When you say ?Goa? what instantly comes to mind is a picture of a wide sunny beach, beautiful blue sky and swaying palm trees. Paradise indeed, because Goa?s 82 mile coastline has some of the world?s best beaches.
A bracing breeze and perhaps the sight of fishermen taking in the morning?s catch will greet early ramblers on Calangute. In the day though it witnesses considerable activity owing to its overwhelming popularity. If you want to be in the thick of things, then head for it.
This southern stretch of the Candolim beach has everything from henna artists to bhelpuri stalls, kashmiri handicraft merchants, tribal women selling artefacts, masseurs et al. However their incessant hassling and pressure selling can become tedious. If you are going to buy, bargain very hard and don?t be afraid to offer a price far below the price first quoted.
The entire offshore stretch from Calangute to Baga is dotted with a quaint assortment of hotels and eating-places. The ambience ranges from old-style Portuguese to modern and is part of the unique charm of Goa.
Calangute’s heyday as the Mecca of all expatriate hippies has passed and it has undergone a metamorphosis to become the centre of Goa’s rapidly expanding package tourist industry. It isn’t one of the best Goan beaches, but there’s plenty going on and people who find some of the other beaches too quiet may find Calangute more to their liking.
The beach at Baga is for those wanting calm and repose. The landscape is more interesting. The estuary at the end of the Baga beach is particularly beautiful and the river is ideal for inexperienced swimmers.