"Baga, Goa - just a taste of India" Goa by toonsarah


Goa Travel Guide: 2,324 reviews and 3,734 photos

Anjuna Market

We don't often do the "sea and sand" package holiday thing, but when you need a break and have spent most of your holiday cash already for the year, Goa's a good bet!

The people are friendly, the food delicious and cheap, lager ditto – and if you make the effort to get around a bit you'll get a good taste of India. It's certainly made us want to go back and see more of the country one day.

Get out and explore

We stayed in Baga in North Goa, so many of my tips are about that area, but we also explored inland Goa, staying at a “Backwoods Camp”, and spent a couple of nights in Karnataka, the state immediately south of Goa.

As I’m writing this quite a few years after our trip I can’t always provide as many details as I would like, but I hope I can give you a flavour of what’s possible on a visit to Goa.

Get to know the locals

I’ve also included some tips on local customs as we were lucky enough to see quite a lot of village life here, both while staying at the Backwoods camp and on a really interesting day trip from Baga.

Do make an effort to seek out this sort of tour, run by local people who have an enthusiasm for their home state and a commitment to showing tourists that there is much more to Goa than the beach.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Sun, sea and sand - plus curry and Kingfisher lager
  • Cons:Some parts are very touristy, and you will get hassled to buy things you don't want!
  • In a nutshell:Good value break in the sun, and local colour if you search it out
  • Last visit to Goa: Oct 2003
  • Intro Updated Dec 24, 2011
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Reviews (30)

Comments (26)

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  • nhcram's Profile Photo
    nhcram Jul 20, 2011 at 12:39 PM Report Abuse

    Excellent page. We are staying in Candolim for 8 days at the end of our India trip in October. and are really looking forward to visiting Baga and Anjuna while we are there.

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    Jim_Eliason Feb 27, 2011 at 6:28 AM Report Abuse

    Nice page, Sarah.

  • MalenaN's Profile Photo
    MalenaN Dec 31, 2009 at 1:24 AM Report Abuse

    I'm really looking forward to visit Goa for the first time next year! Great informative tips Sarah!

  • volopolo May 21, 2009 at 6:57 AM Report Abuse

    Excellent photos and information in your website

  • Avieira67's Profile Photo
    Avieira67 Apr 29, 2009 at 12:01 PM Report Abuse

    I had no time enough to explore Goa, so I must go there again. Thank you for sharing.

  • junecorlett's Profile Photo
    junecorlett Apr 17, 2009 at 9:14 AM Report Abuse

    Good tips for Goa, lovely cooling off time for the elephants too!!

  • deecat's Profile Photo
    deecat Apr 5, 2009 at 1:53 PM Report Abuse

    Outstanding! Even excellent transportation tips. Loved the Flea-Street Markets, village home, nut factory, info about Sacred Cows, the temple; however, the tiger & elephant reserves were the best.

  • Bwana_Brown's Profile Photo
    Bwana_Brown Mar 9, 2009 at 11:43 AM Report Abuse

    Sarah, this is a great page on Goa, a place I've always wanted to visit too! I liked the looks of your trip to spectacular Dudhsager Falls & the train ride too. That big spider looks like the Orb Weavers we had in Papua New Guinea!

  • robertgaz's Profile Photo
    robertgaz Mar 4, 2009 at 2:37 PM Report Abuse

    I'm reading 'Shantaram' at the moment where an Aussie fugitive tries to find his Swiss love in Goa after she ran away from Bombay...

  • HORSCHECK's Profile Photo
    HORSCHECK Mar 2, 2009 at 10:25 AM Report Abuse

    Sarah, fabulous page abou Goa. I especially like the idea of going by train in India. I can't believe you met a Toons mate in Baga. *verybigsmile*

toonsarah

“I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust”

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