Calangute Beach

Location of Beach
Calangute lies at the centre of the Bardez coast, flanked on its southern side by the village of Candolim beach and on its northern side by the Baga beach. The beach is 10 kms from Mapusa and 16 kms from Goa's capital Panaji.

Beach Overview
If you wish to enjoy the Goan nightlife, shop at colurful flea markets and catch a glimpse of Hippies culture, then Calangute ends your search. Known as the 'Queen of Goa's beaches' the 7 km long Calangute- Baga-Candolim stretch will also mesmerize you with its pristine beauty. At Calangute you will find nature at its blissful solitude, covered with sand dunes, bushes and tamarisk trees.

First discovered in the late 1960s, Calangute, the calm and quiet village of fishermen, became the Mecca of Hippies in 1970-80s. Over the decades, Calangute's heyday as the land of Hippies has passed and the place has settled down to the more common pursuits of selling handicrafts, jewellery and woven fabrics to the tourists.

Today, the Baga-Calangute-Candolim stretch is packed with restaurants, night-spots and night-markets. But between these restaurants, night-spots and night-markets you can still get a glimpse of Calangute's old charm.

Beach Attractions
Water Sports : At Calangute Beach you can enjoy a number of water sports like parasailing, water-skiing and windsurfing. You will find more than a dozen water sports operators along the beach who offer parasailing, windsurfing, banana and bump rides and water-skiing as well.

Swimming : Though Calangute is regarded a reasonably safe place for swimming, still large waves have been known to pull swimmers out to sea. Hence, be careful before you jump into the water. Try to restrict yourself to the designated area.

Boat Trips : Apart from water sports operators, there are large number of boat operators. You can go on dolphin spotting trips, crocodile spotting trips, island trips, river cruises and fishing expeditions.

Leisure Activities : When it comes to leisure, Calangute is one of the few Goan beaches offering enough leisure options. Here the sun, sand and sea together set a fabulous mood for a perfect holiday. While you relax on the beach, watch the children making castles in the sand or get the lovely view of sunset. Take a 15 minute walk from the beach to a vendor free zone, where you will see the wooden boats and teams of fishermen hauling nets in a high tide. While at beach, do not miss the stalls offering sea foods such as prawns and lobsters. If you are a vegetarian do not loose your heart, as there are eating joints for vegetarians also.

Nearby Attractions
Calangute Church : If you drive down from Mapusa, the Church of St. Alex will announce your arrival at Calangute. First erected in 1595 by the villagers, this beautiful church has a exquisite white dome and ornate altars. Built in the Rococo style, the church holds a platform that originally belonged to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Old Goa. In the churchyard, you can see a cave of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Kerkar Art Gallery : Kerkar Art Gallery is another attraction near the Calangute beach. Here, you can see works of art and craft of local artists. The Art Gallery organizes the night of Indian music and dance, once in a week.

Shopping
If you want to do some shopping, visit the weekly Saturday market near the Post Office. In the market you can shop for fish, meat, grocery, textiles, pottery and several other items. You will also find the fine Tibetan and Kashmiri carpets and embroidery items here. Do not buy the items at first-hand price as the shops offer good bargains.

Best Time to Visit
Calangute boasts of a pleasant climate, so you can visit the beach through the year. The monsoon arrives Calangute in the month of June and remains till October, better you should avoid this period. The best time to visit Calangute Beach is between the months of December and February.

Where to Stay
Plenty of accommodation is available in the hotels, guest houses and private residences. You can choose an accommodation option according to your budget. Some of the most popular accommodation options of Calangute are Kerkar Retreat, Hotel Goan Heritage, Hotel Golden Eye, Dona Cristalina, Calangute Residency, Johnny's Hotel, Colonia Santa Maria, Villa Goesa and Estrela do Mar.

How to Reach
Dabolim airport is 48 kms from Calangute, which is well-connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and several other Indian cities. From Dabolim airport, you have to hire a pre-paid or private taxis to reach Calangute. Nearest railheads are Thivim Station (15 kms) and Panaji Railway Station (16 kms) which have Super fast and express trains from the towns of Goa and other states of India. Frequent buses are available from Panaji and Mapusa town. For local transport motorcycle taxis and rickshaws are available.

Calangute Beach Tour Packages

Goa Tour in India (05 Days) Features : You may pay an optional visit to this picturesque Calangute Beach on second day of your trip. Situated at the centre of the Bardez coast, Calangute is known for its nightlife, lively flea markets and old Hippies culture. Water Sport, Swimming and Boat Trips are the fine beach-side activities for you. Besides, you can also visit the nearby attractions like Calangute Church and Kerkar Art Gallery.

India by Day & Night (31 Days) Features : India by Day and Night takes you to Mapusa on 8th day of your trip. Apart from sightseeing trip of Mapusa, if you wish to experience more, India by Day and Night provides you a wonderful chance to visit the nearby Calangute Beach (optional, not included in the package). Located 16 kms away from Panaji, the Calangute Beach is a perfect place to enjoy shopping at lively flea markets or to savour a wide array of delectable cuisines.

Rajasthan Heritage & Goa (22 Days) Features : On day 16 of Rajasthan Heritage and Goa, you will visit the North Goan Beaches. This tour takes you to the popular Calangute Beach, which is very close to Hotel Laguna Anjuna. Visit the Calangute Beach and enjoy a number of water sports, swim or even set out for exciting boat trips. Besides the beach-attractions, you can also visit the nearby attractions such as Calangute Church and Kerkar Art Gallery.

Best of South India (13 Days) Features : Bestowed with sparkling white sun-kissed beaches, Goa is the most sought after destination, drawing almost a million people every year. The tour gives you two days to explore the spectacular beaches of Goa. Anjuna, Calangute and Baga are the most frequented beaches while other popular beaches are Vagator, Varca, Candolim, Benaulim, Majorda, Dona Paula, Bogmalo and Colva, which you may explore on this tour. The beaches offer you opportunities to relax as well as become adventurous by taking up exciting watersports.