Golden Sands, Goa Calling

The long and isolated stretch of Agonda Beach is perfect for those wanting to relax and do nothing. It’s quiet and relatively uncrowded. Stay in a hut right on the beach (some are quite luxurious), and enjoy the stillness and nature.

Anjuna Beach was once home to the hippies. They’ve now moved on, but their legacy remains. The Wednesday Anjuna Beach flea market is bigger than ever and remains popular.

Arambol, on Goa’s far northern stretch of coastline, has become the new hippie haven. Once a small fishing village, it’s now the most happening beach in Goa (perhaps to the point of saturation) with a distinct traveler (as opposed to tourist) vibe. You’ll find plenty of alternative therapies there, such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and reiki.

Calangute Beach is the busiest and most commercial beach in Goa. It’s filled with foreigners tanning themselves on the endless rows of side-by-side sun lounges. Meanwhile, Baga Beach starts right where Calangute ends—it is a bit less crowded and better developed than Calangute, with a wide range of water sports on offer.

Benaulim Beach is only a short distance south of Colva Beach, but there’s a stark contrast between the two. Known for its fishing industry, it’s a beautiful and laidback stretch of beach. You won’t find any wild parties there, but water sports and dolphin sightseeing trips are on offer.

The long straight stretch of Candolim Beach is lined with shacks and restaurants, which back onto scrub-covered dunes. It borders Calangute, so it is also entirely commercial, although cleaner and more peaceful. This area has become popular with foreign retirees, so you may want to skip it if you’re looking for a younger vibe.

Not to be confused with the very different Colva Beach, Cola Beach offers exceptional privacy and peace. Located just north of Agonda Beach, it’s cut-off from the rest of the coast and has its own lagoon.

Busy Colva Beach is a favorite among domestic Indian tourists, and day-trippers arrive by busloads. On the weekend, the crowd explodes with locals as well. In October, the beach also gets particularly busy when hordes of pilgrims come to visit Colva Church.

These wide-open beaches have become quite hip and trendy in recent years. Groovy beach bars and beach huts, as well as a few fashionable resorts, can be found there.

Picturesque Palolem Beach is the most lively beach in south Goa. It’s a long semi-circle-shaped beach with shady palm trees and soft sand. Since it was discovered, it’s been getting busier and more crowded with each passing season.

Patnem Beach is no longer a well-kept secret, but it’s still much quieter than nearby Palolem Beach, which is only 10 minutes away. This small beach, nestled between two cliffs, is a beautiful place to stay if you want to chill out but not be too far away from the nightlife in Palolem.

Vagator Beach, north of Anjuna, is located at the bottom of a cliff and is divided into two sections—Big Vagator (the crowded main stretch of beach, frequented by domestic Indian tourists) and Little Vagator (further south past the rocks, more popular with foreigners).

These pristine and unspoiled fishing beaches are the territory of Goa’s luxury resorts. There are a few beach shacks, water sports, and local vendors, but the beaches remain clean and the sand white.