of attraction during the annual religious event - Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus). The Catholic community of Goa celebrates this event every third Monday of October when the sacred image of Infant Jesus is specially brought down for the common people to pay their respect. This has been their traditions since seventeenth century and much fanfare is associated with this festival. The most popular feast of Goa along with a grand fair make this festival hugely interesting for the tourists.

Bogmalo Beach : Bogmalo beach is extremely popular beach destination for all those tourists who wish to enjoy a peaceful beach vacation. Water sports are also an exciting option for tourists visiting this beach. This beach was the first one to be discovered by the tourists.

Enjoying a proximity with airport, Bogmalo beach rarely goes unnoticed by the tourists coming to Goa. However, its closeness to the airport is not the only reason why people frequent it regularly. Tourists also find the beach a very ideal destination if they wish to lay back for a while. The air of the beach is extremely pleasant and freshening and thereby rejuvenates the body and soul of anyone who comes exhausted carrying out duties and responsibilities associated with normal life.

There are other attractions that have made Bogmalo extremely popular with the tourists. These attractions include The Naval Aviation Museum. This is a prime attraction for tourists as it is here that they get an opportunity to see some of the aircrafts earlier actively used by the Indian Navy. There are also naval armaments on display which will surely delight tourists. The Naval Museum is at a distance of 1 km from the beach and is located at the top of a plateau. A visit to this place also ensures a splendid view of the Arabian Sea from high point.

At a very short distance is another beach called the Hollant beach. For tourists visiting Bogmalo beach, this is like an extra bonus. They can combine a visit to the Hollant beach with their primary visit to the Bogmalo beach. The Hollant beach is an excellent place to enjoy some enchanting views of the sea as well the foothills of Western Ghats.

Dona Paula Beach : Dona Paula beach is yet another beach in Goa that attracts numerous tourists from both India and abroad to enjoy its pretty surroundings. However, it is not just the beauty of the beach that draws tourists to this beach.

Dona Paula Beach is hugely popular with tourists and locality alike because of the abundant opportunities it offers to enjoy water sports. These include windsurfing, para sailing, water-skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, ski bob, sports fishing, snorkeling, harpoon fishing, kayaking, and yachting. The sports club of the region also provides water-scooter, cycle, and motorboat rides.

The beach also houses the National Oceanography Institute which was established in 1960s. The institute conducts studies on marine biology as well as other major branches of coastal and marine oceanography. There is a museum in this institute known as the Marine Biology Museum and a Taxonomy Reference Center on this beach.

Tourists coming to Dona Paula beach can take a trip to the nearby Reis Magos Church (around 10 kms away) which is one of the oldest churches in entire Goa. The church is built in respect of the three Magi or the three wise men (Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) who undertook an arduous journey to Bethlehem, guided by a star to welcome the newly born Jesus. At one point of time, this church functioned as the residence of all dignitaries as well as a mission center of the Franciscan order.