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Palolem is probably Goa's most beautiful and idyllic
beach and it has 1.5 km crescent shaped beach. The
beach lies on the southern coastline of Goa amidst outstanding natural
beauty. The sweeping crescent of white sand is fringed by a shady
rim of coconut palms and the whole beach is hemmed in at either end by rocky crags. It is fast emerging as a
popular spot for day-trippers from Colva and Calangute, many
travellers drift down from the northern beaches to spend days, weeks or
even months chilling out here; there is very little development and it's
extremely laid-back. Most accommodation is in simple, rickety beach buts
or villagers homes, with a handful of more solid guesthouses scattered
around. Palolem Village is nestled in the palms back from the beach. With
the large influx of tourists to the Northern beaches and the resultant
increasing commercialisation of these places. Palolem fits the bill and in
recent years, more and more tourists have been making a beeline for this
palm fringed golden beach.
Until recently, foreign tourists were few and far
between in Palolem. Over the past three or four years, however, increasing
numbers of budget travellers have begun to pour in, and the village is now
far from the undiscovered idyll it used to be, with
a string of cafes, Karnatakan hawkers and a tent camp crowding the beach
front. Souvenir stalls have also sprung up, catering mainly for the
mini-van and boat parties of charter tourists on day-trips from resorts
further north. In spite of these encroachments, Palolem remains a
resolutely traditional village, where the easy pace of life is dictated
more by the three daily rounds of todi-tapping than the exigencies
of tourism.
At Palolem (especially) you will see the sea as you have
never seen it before. Set in a bay that resembles the Gulf of Mexico, the
water is tepid and at a lovely depth of 4 feet for about a kilometer into
the sea at normal tide. This is really great for people out with kids and
don't want to fret about them getting in to the water and having fun. It's
also great fun for adults. "If you are the type who
wants to get 'away from the crowds' than Palolem is the right place. This
impossibly beautiful crescent cove in the far south of Goa is so languid
and balmy that even the water has only enough energy to lap half-heartedly
onto the beach. There's nothing to do here but soak up the rays, and go
for long walks paddling in the shallows, so bring a friend, some factor 15
and a good book."
A final note, please treat these lovely beaches as
your backyard and keep them clean. We have lost innumerable natural
resources to our own be
| Best Time to
visit |
The best time of the year to visit this area is between
September and March. |
Travel Information:
Airport: Dabolim
67kms.
Nearest Town: Margao
42kms.
Nearest Railway station: Canacona
10kms. Canacona Station, about 3 km away.
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