The quieter half of Goa: long sandy beaches, an old sea fort, forest sanctuaries and Margao town.
FamousBeachHeritageWildlifeWaterfall
South Goa suits travellers who want beaches without the crowds and party scene of North Goa. Palolem, Agonda and Colva give easy beach days, while Cabo de Rama Fort, Cotigao sanctuary and Dudhsagar Falls add short day trips. It works well for couples, families and anyone after a slow holiday.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
Palolem BeachColva BeachColva BeachPalolem in the evening
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
October to March
The recommended season. The weather is comfortably warm and the sea is calm. November to February is the peak period, so rooms cost more.
April to May
Outside the recommended season. The sources used did not describe conditions for these months.
June to September
Monsoon. The landscape is green, but water sports and boat trips are restricted.
Sights and activities
1
Palolem Beach
A crescent-shaped beach about a mile long, backed by palms and the Western Ghats, lined with shacks and beach huts. Dolphin-spotting boat trips start from here.
Distance
About 37 km south of Margao, near Chaudi in Canacona
One of Goa's oldest forts, now in ruins, with bastions, cannons, a moat and the church of Santo Antonio inside. It has wide views over the Arabian Sea and is popular at sunset.
The second largest sanctuary in Goa, set up in 1968, with moist deciduous forest and several nature trails. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for wildlife.
Margao is on National Highway 66, which links it to Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Karwar and Mangalore. Overnight buses from Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru drop at the Madgaon Kadamba (KTC) bus stand, and some continue to Canacona.
By train
Madgaon (Margao) is the main station, a junction of the Konkan and South Western railways. Colva and Benaulim are about 6 km away and Palolem about 38 km south. A local train also runs twice a day from Madgaon towards Canacona for Palolem, taking about 30 minutes.
By air
Dabolim Airport is 23 km from Margao. Manohar International Airport at Mopa in North Goa also serves the state but is further away.
Where to base yourself
Stay at Colva or Benaulim, about 6 km from Margao, for easy transport, or at Palolem or Agonda in Canacona, about 37 km further south, for the quieter beaches.
Getting around
Rented scooters are the usual way to get around and cost about 300 to 400 rupees a day.
A taxi hired for the full day costs about 1,500 to 2,500 rupees.
An auto-rickshaw from Margao to Benaulim costs about 150 to 200 rupees.
A taxi from Dabolim Airport to Benaulim costs about 1,200 to 1,500 rupees.
Kadamba (KTCL) buses run from Margao towards Canacona for Palolem about every 15 minutes and take about an hour.
Boats from Palolem go to Butterfly Beach and on dolphin-spotting trips; dolphin trips cost about 300 to 500 rupees a person.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Beach cottages, boutique hotels and resorts with a pool
₹3,000 to ₹8,000
Luxury
Five-star beach resorts
₹15,000 to ₹35,000
Food
Most people eat at beach shacks and small local restaurants. A shack meal costs about 300 to 800 rupees a person, a dinner for two at a local restaurant about 600 to 1,500 rupees, and fine dining about 3,000 to 6,000 rupees for two.
Try these
Fish curry rice (Goa's everyday seafood meal)
Prawn balchao (a traditional prawn preparation)
Xacuti (a spiced curry)
Vindaloo (a fiery curry)
Bebinca (a layered Goan cake)
Feni (a local cashew spirit)
Vegetarian food is easy to find. Goan food is centred on seafood.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,500
₹700
₹350 per vehicle
Mid-range
₹5,000
₹1,200
₹2,000 per vehicle
Luxury
₹18,000
₹2,500
₹2,500 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit is needed for the beaches or towns. For Dudhsagar Waterfalls the district site says forest permission must be taken in advance from Junta House, Panaji.
Safety
At night
South Goa is described as quieter than North Goa, with far less nightlife.
Roads
Many visitors ride rented scooters on narrow village and coastal roads.
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