Canoeing in Goa

Goa in India is a home of adventure and fun. Picturesque beaches, old temples and churches, and crowded markets, all add to the beauty of Goa. Goa beaches are the cleanest and the most fanciful beaches in India.

Rivers in Goa, such as Chapora, Mandovi, Baga, etc., are the main tourists attractions. They provide a golden opportunity for the people to have fun in the sweet waters.

Conoeing and kayaking are the sports that are enjoyed by the people across the continents. There is a little difference between canoeing and kayaking. In kayaking, you paddle to speed the boat, whereas in canoeing, there are no paddles and you simply use oars to direct and speed the boat. Both of these adventurous sports are available in Goa.

Goa rivers are calm and placid. In this tranquility, there are set small islands and villages. By the shores of these rivers, you will see a splendid untouched greenery. Watch fishermen diving and catching fishes. Dive into the water for snorkeling if it is permitted by the instructor.

If you are going with your better half, there is nothing like sailing along the serene and quiet shores of the Goan islands. It is so peaceful that you will never forget this experience even if you try to.

You can always take a few things like snacks, drinking water, towel, medicine, sunglasses, sun cream, etc., with you before you go on canoeing.

Visiting places like Goa will help you regain your lost passion and zeal, your lost peace of mind, and the lost love for life.

Houseboats in Goa

Goa is the favorite destination of couples. It is known for its culture. Unlike Kerala and Kashmir, Goa has a modern touch. Winter would be the best season to visit Goa. Spending your night in houseboats in Goa is the most romantic and adventurous thing you can do on your trip.

Goa beaches are popular and people visit them quite often on their visits; however, they miss to the experience of the tranquil and serene backwater, the calmness of rivers like Chapora, Mandavi, and Siolim, chirping morning birds, unseen rustic lands of unknown villages, diving fishermen, lush green shores of rivers and brooks, and the ripples in the waters when a river meets the sea.

Houseboats offer you this odyssey to the land of peace. In this expedition, you can do many activities and many houseboats offer great deal of activities that keep you busy.

Houseboats in Goa, India

Santa Lucia: It is a wooden houseboat situated in the backwaters of Goa. It has three deluxe bedrooms, one lobby, two sit-outs, and a bar. The crew is amazing and pamper all your needs. They allow you catch a fish which will also be cooked and served by the chef. It has three different cruise options -

Paradise Fiesta or Overnight Cruise – Timing is 5 PM to 1 PM(next day). The activities include line fishing, swimming, extraction of shellfish, in-door games, and bird watching.

Afternoon Cruise – Timing is 10 AM to 3 PM

Evening Cruise - Timing is 4 PM to 9 PM

Proud Mary: It is believed to be the largest houseboat in India situated at Siolim jetty, with six deluxe bedrooms, hot water showers, and a cozy sun-deck. Goan and Indian cuisine are available.

It leaves Siolim jetty at around 4.30 PM and returns at 1 PM the next day.

Just a Saiil Houseboat Goa: It is also situated in the Siolim river and has two luxurious bedrooms. They offer exciting activities including fish catching and bird watching. It leaves at 10 AM and returns at 9 AM the next day. It costs around 11,000 Rupees for one couple.

There are many other cruises and boats that cater to the specific needs of the bird-watchers, married couples, friends, and families.

Islands in Goa

Goa is not only blessed with beaches and nature, but also with several islands in and around the state. The islands in Goa have scored the most from the fact that there has been always some mystery attached with them. You must certainly visit the islands in and around Goa on your trip to the state. The islands in and around Goa never run short of options, be it nature walking or water sports.

Islands in Goa
Chorao Island
The Tiswadi island of Chorao is located 5 km from Panaji. Some ten families of Goud Saraswat Brahmins were the earliest settlers of the island. Today, the people of these islands are known as Chodankars. The Chorao Island is a pretty place that has some old villas and a whitewashed church. You can reach this island by taking a ferry from Ribandar, which is on the road to Old Goa around 3 km from Panaji.

Divar Island
This beautiful island is situated on the north side of Old Goa and can be reached through a ferry. It is connected by ferry to four places which are Narve, Ribandar, Old Goa, and Panaji. Karmali is the nearest railway station to the island. The government has maintained the island well with elegant Portuguese Villas dotted at the countryside. There's a church on this island which is the main attraction and is located in a small and typical Goan village.

Grand Island
This island is off the coast of Vasco da Gama and offers a grand experience to adventure lovers. This island has several excellent scuba diving sites. It would bring you delight that none of the Goa beaches would give you. A trip to this island is recommended for having a good snorkeling experience.
When you plan your Goa travel, ensure that you visit these islands for the best adventures.

Forts in Goa

The forts in Goa are mostly an inheritance from the Portuguese, which signify their presence on this land several years ago. The conquerors led by Albuquerque looked for expanding their territory for which they built huge forts at planned locations for warding off hostile attacks. These forts built by the Portuguese proved to be quite successful as they would stand hugely in front of the enemy troops.

These forts were eventually reduced to a state of disrepair and ruins when the Portuguese domination diminished. In recent years, these forts have been refurbished as heritage hotel properties to bring back Goa's rich legacy. Some of the important forts in Goa are:

The Aguada Fort: This fort is situated on the northern side and it overlooks the Aguada Bay that's situated at the banks of the river Mandovi. This fort was built in 1612 as a protector against attacks from the Marathas and the Dutch. The fort is believed to be the strongest fort and it remains the only fort not to be conquered by any attackers.

Terekhol Fort: This fort lies on the northern tip of Goa at the mouth of Terekhol River and was captured by Portuguese to protect their coastline. This fort was originally built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle in the 17^th century and was revamped extensively in 1764.

Chapora Fort: Adil Shah of Bijapur had built this fort on the southern peninsula of the Chapora River. This fort was mainly known by the name Shahpur and now it's mostly in wreck. This fort unlike the Aguada fort didn't remain unconquered.

These forts reveal the history of Goa that was under the Portuguese rule for several years. Some Goa hotels have also take responsibility of refurbishing some forts as a part of advertisement and attracting the people to their hotels.  

Vacation in Goa

Goa, the smallest state of India, is one of the sought after holiday destinations not only in the country, but all over the world. Globally, it's appreciated as well as admired for its gorgeous beaches wonderfully decorated by swaying coconut trees, exotic beach resorts, flea markets, and perfect ambience. This makes the place a favorite among all tourist destinations in the country.

If you're planning for a short vacation, then there's no better place than Goa. There are some spectacular hotels in Goa that cater to all the needs of their customers. So accommodation is not at all a problem, but you need to book in advance, especially if you're going during the peak season, which generally starts from November.

While in Goa, you've an excellent opportunity to see and explore the brilliance of the amazing beaches, some of which are the finest in the world. The beaches here are quite popular worldwide and so are the iconic attraction of the state's tourism that attracts millions of visitors from different parts of the country and the world.

If you're a party animal, then you can opt for North Goa beaches that are extremely popular for beach parties, carnival, etc. If you love adventure, then you have an opportunity to enjoy water sports and other adventurous activities on the beaches. Besides beaches, Goa is also famous for its night parties. There are many Goa bars and pubs that are open till late night and at times till wee hours in the morning.

Here you can enjoy all kinds of drinks with delicious Goan cuisine. The night activities in Goa are also something that is looked forward too. People dance, sing, and party the whole night, either on the beaches or in pubs and bars. You can plan your vacation to Goa during the carnival, as the whole state comes to life due to the multi color essence.          

Beaches in Goa

Where is Goa is a question that doesn’t need a formal answer as it’s known to everyone. Goa is unbelievable and for that matter is unlike any other state in the country, irrespective of the flower children who came in the early 60s and settled here or the Portuguese who came here and settle down some 500 years ago, looking for spices and found it extremely difficult to leave. Goa travel is a respite from the hard work for the modern day tourists and it offers something unique to everyone.

If you want to roam along the beaches with your kids and loved ones, enjoying the midnight sight and dancing to music, then there is no better place than Goa. There are lots of activities you can do such as adventure sports and water sports (like wind surfing, water skiing, and parasailing) or could simply sit on the white sands and enjoy the company of your loved ones.

Although Goa beaches comprise a small fraction of the region, they are highly popular. The beaches experiencing the tides twice a day, refashioned by the yearly monsoons here always have something new to offer. You can also view gentle aquatic hues, mingling with the beaches, giving endless pleasure to the tourists. Each of the beaches in Goa has their own uniqueness if that is what you are looking in them. Calangute, Anjuna, Palolem, Arambol, Colva, Vagator, and Betul are some of the most famous beaches in Goa.

Besides the beaches, there are several other landmarks that also fascinate the tourists from far off places. These include forts, churches, museums, monuments etc.  Fort Aguada, Chapora, St. Ana Church, and Church of Lady of Miracles are some of the major attractions. Shree Hanuman temple, Shri Dattatraya temple etc. are some of the important temples in the state.

Goa is thus blessed with some wonderful climate and beaches that fascinate people from all around the world.

Water Sports in Goa

Goa,known as the beach capital of India, hosts quite a lot of popular beaches in the country. Goa has become a destination that’s most visited in the country due to its gentle and gorgeous beaches. The state has automatically become an adventure sports lover’s delight due to its enormous water bodies and huge coastlines. The innumerable beaches in Goa offer a range of water sports activities, ranging from ship sailing to jet skiing.

Jet skiing is one of the adventure sports in Goa and this is the ideal sport for you if speed excites you. You’d definitely get a thrilling experience by the 100-135hp powered jet skis. This machine is quite easy to handle, but operators generally send a trainer along for safety purpose. You can also go alone if you’ve learnt the basic techniques and the operator is content. You can take up this sport in the beaches of Calangute, Colva, Miramar, Candolim etc.
As Goa is blessed with kind and gentle flowing winds, dinghy sailing can also be experienced and is meant for those who like to slide softly over the dancing sea waves. This water sport activity is generally not preferred by extremely athletic people and is available at the Taj Holiday village and the Cidade de Goa.

Windsurfing is another most popular water sport in Goa and though you don’t need any type of machines, it is extremely difficult to learn. It’s reasonably priced and requires an instructor and good health. Water sports activities is thus the ideal way of having day time fun in Goa.