Palolem Beach is one sandy white beach in southern Goa facing one blue bay lying between 2 headlands. This beach has a bay, its shape is like a crescent, which is lined with swinging coconut palms, and one rocky crags pair edges it. This beach of white sand is in shape of an arc and hence its picture perfect.

Palolem Beach is also popular as ‘Paradise Beach’ as it is about one mile long providing idyllic and seclusion scenery. Despite commercialization, Palolem village retains its traditional values, where daily 3 todi-tapping rounds dictate its easy going life. Nearby located village have many souvenir stalls and cafes catering to vacationers and day-trippers.

At this beach’s northern end is one stream of fresh water. Across it is one undeveloped and tiny island, which you can access only by swimming across when tide is on lower side.

This beach is very untouched and both foreign tourist and local fishermen are its inhabitants living in shacks in main village or along shore itself. This beach is near about 1 mile long, having shape of a crescent and you can view whole beach by standing on either end of it. Both ends comprise of rocks protruding out into sea. Depth of sea increases very fast. It is shallowest at its northern ends, which makes it safer for an average swimmer; also currents are mild.

In movie ‘The Bourne Supremacy (2004)’, they feature this beach as Jason Bourne’s (Matt Damon) Indian residence. Initial footage of this movie gives one good idea about this beach’s natural beauty, such as distinctive trees covering rocks on one end (locally popular as a Monkey Island – tours are organized to reach this place) and shacks on beach.

At top of an island adjoining Palolem Beach is one stone sculpture ‘Give if you can – Take if you have to’ people also call it as ‘the Money stone’ created by one American Land art and Conceptual artist, Jacek Tylicki. It has now become one pilgrimage destination. At low tide, its one tough walk through jungle, hence you should hire one guide. As their will allow, people can take or leave money at Money stone.

Location

Palolem Beach

lies at 15o00’32”N 74o01’22”E. This beach in Goa is one among most idyllic and beautiful beaches and it lies on Goa’s southern coastline in between natural outstanding beauty.

Palolem Beach lies at 15o00’32”N 74o01’22”E and within two kilometers from Chaudi’s market town in south Goan taluka, Canacona. It is close to one hour drive from Karwar, a coastal town in Karnataka and is 40 minutes drive from South Goa’s main city, Margao.

Cola beach and Agonda beach are other nearby beaches in south of Goa.

Palolem is nearly 37 kilometers from Margao. Just west from Chaudi, one of most fascinating beaches of Goa, relatively deserted because of Western Ghats backdrop, located in Canacona’s Southern Taluka. Palolem Beach in Goa is one among most idyllic and beautiful beaches and it lies on Goa’s southern coastline in between natural outstanding beauty.

How to Reach

By Air

It is an easiest way for reaching Palolem. Margao or Madgaon is nearest airport from here. Then pay for one fixed-price taxi, which is Government approved towards Palolem. You can also find fixed-price taxis from railway station and Vasco da Gama’s Goa Dabolim Airport.

By Train

Alternatively, nearest railway station for Palolem is Canacona, which is a five minutes drive but, for journeys from India’s other parts it is better you take a bus because of remoteness of railway station from beach of Palolem.

By Road

Backpackers can take one bus of State Transportation to Palolem or Canacona from Bus Stand of Margao. It takes nearly 90 minutes. When you land at Canacona Bus Stand, take one taxi or an auto rickshaw toward Palolem Beach, which is just 3 kms. You can enjoy scenic beauty around too during a comfortable bus journey. However, keep this in mind, Goa’s local buses does not comprise of an air conditioner and can even be dusty. It is not impossible to walk down from bus stand to Palolem. Do not opt this when it is one hot and sunny day.

Temperature And Weather

You will witness little hot and humid season on this beach for a majority of months and climate during winter is not chilli. This beach’s proximity towards Arabian Sea is a cause of heavy rainfall. Perfect time every year to visit here is during November till mid February when temperature remains pleasant and cool.

Summer at Palolem

In a year, summer season remains for longest time as it starts from March till June at this beach. Highest temperature during this period goes to 35oC. Every year May month remains highly humid. This season’s average approximate temperature remains 28oC.

Monsoon at Palolem

It is worth to note about monsoon season at Palolem, which starts in month of June and continue till September. Because of closeness to Arabian Sea, this beach commonly receives a heavy rainfall. In this season, thunderstorms are also frequent. As recorded, average annual rainfall here is 294 cms.

Winter at Palolem

Winter period is shortest here, which starts from mid of November and continue till mid of February. It is a pleasant season at Palolem beach or town. This season, an average temperature lies between 16oC and 29oC making it best time suitable for tourists.

Attractions

Watch dolphins while eating breakfast

You should be lucky enough to watch them just while being on beach or you can take one inexpensive trip on one fishing boat.

Go exploring

At this beach’s far north is one small island, which looks as if it is one set of Jurassic Park. It is worth exploring. You can possibly walk during low tide. It is also not one long swim.

Help the fishermen

pull in your fishing nets or haul your boats on beach. When locals bring their catch with them, they are grateful for one helping hand.

Go for a shave

barbers of India boast of their high skills with sharp knife and performing a rejuvenating head massage. It’s worth visiting them.

Take a yoga lesson

Various Indian and International arts are taught here, such as Meditation, Bollywood Dancing, Tai Chi and Chi Qong. They also provide Ayurvedic massages.

Dance to silent music

It’s worth one visit to silent raves, which took place at many locations throughout week.

Shopping

Here you will come across several souvenir shops, which will be selling a few pretty things. Most notable are some pretty t-shirts. Also, you can search for all kinds of traditional handicraft of India.

Go out fishing

Here you can catch one fish and bring it to one restaurant so that they can cook it for you.

Charter a boat

Charter one traditional boat for fishing and enjoy sailing up to spectacular coastline. Enjoy fishing, beer and visiting deserted beaches.

Nearby Hotels

Palolem Guest House is one nice place where you can stay in case if concept of beach shack does not attract you. Rooms are clean and neat and under budget too from 600 to 1200 rupees per night. WARNING: In February of 2009, a major BEDBUG problem took place here, which this guest house’s management seems not willing to address.

Virgin Beach resort, which is one decent place you can stay at, also under budget accommodation.

Le-Grand residency is located opposite on a turn towards Palolem beach. It comprises of decent rooms however, you will experience some noise of buses being parked just outside or opposite end of hotel.

The Palm Trees Patnem lies right in center of Patnem. It is just three minutes of walking distance from white sandy beach. This one is an eco friendly resort with quite big, nicely decorated and clean rooms. Price range of rooms is around 1500 rupees per night. Anything you require, owners will provide you as they are very helpful and friendly.

Luke’s Residence is one posh accommodation, though it’s about 2 kms off beach on road to Patnem beach.

Fernandes are two beach huts on right side of beach. Two brothers own these huts and both offer a good and clean accommodation.

Neptune’s Point is located on left side of beach on one rock ground. These are huts made of wood providing facilities, such as cold showers, big balconies, beds and views over beach. Price of each hut is 850 INR per night.

Sundowner at beach’s north end is one nice place for staying, if you love quiet and peace. At time of high tide it becomes difficult to reach this beach. Resort’s staff eases this problem with their kindness and offering you a ride on boat. Their price range starts from 600 rupees and it depends on season you came here.

Ordo Sounsar is located close towards Sundowner. It enjoys tranquility and peace, and has one advantage to its side by having one bamboo bridge of its own making an easy access even during high tide. Goan hosts are friendly with local food in restaurant and G & T’s at bar are beach’s best.

Allegra boasts of friendly staff and cheap rooms. However, its very basic but, is located on beach itself.

Home is located near Palolem at Patnem beach and most of travel guides consider it as one friendly and hospitable resort. In fact, owners of this resort are very unpleasant and disorganized. They used to double-book their guests in peak season, and even refuse to acknowledge mistakes they do, which leave their would-be guests without any clue of where they are going to spend their vacation.

Nightlife

In evening beach of Palolem turns into one real spectacle full of colors and lights. Evening then night activities generally took place on southern side of beach.

Well known for its famous ‘silent’ discos, Palolem beach is a place where it took place directly or at some bars. Some great features like relaxing vibrations, view of dancing people and night beach make these parties really very specific and amazing. All visitors are provided with headphones so that they can choose one radio channel and dance to music they love. Such party will cost around 400 rupees as an entrance fee.

Silent discos on sand – Silent Noise – took place in southernmost portion of beach at Neptun Point every Saturday and they begin from 9 pm and up to 4 am. You can join a fantastic Headphone Party at ‘Alpha Bar’, which took place three days a week from Friday till Sunday. There are some other kinds of parties for tourists held at a couple of places. You can simply learn about them by talking to locals or reading commercial leaflets and suggestions.

Every evening you can listen to real and live-music in some restaurants and bars at Palolem Beach resort: in different genres, such as reggae, rock, classical, Indian and dance. You can pass your evening by sitting at very cool and nice Cuba Bar, located on one main street. At Sameer Restaurant, you can enjoy some of most amazing and delicious dishes. Café del Mar remains open for all day and night.

There is one Butterfly beach, located at a distance of two miles north of Palolem Beach Resort. It is where trance parties took place. Here they use to light up small and huge bonfires and dance all night till sunrise. So, if you have some interest to take part and enjoy this kind of party, then you should ask locals about when and where they are going to take place.

Restaurants

Café Inn is located near bus stop on a major road junction. It is popular for its fresh ground coffee through one espresso machine from Italy. People specially like its breakfasts, which comprise of a large variety of special wraps and sandwiches, mezethes, pastries and cakes among which almond croissant is a must try. In afternoon and evening come for BBQ, where you can enjoy great choice in meat, such as chicken, lamb and beef or you can go for sea food, which is marinated in various kinds of sauces. You will get this with salads of more than ten types, on one plate or in a mid eastern Lafa.

Drupadi, is located near to centre light, which is near main entrance of beach. It is probably best and popular restaurant of Palolem. They serve great variety in food and their service is very generous with friendly waiter willing to serve you by going an extra mile for anything you need. Tandoori fish is their speciality.

Magic Italy is located at Palolem beach road, on left when you approach this beach. You have to just walk down towards beach and you will find it on left side. In Palolem it is best place for having pizza or maybe in India. Try their spinach or four cheese pizzas. Here coziness prevails due to a unique selection of cushions and tables on floor. Here you will also find one takeaway version of Magic Italy but, pizzas here are not as good like its main branch. Pizzas are available here for 200 rupees per pizza.

Smugglers’ Inn is located on a road parallel to beach. It remains open until late in night during rainy season. It is a bar ran by a British, which serves old favorites, such as chips and fish, mash and bangers and bacon sandwiches. Choose this place if you like British tea in one big mug and an HP brown sauce. Sausages and bacon were once selling point of this place but, now they are not what they were in past and there is no ‘pubby’ feel inside; in fact, you will find it very hard to find a place to sit here. Hence, it makes hard to justify high prices of items, which starts from 90 rupees.

Yum Yum Tom Yum is a place where one Thai woman cooks great Thai food. It is delicious and authentic. This Thai woman is a girlfriend of a German-Goan guy and both of them run this place. They use wooden tables at this place for visitors and rooms are available too.

D’Costa Bar & Restaurant is located towards right when you enter this beach from parking area. This place is one run of mill place. You will not notice anything here which is worthy of making this place different from beach shacks that you will find here. But hey, service is a great thing here to look for as staff is courteous towards Foreign and Indian patrons alike. Enjoy good food, which will prove to be a value for your money. You can even spend a whole day at this place and can use beach beds in case you have food with yourself. Once you become friendly with staff, you can ask them that you are going to buy hard drinks through a wine shop, which is there in parking lot rather than order from bar to save money. Pizzas are good here.

Speciality

In early 80s, Palolem was not even on list of popular holiday destinations of people in India or abroad except some hippies, who used come here at Palolem Island and stay for months. However, over years with changing times and nowadays one can witness Palolem as a beautiful beach in south Goa. Here you will find several people from different nationalities with their unique culture and beach cottages, which are gaining popularity day by day. These cottages lie right on beach facing sea and are becoming popular such that people from India also started coming here. Besides this beach there are two more beaches, such as Colomb and Patnem beach, which are just one km from one another.

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