Towards beginning of November 2016 it stuck we hadn't planned our winter vacation. No time to search or book so Goa was decided without much of confusion. We have done a Goa trip about 8 years ago and that place had the magic, freedom for any traveller. I have never seen a place so traveller friendly. Now into details..
Hotel bookings: booking.com
Flight: Indigo. We left on Sunday early morning flight and returned the next Saturday evening(Christmas eve). Found that flight combination much cheaper than other dates.
Place of stay: Hawaii comforts at Dona paula.
Landed at Goa airport and took prepaid taxi to Dona paula. Non AC costs: Rs. 875.
We reached Hawaii comfort by 9:30 AM much earlier than check-in time(Check-in time: 13:00hrs). They were happy to hold the luggage and also helped us with a two wheeler rental Rs. 400 a day. We are on our own instantaneously.
The location of Hawaii comforts is scenic and convenient. There is a small Hawaai beach within 50 meters from the hotel. Clean beach with nobody there.
We took the bike and did a free boat transfer to the other side. Its a fun ride with bike on boat. Do try!
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| Beautiful Reis magos fort |
We reached Reis magos fort. This is an offbeat place recently renovated. It has lot of paintings and lot of historical facts put up. Do visit this place.
We returned back to MG road and had lunch at navtara vegetarian restuarant. Awesome food at a very reasonable rates.
We also visited the broadway bookshop largest bookshop in Goa. Nice place to spend sometime. Pick up some good read for your trip.
Sunset time reached Dona Paula view point. Beautiful place. Sunday evenings are super crowded, problem is the road is a narrow one way. So leave your vehicle far off and walk or avoid during weekends. Domino's serves hot pizzas directly for Rs.100. Interesting. Place has a good view. Traffic is a pain.
Evening we visited Meeramar beach. Soft sand clean beach. Do not miss the street foods in the night. Awesome chats(Esp. Sev puri, Pav bhaji..)
Day 2: Vagator beach, Bean me up
Day 2 started with yummy breakfast at Hawaii comforts. They have a large spread with corn flakes,bread, fruits, Aloo paratha, pav bhaji, Strawberry milkshake, tea ,coffee. This place has the most friendly staff(most of them are differently abled, a salute for that) and well talented chef.
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| Vagator beach |
We did a good long drive to Vagator beach. Vagator beach has a very different feel. Rocks, shacks sun and sand.
The waves were there and comparatively calm beach.
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| View of Vagator beach from top |
After a nice bath and swim in water we went to this amazing place called bean me up. It's close to vagator beach. This is a vegan place. Totally amazing!
They make everything under the sky, vegan. Totally organic local produce and fresh. Try the pita bread hummus.. pasta, lasngya. Mind blowing.. Even fresh lemon soda with a tinge of honey/jaggery.. This place is not just an eat out.. it's an experience do try!!
Evening we watched sunset at Meeramar beach. Take the small cut before the main beach to watch sunset. Local do some walking and playing there. Its lot less crowded than main beach to watch sunset.
We did the night cruise in mondovi river. It costs rs.300 per head. It takes an hour. If you don't like party music dancing can skip this. It's noisy crowded and boring.
After a lot of nagging from our little one to check out the closest beach we tried the tiny hawaii beach next to hotel. It was a pleasant surprise! Nice calm beach with absolutely no one. Shells everywhere.. beautiful.
The hotel helps us with a nice taxi to Palolem for Rs.2000. Nice new ertiga came. It's a good 1.5hrs drive we reached Palolem. Our 4 night stay here was at Castle house. Decent place with a neat pool. Staffs weren't too friendly beaches are bit far from here.
Immediately took bike on rent. 250rs a day honda dio. We took it from Seema bike rental opposite to Palolem guest house. Very friendly owner called Sanjay.
We headed to the beautiful Palolem beach had lunch at pure vegetarian hotel called Shri Ganesh near beach. Good jeera rice, paratha and sandwiches.
Evening we went to Palolem to watch beautiful sunset. Palolem carries a lot of calmness. When north Goa is about partying.. South is more of calm beaches.
All the shacks serve awesome tea during sunset.. order and enjoy sunset. Tea costs about Rs.50 a day.
Dinner at Magic italy near palolem beach. This place is 17 years old and authentic awesome pizza. Do try their vegetable pizza and Garlic parsley pizzas. Mind blowing!
We booked boat ride to islands and dolphin watching for Rs. 1300 for the next day.
Castle house has very basic breakfast. Not at all impressive. Poori channa/aloo upma bread egg. Next day pav bhaji poha. Next day again poori, tasteless.
We reached around 8:30AM for the boat ride. December is the best time to watch dolphins. We spotted about 12 dolphins. Beautiful view.
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| Beauty isn't it? |
Butterfly beach a beach in shape of butterfly, beautiful small beach. It's high tide time so not so flat. Moved on honeymoon beach and had a nice swim for 30 mins.
These are tiny beaches looks beautiful. Entire boat ride is about 1.5hrs. Good fun activity to do.
Lunch we wanted something light. Headed to NH and found a nice Udupi hotel. Limited menu ,awesome taste. Masala dosa tastes yummy. Pooris too. Costs very less. You would find a lot of westerners here. Food is an universal language isn't it? Do try out if you are bored of eating all fancy things.
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| Galgibagh beach. Walk on water! |
On our way back near patnam beach we tried home resturant. Over priced but authentic italian. Nice setup but average food.
Day 5: Cabo de Rama - Fort time, Maggie, Agonda
Woke up for a long drive to Cabo de Rama. A fort with stunning view of beach. Has a beach with rocks. Has a church inside too.
On the way back we went to a small house/ snack place with adithya icecream. A very friendly host made awesome maggie with vegetables and juices. After refuelling ourselves reach Agonda beach.
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| Yummy maggie at a small snack shop near Cabo de Rama |
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| Yummy Food at Sandy feet, Agonda |
A very friendly shack owner of Sandy feet offered the umberella for free. Awesome host with great food music and comfortable seating arrangement. We spent from 11 AM to 6 PM there. Till chai. Try out this place. Once you settle on their cozy seats you would never feel like leaving the place.
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| Cozy seating at Sandy feet |
After breathtaking sunset at Agonda we returned to room.
Day 6: Patnem and Palolem
We spent entire day swimming at Patnem and Palolem. Spent first half at Patnem beach. Just swimming and enjoying the beautiful beach.
After an awesome lunch at Magic Italy we went to Palolem beach, watched sunset and swim again.
Day 7: Bye bye..
Morning, last swim at Palolem beach.
Taxi to airport from Palolem cost us Rs 1500/-. We took a break at Madgao for lunch and some cashew purchase. Cashew shops are a sight to watch.
Reached Goa airport and returned Bangalore.
Right after we landed on the Bangalore airport we had a nice view of the Bangalore bringing back fond memories of the many sunsets in our trip!
Goa- Sun, Sand, Food, Sunset, bike rides!
Useful Info:
1. Most restaurants accept only cash. Better to be prepared.
2. Good idea to carry lots of waterproof sunscreen.
3. You may avoid buying packaged water as hotels allow us to fill water bottles to carry around use.
4. Don't worry if your stay doesn't include breakfast, many places are open for breakfast.
5. December is a peak season and nearing Christmas the room rates in a lot of hotels become double.
6. A very good idea to hire a two wheeler to roam around. Local folks very helpful with routes and plenty of sign boards if google maps not work well.
7. Kayaking is available in Palolem. Lots of people trying it during the sunset. It's extremely flat and safe.
8. December weather is awesome with nights and early mornings having a pleasant cold breeze. A thin jacket would help in case you plan to rent a two wheeler.
Have fun, have a nice trip! Go with an open mind, Goa has something for everyone!!
