Palolem Beach, Goa

At the southern most tip of Goa lies Palolem. Far quieter than a lot of it's Goan neighbours, it makes a perfect retreat. The beach is erlatively unspoilt as the building are annual bamboo huts - aestetically pleasing and perfect for a laidback end to an Indian trip.

Palolem is a long, sweeping bay lined with palm trees which seems to have the balance just right. There are enough restaurnats, bars and small huts selling anklets, toothpaste, buckets and spades etc... but not so many as to spoil the peace or the view. Nightlife exists but you are going to get to sleep here because it is not rip-roarious.

The bay itself has safe waters which go out quite a way before the waters starts to get deep - great for families.

There are boat trips from on the beach (dolphins) and if you tire of lolling around it is easy to arrange a car with driver.

Palolem is about 2 hours from the airport.

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Some people would say that there is no culture in Goa, that it is just a tourist destination.
That is SO untrue. Goa is like nowhere else in India that much is true. But it is a place in it's own right. The architecture in Goa is left over from the Portugeuse Colonial days, here you will find churches and large Christian community.

I loved Palolem, and even though when you are here on the beach you are in your own little world, the real India is never too far away!

Locals in Palolem range from the children and women who ply the beaches everyday selling sarongs and the like, to Indians here on holiday theirselves swimming in the sea in their saris. Kids tightrope walking along the beach, fisherman etc etc - as you can see - if you look hard enough you will still know that you are only in India.

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The whole reason for visiting Palolem is to see the incredible beach.
This is the only beach that I visited in Goa and so I am not one to compare, what I can say is the our friend travelled along most of the Goan beaches and he said that no other beach compare to Palolem.

It is not only the sweeping bay of sand, it is also the whole atmosphere. By day the beach is filled with tourists and locals, and even though it was busy when we were there we could still find a quiet spot.

By night, the beach turns into another amazing place, as restauranters bring their tables out onto the sand, with menus, fire pits, fairy lights and music.

There are quiet restaurants and loud bars - something for everyone.

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I must confess, that at first I wasn't impressed by the Palolem Beach. I heard a lot about it before I went to Goa. And judging by the crowd there, a lot of people heard about the beauty of the place :))

But then I realized that the crowd does not spoil your mood or anything like that. It is even interesting to watch people there. There are now a lot of shacks and shops in Palolem, but the beach is still beautiful, and the sunset is magnificent.

We didn't have much time to explore the place, but we are planning to see more of Palolem next time we go to Goa.

This is a lovely beach in south Goa that is 'undiscovered'...but unfortunately the place is now heaving with tourists being bussed in, either as a day trip, or for a 'romantic overnight stay'. To me its a fun place...but its lost its charm.

Wonderful place to hang out, very laid back and free and easy.

No 'tourist complexes', just beach shacks offering food and accommodation. Rent a room with a hammock overlooking the beach.

Not for those who want Westen facilties and tourist services, more for the independent traveller who wants to chill and apprecieate the realxing life in Goa.

Even if you prefer to stay in a hotel with a pool and all mod cons, at least make a trip to Palolem to see the 'other Goa'.

Goa's southern most beach discovered by me at the most beaituful pearl with its sickle shaped bay of white sand and surrounded by hills, the one less frequented.

You can expect lush coconut groves, tranquil lagoons and long stretches of white sun-drenched beaches where the only sounds are the crash of waves and the breeze blowing through the palm trees.

In Palolem, nature is unspoilt, undisturbed and serene. Watch the sun go down, sleep by the sea with the night sky as your ceiling ...... life has never felt better.

An opposite to Baga, Calangute and Candolim beaches. Less crowded, much less drum and fruit sellers or henna tattooers. Much more palm trees, rocky suntanning alternative in the both end of the beach and some mountaineous scenery. The sun remains the same (late March 2003).