Candolim Beach. Review on Goa

I’ve been to Goa innumerable times and well even lived there three years of my life, but nothing tops the trip I made this time during new yrs. It was just the perfect holiday after having worked my self to exhaustion over the year, with sun, sand and a lot of lazing!!

We headed straight to Candolim, on popular vote, and were certainly not disappointed.

There is a spirit to Candolim that is so inherently Goa; the place is just absolutely addictive. A sharp right from the main road from Sinquerim will lead you to a street lined with shops selling everything from clothes to spices, to jewellery to pretty much anything you’d desire. The street is ever enchanting with shops lined and lit up in the evenings and has some lovely cafes and restaurants as well spilling over with foreigners who throng the place. Some of the really cool places to hangout with a beer and excellent music are Alexandra, Utopia and Coyote. Don’t wait to get to Anjuna beach to get yourself needle-pricked (oops tattooed is the word), ask around and you would find a good neat place to get your body painted with remarkable art work.

The wide unsheltered stretch of beach here, backed by scrub-covered dunes, is marginally more staid and classy in fact, in comparison to Baga and Calangute. The ratio of burnt flesh per square inch is also slightly lower. However the beach is strewn with shacks that make for the clichéd picturesque Goa, complete with beds to sun bathe in. Blend in by getting yourself a glass of beer and hit the beach to haggle with the local guys to Para sail or take a ride on the banana boat both of which are really fun things to do!!! Honestly the Candolim-Sinquerim stretch is the best place to get togged up for quality water sports: jetski's, windsurfing and catamarans. If you are the less enthusiastic sorts, just laze on the bed listen to some good Goan music and just chill!

Candolim is up till late night, with bright carnival lights decorating the area and there are people always around. The place is quite safe for women, and you will find the local populace more than willing to help in case of a difficulty.

Proximity vice Candolim is a stone throw from Baga and Calangute some of the more popular beaches of Goa, which is great because you could save up on a lot of money for stay and still find a great place to shack.

Panjim (the state capital) is very close by if you take the Mandovi road out and hit the kadamba bus station via the new bridge.

The most important thing to remember while you’re in Goa however, is not to plan anything, the idea should be to just relax and deflate and let the sun do the magic.

Accomodation

Face it while you’re in Goa, you’re not gonna be spending too much time indoors, so get a place that is neat, clean and affordable. I highly recommend Alexandra. Contact Antoinette Tel: 0832-2489097.

Must try

For authentic Goan food (not a rarity here) try the Old Mango tree restaurant on the main road.

Some tips

Do keep in mind that there is a big difference between heat in other parts of the world and humidity in Goa, which is getting soaked in perspiration. The best way to tackle it is to take in lot of liquids and stay cool.

Hiring bikes is the best way to commute in Goa, however rent prices sky rocket during Christmas and New Yrs. If you don’t know how to ride, pilot bikes are available to drop you to required destinations- not advisable for huge groups!

Interesting Fact

Even the locals will agree that Indian tourists spend more money here. The foreigners despite popular perception are harder to fool with exorbitant room rents and bike hire rates.