A Goa Honeymoon may be exactly what you are looking for if you are chasing a honeymoon spot close to nature, hassle free from crowd and traffic with lots of romantic space that is also wallet-friendly.
Goa is situated along the western coast of India, which is also known as the Kongan coast. This makes Goa famous for its beaches. There are a lot of small islands – both marine and estuarine, that offer a lot of opportunities for tourists to have a great time. Goa is one of the top most visited tourist spots of India – the coastal state fills the day and night with fun, peace and happiness. Goa’s serene beaches offer space for couples to spend romantic time together. As a couple, you can take a dip at the sea, take a trip to do a jungle safari and a plenty more.
Things to do in Goa
Below a list of romantic, cultural, adventurous and relaxing activities to keep yourselves amused on the trip to Goa.
Netravali
Surprise your partner with a trip to a few less trodden trails of Goa. One such place is Netravali. It is a village in south Goa, under heavy influence of Portuguese atmosphere. The village is 80 km from the capital city Panaji. It is worth spending a day at Netravali.
On the way to Netravali, you can see scenic beauty of green forests and wild species. After entering the village, the backdrop changes to Portuguese style residences that will take you a few centuries back on a time machine.
Plan your first stop at the bubbling Netravali lake. Also known as “Budbud Tali” in Kongani language, this lake is a scientific marvel. It looks more like a pond with a few steps leading to it. The surface of the water keeps forming concentric circles with bubbles. Ask your partner to clap her/his hands and see the magic! The bubbles move faster with more sound. At this lake, the water responds to acoustic changes. Until now, no clear theory is proved for this water-sound magic. Forget hydraulics and acoustics, just enjoy the beauty of lake and its surroundings.
It is a good idea to head next to Savari Falls a few kilo-meters away. The route is quite tricky, so get directions from locals to reach the falls and enjoy the breath-taking views..
Para-sailing
For any adventure lover, para-sailing is an exciting activity that pumps the adrenaline levels. For a couple, para-sailing is a romance-come-adventure activity which must be on the top of any honeymoon activities list.
A Para-sailing ride takes a person (or two) to the air by fixing one end to a boat and the other part is connected to the para-sailing couple attached to a canopy, which helps them to get an experience of flying on air. This is similar to flying with a parachute, the only difference being connected to a moving boat.
Beaches that offer para-sailing in Goa include Anjuna beach, Calangute beach and Candolim. Prices start from around 8000 INR per person. Para-sailing is operated from October to May. It is advised to take precautions and be informed about the conditions of para-sailing. It is important to know if the operators are well experienced and licenced for the activity. Wear lifejackets and consider safety as priority. It is recommended to carry swimsuits, towels and an extra pair of clothes.
Aquada Fort & Goa State Museum
Being a coastal region with the Arabian sea bounded on the west, Goa faced an invasion by Portuguese. They ruled for around 450 years. In 1961, Goa was annexed to India. It remained as an union territory until 1987. After May 1987, Goa was declared as a separate state of India.
As Goa was under the rule of Portuguese for a long time, it makes the region a mixed area of Portuguese and Indian culture. Heritage Portuguese buildings and museums offer a plethora of information on the glorious history of this state. The architectural style of Portuguese buildings are an awe to see. For a honeymoon trip, it is good to have a dose of informational tours too!
Aguada fort
History is interesting and it is more interesting to learn with a partner! Now, welcome to the Aguada fort – one of the unique structures which stands since 1612.
The fort was built by the Portuguese for a variety of reasons. First, as a defence structure, to safeguard their province. Their main opponents were the Dutch and the neighbour Maratha rulers. Secondly it was used to store goods for supply ships. The fort had a huge water storage facility that was used to re-fill water and other basic needs for the ships that sail across. It also housed a variety of weapons and war materials. A look into the fort and its history is worth a visit for anyone. The fort is located on the Sinquerim beach.
Goa state museum
There are many museums in Goa that exhibit cultural artefacts from the Portuguese era. Goa state museum is one such place that offers interesting pieces about the state’s past. This museum also explains the freedom struggle initiated by the locals against Portuguese. The museum is located in the capital city Panaji, and it is easily accessible.
Goa is also famous for many heritage structures – most of them are churches and citadels. They have been declared as UNESCO world heritage sites.
GOA BEACH
Last but not the least, the beach is the top most visited place of Goa. Walking barefoot on the white sand, holding hands, is the best relaxing activity any couple can have. The first thing that flashes on one’s mind about Goa is beach. Goa has a long coastline and the state is mainly divided into two – north Goa and south Goa.
Anjuna beach
Anjuna beach in north Goa is one of the most visited beaches on Goa. The beach offers a serene environment with rocks, white sand and food outlets. A shopping point called flea market is opened every Wednesday and it is enough to satisfy shopaholics from diverse countries. Ingos Saturday night market is also famous here. Common water sports are parasailing and jet skiing. Paragliding is also available. There are rental houses nearby on monthly basis and some resorts offer short time stay options along with a tour package.
Palolem beach
South Goa offers expensive entertainment for high budget tourist. But Palolem beach in south Goa is for everyone. Palolem is a relaxing place, less crowded and more beautiful. There are jungles and islands around, making this place suitable for trekking.
Butterfly beach
This is one of the amazing beaches in Goa, located near the Palolem beach. This beach is not accessible via road due to forest areas a
round. Hence, it can be reached by sea, from Palolem beach. For more adventure lovers, it is a good idea to just walk along the shores of Palolem beach, cross the forest and reach butterfly beach. This beach, in particular, has a scenic beauty of its own due to crystal clear water and white sand. The forest around adds more beauty to this beach by pouring in a shade of green. This beach is not very crowded and hence suitable for couples who wish to have a peaceful time together.
Baga beach
Baga beach is one of the most visited beaches of Goa with many water sports options available to have fun. Parasailing is available in Baga at reasonable prices. Banana boat rides are available that carries around four or more people. Dolphins can also be sighted at times and this beach makes the trip worth visiting.
Other ideas
Jungle trekking
After spending long hours at the beaches, you might want to take an alternate entertainment option. Going for a jungle trek is a good idea, especially if you have a longer trip available to honeymoon. This trip is adventurous and astonishing for all nature lovers. This may take an entire day but it is worth enjoying.
Jungle trekking in Palolem is more famous, though there are other places offering such activities. There is a small island called Monkey Island, which is passable by foot if the tides are low. From there, you can visit Butterfly Beach which is very quite and extremely beautiful. On the way trekking, interesting species of flora and fauna can be seen. This trip will make anyone realise the beauty of nature. Trekking as a couple will make it memorable forever.
Crocodile watch
Another idea to bask in wild, if you are staying longer, is to crocodile watch. Live crocodiles can be seen in the banks of Cumbarjua canal. This is an island at around 20 kilo-meters eastward from Panaji. The Cumbarjua canal links the waters of Zuari and Mandovi rivers. Boat rides are available at this canal known as Boat safaris. This is because, you can see a number of marine-come-land inhabited species along the ride. The main attraction of this trip is crocodile sighting. This place in Goa has the richest population of crocodiles than anywhere else in India.
Special/unique activity on night 1 of honeymoon
Candle light traditional dinner
A “must” activity on the to-do list of any honeymoon couple is a candle light dinner. To be honest, this kind of time-together is proven to promote the strength of love in marriage relationships. Goa offers a wide range of opportunities for dining. You can choose to have traditional food under modern settings, or a modern food under a traditional setting. An ideal candle light dinner must have medium light setting, a pleasant aroma and preferably a nice gift! It is a great idea to have a special dinner night 1 of the honey moon to boost up the intimacy and kindle up the spirits to enjoy the remaining days of the trip.
Though a candle light dinner can be enjoyed in any good restaurant, one of the best places to have a romantic dinner is at Spice studio, Salcette. The restaurant has good ambience and fresh fragrance along with delicious food – a perfect dining place to spend night 1 of the honeymoon trip. Check this location for more – 48/10 Village Majorda, at Adao Waddo, in Salcette.
Another option can be – Mustard, a simple dining point where you can have mouth-watering food and enjoy theatrical performances both at once. Mustard is located at House number 78, Mae de deus vaddo, in Chogm Road, at Sangolda.
FESTIVALS IN GOA
Apart from the common festivals such as Christmas, Diwali, Dussehra and Eid, which are celebrated throughout the country, there are a few local festivals celebrated in Goa.
Shigmo
Shigmo is one of the major festivals celebrated by native Goans. It falls on the Phalguni month and IS celebrated five days prior and after full moon. There are two variants of this festival – Dhaktho Shigmo/small Shigmo and Vhadlo Shigmo/big Shigmo. Dhaktho Shigmo is mostly celebrated in the rural villages of Goa where traditional songs and folk performances are held. Vhadlo Shigmo is celebrated nationwide, attracting large number of tourists from neighbourhood states. This festival is mostly celebrated according to the Hindu traditions.
Samvatsar Padvo
Samvastar Padvo is a version of Gudi Padwa festival widely celebrated in Maharashtra and its surroundings. This festival is celebrated by Konkani Hindus to welcome spring and New Year. It falls on the first day of the Chaithra month every year which corresponds to March/April of the Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated with bright colours including Rangoli and flags which are displayed in every house. The flags are decorated with flowers and metal pot. This festival is celebrated in other parts of the country as well, with slight variations.
Carnival
The Goa carnival is locally called as Intruz. Though carnival is universally celebrated across the globe, Goa is the only Indian state where this event is celebrated with high energy. It happens around the month of February every year and the towns of Goa get drenched with colours. Float parades are conducted with people having fun with their loved ones. Feasts and circus events attract more tourists during the carnival season.
Divar Bonderam
Celebrated at the Divar island of Goa, the Divar Bonderam festival is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August and it has a historical flashback dating back to the Portuguese era. During the rule of Portuguese, they advised a flag system to resolve land disputes among the locals. The system faced high resistance from the local residents of Divar. This led to various kinds of protests. As a remembrance of such events, parades are conducted and history gets a rewind.
WHERE IS GOA AND HOW TO GET THERE
Located half way up the western side of India, Goa is about 500km South of Mumbai on the Arabian Sea. It has a domestic and an International airport which serves the primary access to Goa. From the airport, there are bus services to get to both North and South Goa.
Flight times from:
| New York: 20 hours | New Delhi: 3 hours |
| L.A.: 22 hours | Beijing: 14 hours |
| London: 12 hours | Dubai: 4 hours |
| Sydney: 18 hours |
The bus network operates from towns such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad to Goa, or Alternatively the Indian Train network is robust if you are already in India or would like to fly into another area of India. The train network services the majority of India other than in the far North.
HOW TO GET AROUND GOA
If you are looking to travel between towns, a taxi is a good option – they are widely available and can be hired for a full day for about 2000INR (30USD) which will cover you for about 8 hours. If you are looking for shorter distances – you can consider a Motorcycle taxi or 3 wheeled Rickshaw which are both cheaper than the regular taxis.
If you are feeling slightly more adventurous, you can hire your own scooter for about 350 INR (5USD) per day but be careful on the roads over there as the drivers are a little crazy at times. It is not recommended unless you are competent on a scooter! Or hire car rental is also available at a good price.
ACCOMMODATION IN GOA
Tourism is the main source of income for Goa and it offers tour packages under a wide budget range. North Goa offers medium and low cost stay options, and the prices rise as we travel down south.
Budget accommodation
Lowest accommodation rates begin at 1200 INR (20 USD). There are many budget hotels which offer a nice stay with clean rooms and decent food. This type of accommodation is best suited for friends who travel on a tight budget. For a honeymoon trip, it is better to have a look in person before checking in to ensure you have a peaceful stay with safe wallet.
Mid range accommodation
Mid range accommodation varies from 1600 INR to 5500 INR. These classes of hotels have a better look, with wide space and atmosphere. For those who can afford more than 2000 INR, it is better to choose a mid range option for a honeymoon trip.
Luxury accommodation
Luxury accommodation options start at around 10,000 INR and may go further beyond 17,000 INR. Brand names such as Hyatt and Taj are the star luxury abodes for those who wish to spend more. Most of the luxury hotels are all-inclusive meaning a single payment in advance will cover many other basic needs.
GOA all inclusive resorts
All inclusive resorts offer the comfort of enjoying every single element of the trip with just a single payment. Some hotels offer unlimited buffet and other entertainment options such as group activities with full advance payment. This enables a hassle free experience and you need not pull out your wallet as often which means that you might actually pay less than you otherwise would have.
Below is a list of resorts with 4+ user ratings out of 5. The prices may vary but these resorts offer high class comfort and peace. There are many more resorts to sort out based on specific location and requirements.
- Heritage village resort, Arossim beach, Cansaulim
- Santana beach resort, Dando beach, Candolim
- Grand Hyatt, Goa university, Bambolim
- Kenilworth beach resort, Utorda salcete majorda, Uttorda
- Goa marriott resort, Miramar beach, Panaji
Adults only resorts
Adults only resorts allow only people above 18. These resorts may have indoor pools and other activities unsuitable for small children. They also offer a peaceful abode for guests without the stress of handling little kids. Most of the luxury resorts are adults only and all-inclusive.
This is a small list of frequently booked adults only resorts.
- Albuquerque holiday villas, Candolim
- Living room Goa, Vagator
- Santonio resorts, Anjuna
- The island pool villa, Vainguinim
- Jasminn Mango hotels, Betalbatim
Local food in Goa
Along with the Goan special fish, spicy chicken curry and beef curry, Goans also enjoy a wide variety of vegetarian, non-vegetarian dishes and desserts.
Sanas
Sanas is a steam cooked rice cake, ideal for breakfast. It can be eaten with a spicy or tangy side dish. There are many variants of Sanas throughout South India. It is a slightly altered version of south Indian Idly.
Amboli
Amboli is another healthy option for a nutritional breakfast. It is a variation of Chappathi, but made with rice and Urad dal batter. It tastes delicious with spicy chicken curry, dal or coconut chutney. The origin of this food is Maharashtra.
Manganem
Manganem or Mangane is a sweet dish traditionally prepared by Goans during festivals. It looks and tastes like Payasam and it is also called “Goan Payasam”. Main ingredients of this dish are channa dal, sabudana and coconut. Cashews and ghee brings a wonderful aroma and flavour to the dish.
Khatkhate
Khatkhate is a pure vegetarian curry made with vegetables, coconut and toor dhal. It is a traditional Goan dish, mostly prepared without onions and garlic. A special ingredient used is a kind of pepper locally called Tirphal. It also goes by the name Sichuan pepper, which gives a peculiar aroma to the dish.
Sweet bebinca
Sweet bebinca is a pudding made with flour, egg yolk, ghee, sugar and coconut milk. It is a multi-layered soft pudding sliced into thin pieces. This sweet is a popular one among Goans during Christmas. It can also be found in Portuguese cuisine.
LANGUAGE IN GOA
The mostly widely spoken and official language of Goa is Konkani. Originally Portugese was the main language before liberation in 1961 so some older Goans still speak Portugese. English is also widely spoken as is Hindi and Marathi. English is particularly common in the tourist areas and is widely taught in Indian schools.
MONTHLY WEATHER IN GOA AND BEST TIME TO GO
The best time to visit Goa is in the months of November through to April where the weather is warm with minimal rainfall but not as hot as it gets from May through to September which is also the monsoon season. Even during the winter in Goa, you can still enjoy the Goan beaches. If you don’t mind the heat and plenty of rainfall, during the monsoon season may suit you and you will get better deals on accommodation during those months.
High season: October to January
Dry Season: November to April
Rainy Season: June to September
| Months | min. Temp. | max. Temp. | Rain days | Rainfall (mm) | Season | |||
| °C | °F | °C | °F | |||||
| January | 21 | 70 | 32 | 90 | 1 | 3 | Dry | |
| February | 21 | 70 | 31 | 88 | 2 | 7 | Dry | |
| March | 22 | 72 | 32 | 90 | 1 | 5 | Dry | |
| April | 24 | 75 | 33 | 91 | 2 | 10 | Dry | |
| May | 26 | 79 | 33 | 91 | 9 | 140 | Changing | |
| June | 27 | 81 | 33 | 91 | 20 | 810 | Wet | |
| July | 26 | 79 | 32 | 90 | 25 | 950 | Wet | |
| August | 26 | 79 | 31 | 88 | 16 | 610 | Wet | |
| September | 25 | 77 | 31 | 88 | 12 | 240 | Wet | |
| October | 25 | 77 | 31 | 88 | 8 | 160 | Changing | |
| November | 24 | 75 | 32 | 90 | 2 | 22 | Dry | |
| December | 22 | 72 | 32 | 90 | 2 | 14 | Dry | |
COST OF THINGS IN GOA
| McDonalds Combo Meal | $5.14 USD |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) | $0.88 USD |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre bottle) | $1.47 USD |
| Cappuccino (regular) | $1.28 USD |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle) | $0.45 USD |
| Water (0.33 litre bottle) | $0.23 USD |
GOA TRAVEL TIPS AND TRICKS
Choosing railway as an option to reach Goa will expose you to the beautiful landscapes along the journey.
Plan ahead to enjoy the most from Goa, as beach is not the only option.
For a honeymoon trip, choose locations that offer a good stay and quality food – It will be worth paying the little bit extra for a honeymoon.
Fill the travel bag with a first aid kit, power backup, bath accessories and snacks.
It is better to carry a digital camera to minimise the usage of smartphones on a honeymoon trip.
Have important locations and phone numbers noted on a diary, as smartphones may lose power.
IS GOA SAFE?
Petty crime throughout the area – particularly for theft is common so be careful particularly if travelling by train. Some areas of India have increased reports of sexual assault, and some areas have areas of anti-government Naxalite groups operating. Scamming throughout the area is also common targeting the tourist areas. For the latest travel assessments and warnings, take a look at the India page for the US passport and International travel website for the latest travel warnings and information for Goa.