Introduction

Home of the flower-children who discovered this beautiful beach in the late 60s, Calangute in North Goa is marked by brown sand, swaying palms, rustic huts and a colorful motley of sun bathing folks. Calangute is especially popular with European travelers. A day on the beach sees children making sand castles, crowds surging towards the sea, hippies relaxing on the sand smoking or strumming a guitar, and holidaymakers reclining on deckchairs and soaking up the sun or reading a book. You can try out some fried prawns among an array of succulent seafood delights at the shacks lining the shore under shady palms. They sell everything from traditional Goan cuisine, beer to trinkets made of seashells.

Calangute Beach is a 45-minute bus ride up to the coast from the city of Panjim. If you are keen on picking up some local souvenirs for friends back home, walk up the road from the town to the beach lined with Kashmiri handicraft boutiques and Tibetan stalls selling Himalayan curios, carpets and jewelry. At the Saturday bazaar, you can shop for armloads of colorful Rajasthani, Gujarati and Karnatakan textiles, Goan artifacts, junk jewelry and silverware. Akin to Anjuna’s Wednesday flea market, this one too offers ample scope for bargaining. Most bars and restaurants in Calangute are clustered around the entrance to the beach and along the Baga road, with an obvious bias for seafood and Western breakfasts. On the same day you can plan a trip to the nearby Kerkar Art Gallery that displays paintings and sculptures by contemporary Goan artists, and Church of St. Alex whose façade has two towers and a magnificent dome. Inside is a wonderful display of architectural styles and ornate altars.

Take a brief stroll south of the main beachfront area towards the rows of old fishing boats moored below the dunes. This is a quieter part of Calangute and is virtually free of hawkers. Saunter down the beach, help a fisherman fix his tack, relax under a bamboo sun shack and soak up the local way of life. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy parasailing, water skiing and wind surfing at Calangute Beach. Water activities pick up in the afternoon when the wind is blowing just in the right direction, and goes on till sunset.

The nightlife at Calangute is a lot subdued compared to the risqué party scene at Anjuna. Most bars here wind up by 10 in the night, save for a handful of them. A very famous party destination is Tito’s at Baga end of the beach which remains open until midnight. This includes a couple of hippie hangouts in the woods to the south of the beach road that stay open through the night. If you are planning to spend the night at Calangute, make a booking with one of the many hotels and guesthouses offering comfortable accommodation. Idyllic beach scenery, water activities, a lively nightlife and ample dining options – live it up the Goan way at Calangute.

Special Attributes

At the Saturday bazaar, you can shop for armloads of colorful Rajasthani, Gujarati and Karnatakan textiles, Goan artifacts, junk jewelry and silverware.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Dress is whatever you find comfortable.

Connectivity

Calangute Beach is a 45-minute bus ride up to the coast from the city of Panjim. You can even hire a taxi or motorcycle taxi available easily.

Enjoyed by

Families, Honeymooners, Backpackers, Senior Citizens

Exposure

You will be under the open sky of Goa. The sun can get harsh near afternoon, so you are advised to carry sunshades, a sun block cream and a bottle of drinking water.

Avoidable Season

June, July, August, September, October

Facilities

There are ample dining options, besides you can plan a trip to the nearby Kerkar Art Gallery that displays paintings and sculptures by contemporary Goan artists, and Church of St. Alex whose façade has two towers and a magnificent dome, on the same day. Water sports adventurers can enjoy parasailing, water skiing and wind surfing at Calangute.

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction.

Tip

Though swimming is considered safe at Calangute, you must check with the lifeguards for the strength of the undercurrents.

Type of site

A popular North Goan beach