You Are Spring

I spent the last week of October in Goa with a friend. This was my first proper holiday as an adult — one that had been a long time coming. In this post, I want to talk about how we spent a week in Goa, some recommendations, what we planned but couldn’t do, and what we could have done better.

Day 1

We stayed in Varca, South Goa, and traveled mostly in the south. We started the first day of our trip with a trip to the Varca Beach. We stayed there for a couple of hours watching the waves come by and disappearing quickly. Next, we went to Colva Beach and had lunch at Martin’s Corner after that. We had Chicken Xacuti with Paav and Prawn Curry with Goan Rice. Martin’s Corner is quite popular amongst locals and tourists alike and for the right reasons. The food tasted delicious and was fairly priced. We went to Sernabatim Beach after that to catch the sunset. However, it was a bit cloudy so we couldn’t witness it in its full beauty. We picked Beno in Benaulim for dinner as it was quite near to our stay. We had Grilled Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Signature Beef Brisket Burger, and Creme Brulee.

Surprisingly, three out of our six dinners were in Beno and it quickly became one of my favourite spots in Goa to eat. The food was outstanding, and so were the ambience, vibe, and service. I would highly recommend Beno for a fun time with friends (we also happened to participate in a Quiz Night) and good food.

Day 2

We covered a long journey to visit the Mollem National Park and Dudhsagar Falls on our second day. Unfortunately, both were closed due to the monsoon. And, no, it was not our fault for not doing our due diligence. We checked every single available source online for the days off, timings, and routes. Only when did we not find any indication that the Park and the Falls would be closed, did we decide to commute for more than 30 kilometers. 

Once we reached there and found out that both places were closed, we decided to make a detour to Salaulim Dam instead. Again, the Dam is quite far away and Google Maps, mostly, did not help with these locations. We had to single out the locals over there to ask for directions. If you decide to go there, you might want to look for a Pepsi factory as it is quite near to the dam. We had lunch at a quaint spot in Sanguem that served Fish and Rice and Parotta Bhaji only. Later that night, our dinner at Beno comprised of Piri Piri Pasta, Broasted Chicken, and Chilli Cheese Garlic Fries. We also participated in a Friday Quiz at Beno which was surprisingly fun.

Day 3

We started a long commute to North Goa on our third day. There were a few beaches we wanted to cover but our itinerary was not limited to beaches only. We made our first stop at Dona Paula, which is more of a viewpoint than an actual beach. It is quite crowded but still gorgeous — stretches of magnificent blue water as far as you can see with the sunlight twinkling on the subtle waves. Next, we went to Padaria Prazeres for lunch where we had Cinnamon Roll, Choriz Shakshuka, Goan Bowl, Iced Cappucino, and Iced Tea.

We went to St. Basilica of Bom Jesus, a Roman Catholic church in Old Goa. It houses the remains of St. Francis Xavier, which is said to be one of the most well-preserved human bodies in the world. Unfortunately, going around the cathedral, church, and museum took us a long time and we could not visit St. Augustine’s Tower. However, we witnessed it against a beautiful sunset. We visited Panaji market and stayed there for less than an hour. We ended our day by ordering Chinese for dinner from Gagan’s Shack.

Day 4

Our fourth day was spent in North Goa as well, however, it was less eventful than the others. We started with Candolim Beach, which was quite crowded, filled with tourists and people pestering you to try out water sports. My first visit to a North Goa beach instantly made me miss the serenity and peace of South Goa beaches. There was a stark comparison between the two. We had lunch at Kokum Curry. The Mutton Suke combo was one of the most delicious meals of my life. We also had the Chicken Shagoti combo. 

After lunch, we went to Anjuna Beach, which was a huge disappointment. The shore was narrower than most beaches and unimpressive. After staying at Anjuna Beach for a while, we started back home. Dinner was at Beno again. This time we had Aglio-e-Olio, Malvan Curry with Garlic Rice, and Coco Rum Mousse for dessert. Food at Beno did not disappoint us even once.

Day 5

Since this was our last day in Goa, we wanted to keep ourselves free for the most time. We went to Usgalimal, which are rock carvings dating back to 4,000 to 6,000 years. Witnessing the carvings was surreal. To see proof of human lives dating centuries back was an extraordinary experience. It sometimes saddens me that Goa has been reduced to this culture of partying and relaxation when it is so rich with culture and has these exquisite sites that don’t get mentioned in recommendations and travel blogs. Lunch and dinner for our last day were ordered in as we wanted to keep ourselves free and relaxed.

Points to note:

1. If you want to cover both South and North Goa in your trip, book separate stays in both of these locations. Commuting back and forth between North and South is tedious and tiring. This is one of the biggest blunders of our planning.
2. Stay in South Goa for a relaxing and peaceful vacation, workation, or staycation. If you want to have fun, stay in the North.
3. Book local taxis for your commute to the airport from your stay. It is less risky than getting an Uber or Ola.

Final thoughts

We could not visit a couple of places such as the Heart-shaped Lake, Museum of Christian Art, and Museum of Goa. I hope to visit soon again so that I can visit these places and spend some time in that beautiful place again. Going to Goa was one of the best decisions I made in 2024. Can’t wait for more expeditions in 2025!