Goa sightseeing plan - Help Needed

We, a couple in thirtees, will be in Goa during Christmas and this is our first visit to Goa. We would love to see the happening places as well as some serene, calm beaches, forts and islands. Please help us out with the plans for the sightseeing based on our itinerary.

Our itinerary is as below:

21st December: Start for Goa from Pune by Kadamba Transport bus at 7:30 PM
22nd December: Arrival at Goa at 6:30 AM and check in to Colva Residency where we have booked ourselvs on 22nd 23rd
24th December: Travel to North Goa and we have booked ourselvs in Sun Park Resort which is near to Calangute and Baga
26th December: Start for return journey by Kadamba Transport bus at 7:30 PM

So, we have almost 5 days to explore Goa and as there are lot of places to cover, I know we will not be able to cover all of them. So my questions are,

1. What are the beaches one should not miss at any cost?
2. Any cruise that we can avail in the evening apart from the GTDC organized cruises in Mandovi river?
3. Dolphin spotting - I've heard about this but do not have any idea. Can any body help me out here?
4. Water Sports - which beaches are good for Water Sport? Any idea about the rates?
5. Paraselling - Would love to try this as well..again, which beach is good for the same?
6. Doodhsagar Water Falls - Is it worth a visit during this time of year?
7. Can we rent bicycle in Goa and what all can be covered in Goa?
8. Howz the traffic in Goa? We are novice riders, will it be good to hire a scooty and travel in that? Car is out of question as it's just two of us and we are worse in driving :-)
9. Hotel check in and Check out time is at 12 noon, so we've time to spend before check in and after check out. What should we try in this timeframe?

1. What are the beaches one should not miss at any cost? - There is no perfect beach that cannot be missed, just come and see as many as possible.
3. Dolphin spotting ? - expensive and no guarantee that you will actually see a single Dolphin.
4. Water Sports? - too noisy and polluting, be kind to Goa and avoid "water sports" even if they are free !
5. Parasailling ? - see Water Sports
6. Doodhsagar Water Falls ? - Yes, worth a visit, and from Madgaon you can take a train to Kulem, which is not far from the falls.
7. Can we rent bicycle in Goa ? yes you can in most places for about Rs 50/day
8. Howz the traffic in Goa? - very congested during Xmas and New Year and not safe for novice riders.
9. Hotel check in and Check out time is at 12 noon, so we've time to spend before check in and after check out. ? - see if you can leave your luggage with your hotel reception or at some restaurant and then you can go out and enjoy the beach and come back to the hotel at checkin time.
Good Luck

Thanks Torontomm!

We will prefer to rent cycles to see the beaches in and around. As I know, Colva is the busiest beach in South Goa and same applies to Calangute in North Goa, I will not like to spend long hours in those beaches.

I will prefer quiter beaches and forts. I plan to visit Chapora fort after checking out from our hotel near Calangute. Is it doable in that 5-6 hours we will have before boarding the bus?

After checking from your hotel on Calangute-Baga road you can do the Chapora Fort visit by public transport with a bus to Mapusa (public bus outside your hotel) and then catch another bus to Chapora from Mapusa and then after your Chapora Fort visit more buses to Mapusa/Panjim for your return bus to Pune from Panjim.

But you are short of time (5-6 hours) and while it is doable it may not be a relaxed trip by public transport as you will be worried about missing your return bus home to Pune.

More expensive but better option will be to arrange a taxi for the afternoon that after checkout will take you sightseeing to Chapora Fort/Beach area and then will also drop you in good time for your 7:30PM bus to Pune and I think you should be able to arrange this Taxi trip for about Rs. 1000.

We will prefer to hire a cab for ourselvs where needed. By the way, boarding point for our return bus is Mapusa, not Panaji. I guess we will have to travel less in that case.
Any idea about the nearest dropping point for Colva Beach? We will travel in Kadamba Trnasport bus from Pune.

Can anyone help me with the distance between the beaches in South Goa and in North Goa? Depending on the distance, I'l be able to chalk out which beaches/attractions we will be able to cover in cycles and for which we will need Car.

Another question, can we ride on bicycles on the beach? As I read that some of the beaches are very long, I would love to cover some parts on cycle. Any recommendation on cycle/scooter hiring place near Colva Residency?

You can ride bikes on the beach at Colva. You could ride down to Benaulim where it's nicer and quieter. But not sure if it will be possible since your there high season and there should be alot of obstacles(ie. people) on the beach. Your hotel should help with rentals. And your there for such a short time. Might want to do some kind of organized tour to get more for your buck and short time there. And Palolem imho is the most beautiful beach in Goa.

I am surprised that you can catch your return bus to Pune from Mapusa and not have to come to Panaji. Maybe from Mapusa you are getting a Kadamba shuttle bus that will bring you to the Interstate Bus terminal in Panaja for your bus to Pune.

My impression is that Panaji/Panjim is the central main stop for all Interstate buses and shuttle or local buses connect Panjim to other points in Goa such as Mapusa/Margao/Vasco/Ponda etc.

The nearest main Kadamba bus stand from Colva is the KTC Margoa Bus stand which is on the north side of Margao town and about 7 km from Colva residency. You can take a local bus from there to Colva circle or just take a taxi which should not cost much more than 100 rupees but it would be fair game for a taxi driver to try to get more out of you !

Regarding distance between beaches, they are less than 5 km apart in the busy north Goa section of Vagator/Chapora to Candolim and well spread out in south Goa section of Bogmalo to Betul and you can study the google map link below to get a better idea.


http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&cp=...-8&sa=N&tab=wl

About riding bicycle, agree with ananda2193 that you should be fine in Colva. But in the busier north Goa beaches, bike riding on beaches is not common and in addition to people obstacles you will also find yourself followed and chased by everpresent beach dogs.

All buses going from Panjim or Margao to Mumbai/Pune stop at Mapusa to pick up passengers. In the opposite direction too they stop at Mapusa for passengers to get down.

Thanks for the info GoanCanuck

There are scooters and bicycles for hire everywhere in Colva. Cycle on the beach either way - South is Benaulim, North is Betalbatim and Majorda. Colva beach is dirty and crowded. There are watersports as well. A taxi from Colva to Margao will cost you at least Rs200.



John the Map

Thanks for the helpful replies guys! I know Colva and Calangute are the most crowded implying that these will be dirty too, but decided to stay in center as this is the party season.
Any recommendation for cruise operator in Goa other than GTDC?