which beach?

first time on indiamike...first time going to kerala - looking for quiet beach, cheap hut type basic accomodation - was thinking cherai, kappil and varkala - any insight to these places? trying to avoid busy touristy type places and can't afford lux... we like to be adventurous too so would be nice to be someplace where we can go off on little adventures... also, any places that are worth checking out on the way down from goa? or even inland, we enjoyed going around karnataka a couple of years ago...
thanks folks!