Less Travelled Beaches of Goa

Goa harbors pristine beaches that still remain less untouched by mass tourism. Here’s your guide to Goa’s less travelled beaches, where you can experience the state’s natural beauty.

I can’t promise these beaches to be unspoiled, but they’re definitely less populated than other Goan shores. Just make sure to do your part by not littering.

NORTH GOA BEACHES

1. Arambol Beach – North Goa:
It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa and is situated along the Goa border, with Keri Beach (also known as Querim Beach) on the northern side and Mandrem Beach on its southern side.

I visited Arambol in 2010 when it was still a bohemian secret tucked away. Although it’s a popular spot now and has transformed so much, only a few venture to the freshwater lake (also known as Paliem Lake, Vagkolam or Kalacha) just behind the beach. Surrounded by banyan trees and fed by hot springs, this hidden spot offers a unique coastal experience. There’s an old Banyan Tree, where a stone bowl was placed by an artist Jacek Tylicki in 2002. It’s marked ‘Give if you can – Take if you have to’ and is also called Money Stone.

Insider Tip: Interestingly the sulphurous white sand of the freshwater lake is known for its therapeutic properties and applied as a face pack by locals and foreigners alike!

2. Ashwem Beach – North Goa:
This beach is ideal for those looking for some quiet time, practice yoga and simply relax with some restaurants and decent cottages to stay. This place is also a favorite nesting point of olive Ridley turtles during the breeding season (late autumn through early winter).

With its stunning scenery surrounded by trees and the blue sea, Ashvem is perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Walk around the tiny lanes to explore Goan villages, listen to the lapping waves or play in the sand. Morjim Beach is sharing the sand with Ashvem Beach while Mandrem Beach can be reached by crossing a small creek via a rickety bridge!

3. Mandrem Beach – North Goa:
The beach is accessible via a rickety bridge crossing a river and with a handful of shacks and practically no party feel, this is really the place to be if you are looking for white sands, clear water and complete solitude.

4. Morjim Beach: North Goa:
Morjim is popular for Olive Ridley turtles and that’s why powered water sports (jet skis etc) are prohibited. However, the beach is ideal for windsurfing and long walks.
Morjim Beach is neighboring Ashvem Beach, Mandrem and Arambol.

Konkan Explorers offers an incredible kayaking adventure through the lush mangroves of Chapora River. Meeting at the Morjim Jetty, they provide various tour options to explore this stunning waterway. Their expert guides will take you on a journey through the pristine backwaters, letting you discover Goa’s rich coastal ecosystem.

6. Chapora Beach: North Goa:
Offers the best sea views and is among the quieter beaches of Goa and is located at Arpora.

Chapora shares its space with Vagator Beach on its left. Chapora is also quite popular for its fish market where you get the freshest catch from the Chapora River and the sea. While here, you must visit the Chapora Fort located up on the hill built by the Portuguese in 1617. At the top, the view is fantastic and you get superb views of Vagator beach, just like they shot & showed in the movie ‘Dil Chahta Hai’!

7. Small Vagator (Ozran Beach): North Goa:
While Vagator Beach draws crowds, its smaller sibling offers a little more peaceful experience. Dramatic red cliffs, natural freshwater springs, and rock formations make this beach uniquely photogenic.

Insider Tip: Visit during low tide to explore the hidden caves in the cliffs.

8. Siridao Beach: North Goa:
It is a rocky sandy beach situated near the Zuari estuary and is located a few kilometres from Panjim. Siridao Beach is a shell collector’s haven with its assortment of oyster and pearl shells.

Some unknown things about Siridao:
At the entrance of Siridao village, an intriguing sight greets visitors – three ancient stone sculptures frozen in eternal performance, their weathered hands still gripping musical instruments. But it’s what lies beyond these silent musicians that captures the imagination: the village harbors a fascinating legend of the ‘Paulist’, a giant humanoid creature that once called this place home. Local folklore speaks of this mysterious being’s existence through carefully preserved artifacts and stories passed down through generations, making Siridao not just another Goan village, but a keeper of extraordinary tales.

Additionally at the Siridao beach, you also get to see some mysterious caves. Local legends suggest these caves once served as hidden passages, possibly used by early settlers or even as escape routes during times of invasion. Some chambers show signs of deliberate widening and crude steps carved into the rock, hinting at regular human use in the distant past. One particular cave, locally referred to as the ‘Jesus Cave’, features what appears to be a crude cross etched into its wall. Some historians speculate this could date back to early Christian presence in Goa, though no definitive evidence exists to confirm this theory.

The famous Jesus of Nazareth chapel is also situated at this beach where thousands of devotees come during the feast that is held on the first week of Easter.

SOUTH GOA BEACHES

South Goa is still less unexplored and has a unique charm and beauty to it. Be it beautiful deserted beaches or the laid-back fishing villages, South Goa offers you isolation, serenity and some great places offering fresh seafood.

1. Velsao Beach: South Goa:
This place is different due to its coconut groves and old Bungalows nearby. The journey to the beach itself is worth the trip as you cross paddy fields, lakes and beautiful countryside.

The Velsao beach is breathtakingly beautiful and happens to be the most splendid broad beach that stretches for 20 km from Mobor to Betul. This tiny beach can be reached by Bogmalo, Colva and Majorda beaches and makes for an ideal day out. This is a place to unwind, relax and rejuvenate.

2. Majorda & Uttorda Beach: South Goa:
Majorda Beach has a lot of Palm groves making it quite a scenic beach. Majorda is also the place where the Jesuits discovered the best toddy of Goa (Goan version of the palm wine is Fenny) who then used it to leaven the bread. Even now, Majorda is known to have the best bakers in Goa! 

Uttorda Beach has an idyllic strip of palm-ringed shore with beautiful sands.

3. Cavelossim Beach: South Goa:
Cavelossim is one of the last major settlements in southwest Salcete and is situated 11 km south of Colva and the beach is the southernmost beach of the Salcete subdivision that is located 7 km south of Varca.

Cavelossim Beach is a grand expanse of silver sand. The beach has some interesting lava Rocks at certain places and unlike the rest, is quite peaceful and serene.

4. Betul Beach: South Goa:
Betul Beach is a little off track (18 kms approx from Margao) when it comes to reaching it but it is a must visit for its beautiful view points.  To Reach the beach, travel south along the National Highway and take a right at the Chinchinim-Cuncolim junction and keep following this road.

Betul on the western side of the village is known for the shade provided by all the fruit bearing & coconut trees. The unique texture and color of the sand makes it an infamous attraction. Ideally a fishermen’s beach, it is still clean and untouched by tourists. Get there by taking Cavelossim-Assolna ferry across the River Sal to the beach. Located at the southern end of Sal River, the beach has a  hillock on one side while the other side is laden with coconut trees, making it more beautiful and scenic.

5. Canaguinim Beach: South Goa:
Located towards the South of Betul beach, Canaguinim Beach has rocks and a river inlet. Near the Canaguinim beach one can find a number of smaller Goan beaches.

After the Canaguinim Beach one comes across the Nuem beach that is a tiny beach which has red and black stones.

Before reaching Canaguinim one comes across a beach called Zorint beach that can be reached from a fresh water stream via a small valley situated to the south of a stony plateau. Due to this reason the beach is usually deserted. But there are many buses that run from Margao to Cabo de Rama (which is situated nearby) that stop at Canaguinim.

6. Agonda Beach: South Goa:
It is 37 kms from Margao and is an idle place to be. Dominated by a large hill to the south with rugged cliffs in the southern end and calm waters that offer beautiful sunsets, it is perfect for honeymoon couples and everyone else.

Agonda is a traditional fishing village and life here is quiet and peaceful. It also has a Turtle Centre where the Olive Ridley eggs are protected. Saint Anne’s Church, Agonda, Goa is also an interesting Church located nearby.

7. Palolem Beach: South Goa:
It is the yoga centre of Goa and offers a beautiful rocky shores, lush green jungles and a long white sandy beach. It provides seclusion and idyllic scenery with plenty of shacks offering a variety of cuisines.

Insider Tip: At the northern end of the beach is a freshwater stream. Across this stream is a tiny, undeveloped island that can be accessed by just swimming across during low tide.

8. Butterfly Beach: South Goa:
This Beach offers unspoiled scenery in a cove setting that is surrounded by rocks. Accessible only by boat (from Agonda or Palolem shoreline) or a challenging trek through forest trails, this small beach offers pristine waters perfect for snorkelling and dolphin spotting. While social media has made it increasingly popular and often crowded, visiting during early morning hours still offers moments of tranquil solitude.

Enjoy crystal clear waters or trek through the nearby forest trails. here you might also spot some dolphins!  During low water, the sand dune becomes wider and is littered with traces of crabs and goldfish. You can also get to watch sea urchins, sea cucumbers and even redfish early in the morning!

Insider Tip: Pack supplies as there are no shops, toilets or shacks nearby. Hire a local boatman from Palolem Beach to ferry you up to Butterfly Beach and back.

9. Cola/Little Cola or Koola Beach: South Goa: Not a hidden gem anymore, but yet one of the lesser visited beaches for travellers, the Cola beach in Cancona, is situated 10 km from Agonda beach and 15 km from Palolem. What makes this beach special is its unique freshwater lagoon that runs parallel to the sea. The golden sand beach is framed by dramatic cliffs, creating a natural cove that feels worlds away from typical Goan beaches.

Insider Tip: Visit during low tide to explore the natural rock pools that form at the beach’s southern end.

10. Kakolem Beach: South Goa:
Located 7 km to the South from ‘Cabo de Rama Resort’ it is one of the most isolated beaches in Goa. Set amidst the lush green jungle, the beach offers complete seclusion and is also called Tiger Beach. The beach is accessible via a steep path from the main road between Cabo de Rama and Agonda.

The beach looks even more captivating from the cliffs. There’s a cool stream that flows nearby into the sea making the place quite scenic.

Insider Tip: It is not advisable to swim here due to high underwater currents.

11. Arossim Beach: South Goa:
This beach has Cuelim & Cansaulim Beach as its neighbours and has Majorda & Utorda towards its southern coastline. It has dazzling sands, a dense green canopy of palm trees and colorful fishing boats making the beach more beautiful and scenic.

Arrosim Beach is a perfect escape from the maddening city crowd.

12. Hollant Beach: South Goa:
It is near Bogmalo and has a long stretch of shallow water, that is idle for long beach walks and the best place to view magnificent Sunrise.

The Hollant beach, 2 km away offers beautiful views encompassing the main southern beaches of Goa, along with the foothills of the Western Ghats. Capture fishermen going for the daily catch and simply enjoy the views around.

13. Zalor Beach: South Goa:
Is situated on your way out from Margao city (14 km approx.) towards Varca Beach. It is still not too crowded and offers clean white sands. Perfect for a chilled-out beach escape!

14. Galjibag Beach: South Goa:
The beach fringed by fir trees is a seasonal nesting and hatching site for Olive Ridley turtles (especially towards the north end of the beach). This is an initiative run by the Government of Goa.  For the remaining months, it is a calm and beautiful deserted beach with only a few occasional shacks.

Please note that it is not safe to swim at the Galjibag beach due to the strong undertow.

Galjibag is a pine and coconut-laden beach and one of the cleanest beaches around with soft glittering sands. Galjibag is 18 km from Canacona, south of the Talpona River estuary.

Remember, the beauty of these beaches lies in their untouched nature. Let’s keep them that way by practicing responsible tourism and preserving their pristine condition for future travelers to discover.

Responsible Travel Tips

• Carry all waste back with you
• Respect local wildlife and vegetation
• Avoid using plastic
• Support local communities when possible
• Be mindful of tides and currents
• Always inform someone about your beach plans, especially for the more isolated locations

Feature Image, Copyright Pexels