We have always heard that there is nothing permanent in this world, or that all good things come to an end. There seems to be an exception though. The terrific beaches of Goa never seem to lose their charm. What's more, their popularity just keeps increasing day by day. Spread over the 100 km stretch along the shoreline of Goa, you'll find plenty of space to laze around on the beaches of Goa.

Goa is the veritable vacationers' paradise ... and if anything can be the mascot of this tiny state then it has to be the beaches of the state.


Some of the beaches have specially been provided with every facility to make them tourist friendly. You name the facilities, these are here. Provisions such as hotels, restaurants, resorts, beach shacks or small food outlets that serve affordable and delicious food are easily available on these beaches. At the same time there are other beaches that are somewhat obscure and sandy which provide the perfect retreat so necessary for unwinding oneself.

Tourists to Goa have always been headed for either Calangute beach in the north or Colva beach in the south. It's pretty natural, as these were the most famous beaches then and are still among the longest uninterrupted beaches.

The beaches of Goa are categorized in - Northern and Southern Beaches.



Northern Beaches
The old timers still talk about the days when every activity regarding the beaches had just begun and the tourists knew primarily about the Calangute beach only. Even on this beach the things that were noticed were only some shacks along with presence of some fishing communities.

But today, the things have changed drastically. The stalls are still there, though the furnishing and the prices have soared skywards. It's interesting towards the Baga beach, though. The food outlets look good, the nightlife here is happening and shops in this area are overflowing with things that you can pick up as gifts for your loved ones. They can be anything, either a Kashmiri Rug or Tibetan Tankha but the market area may still be packed with tourists. If you decide to move northwards, the beaches get more relaxed. These are Anjuna, Vagator, Morgim, Arambol and Mandrem.

Southern Beaches
Here lies one of the most spectacular of all beach stretches - the 20 km long broad beach stretch that starts from Velsao village to Mobor and Betul. The best known beach in this stretch is definitely the Colva Beach. This beach gives the impression of being a beach packed with tourists as well as concrete resorts. If you don't like this then to find that typical Goan Beach you've to just walk for about a kilometer either way. The southern most beach of Goa is Polem and this one is a beauty, believe us. Untouched by the tourist inflow, this one will give you an exact idea of how a rural Goa beach would have looked like.

Rave Parties
A major tourist attraction, the rave parties in Goa are renowned for the entertainment they provide to the tourists throughout the world. These parties began with the arrival of the hippies in India. The rave parties then were characterized by the use of drugs and drinks. However, the nature of these parties has changed now and is not dependent on the use of drugs anymore. Come New Year Eve or Christmas and rave parties are organized every night. Nowadays these rave parties are known for dance, music and fun. That's clean entertainment, so long it stays that way.

Honeymoon on Goa Beaches
It's not for nothing that Goa is called the honeymooner's paradise. The long stretches of beach conjoined with unending azure Arabian sea, with green hills all around - the Goa beaches are an ideal location for newly married couples to spend time together just after their marriage.

Water Sports
Indulge in surfing and sailing at the same time, and you are into windsurfing in Goa. The Dona Paula bay is considered to be safe for the conditions here are lake like and the morning breeze here is light and steady which is just right for the beginners. Another option that is available for you are the Dinghys which are about 15 feet long crafts that can accommodate about 3 to 4 people. Looking for some more options? We've still got Scuba Diving and Angling up our sleeve.

So ... in terms of popularity and visibility, beaches of Goa are much ahead of other beaches and they are now considered a part of the life in Goa.