Post a two hour domestic flight and an additional two hour ride from the airport, we arrived to what was like the shortest journey we have ever traveled to an exotic destination, which felt as breathtaking as traveling halfway across the world to Hawaii, the Caribbean or the Kohs (islands) of Thailand. We had entered a truly hidden gem, and a lesser explored part of Goa called Palolem beach situated in Canacona, South Goa. As we got off the cab, unloaded our bags and walked to the front desk, what lied on the other side totally took our breaths away, as if we had entered a whole new world, and the best part is this destination was only a 2 hour flight away from our chaotic life of Mumbai. We were so ready to relax and explore all the fun things we could do on this paradise called Palolem beach.
Our initial thoughts were as if we had walked right into a postcard, where we were greeted by warm sunshine, fresh sea breeze, sound of the Arabian sea crashing at our feet, and mountains surrounding us waiting to hug us along with a palm tree dotted shore, providing just the right amount of shade. All that was needed to complete this picture perfect scene was a chilled Goan beer to complement its warm sunshine glowing upon us.
We were finally ready, set and super excited to call this place our home for the next 6 days.
A little back story before we get lost into this magical piece of paradise.
We have been to both, North Goa and now South! We intended to escape to Goa to spend quality time with each other, away from our busy schedules & fast paced city lives. Initially we booked our stay only for three days in the South and had planned on heading to North for the last three days, but Palolem had our hearts hooked and taken away the minute we saw the beauty ahead of us, and that instant we said to ourselves and each other we couldn’t have found a better paradise & 3 days wouldn’t be enough, being the nature lovers that we are.
Based on our experiences, we have put together a guide to help you decide & plan your perfect Goa escape too. (Coming soon, so stay tuned)!
Six beautiful days here and innumerable magical experiences each day. Let us take you through the 15 Fun things to do in Palolem beach, a paradise tucked away in nature away from the crowd.
So here goes! Enjoy reading more about these experiences and see some gorgeous pictures that will make your heart skip a beat too! Warning: Keep your bags packed prior to reading as we are sure the below list will make it hard for you to wait & get through the formalities!
Fun things to do in Palolem beach
1. Stay at a sea view Palolem beach hut/cottage
Imagine a break from waking up to honking sounds and commotion, and rather being woken up by the soft kisses of sea breeze sweeping through your window, sound of crashing waves as your alarm! Doesn’t it sound like the most perfect morning ever! Majority of the hotels here have beach cottages and we highly encourage you to book the ones right on the beach, for it absolutely enhances your experience and is definitely worth every buck. If you don’t believe us in how important that is, check out these photos and videos! You wouldn’t want to stay even an inch away from this scene and front row seats to this magnificent view is the only way to go!
2. An early morning walk along Palolem beach coastline
A sunrise aka an early morning walk is the most fun and relaxing thing to do here in Palolem beach. It doesn’t take long to walk the entire stretch of the beach and back but it took us longer, stay tuned for the next point to find out why and all the treasures we unlocked on these morning walks.
Another reason why these early morning sunrise walks are our favorite are because they are completely opposite from those of North Goa beaches. The beaches here in South Goa make for a perfect peaceful walk. Soft gooey sand, cool water, soft rays of the morning sun, and complete silence with nothing but the sounds of nature! You might wonder if it is so quiet, is it safe? Absolutely is! There were times I (Harshi) even went out for a walk alone and felt absolutely safe. Of course anywhere you go you have to be aware that’s a given, but despite being quiet it is not empty. In fact, you will find people scattered around, jogging, meditating & enjoying this serene walk just like you!
But what we love is, it truly lets you attain peace of mind being away from the chaos, with nothing but the sound of waves hitting the shore, dogs playing in the sand, and happy at peace faces of people around you!
3. Pick souvenirs from the Sea Garden on Palolem beach
We all love shopping for souvenirs to take back home post the trip, that will serve as memories and stay with us forever. But, what if we told you instead of buying it you could pick & choose your very own souvenirs for free. Something you can place in your homes to bring back a piece of this paradise with you. So, another beautiful part of those early morning walks and a fun thing to do in Palolem beach with family or solo is that, at low tide an entire sea garden opens up ahead of you to pick and choose these thalassic treasures! Now you understand why it takes us forever on these walks. We found ourselves stopping after every step admiring different forms, shapes and colors of shells, also witnessing crabs dance in and out of their crab holes that opened up due to receding water. This walk was full of peaceful and mesmerising sights! Check out our finds and we are sure you would want to collect yours too!
(A little idea: I am yet to work on this DIY but in addition to setting these up in your fav corner of the house you can also use these to make your own jewelry pieces from anklets to necklaces and so much more!)
4. Go shopping in Palolem
In addition to these sea garden finds there is no shortage of things you can shop for, to further enhance the beauty of your corner at home. Head out to the adjacent street for a line of shops that sell everything from colorful dream catchers, to traditional wall hangings and sequinned tapestries to hang on the walls of your zen corner at home.
In addition to this you can shop for some pretty colorful and flowy beach dresses, graphic tees and beach shorts for men as well as swimwear for the ladies along with colorful sarongs! Besides this, Palolem also attracts those with a holistic travel style. Just like how North Goa is famous for its fun party scenes, South Goa and especially Palolem is popular amongst yogis. So the shopping here gets all the more interesting for you can find a wide range of natural & authentic healing crystals, singing bowls and much more!
Also don’t forget to help out the residents selling pretty & dainty trinkets on the beach!
5. Palolem Beach yoga & SUP yoga
You have chosen South Goa over North so we assume that you are looking for a more holistic and calming experience, which Palolem has no shortage of. Everywhere you walk around you will see posters of Yoga ads and sounds of people trying out singing bowls, clatter of healing crystals kept together as people browse through to find the one that speaks to them, and the aroma of the incense sticks adding fragrance to the entire street. Absolutely love this vibe of positivity & higher vibrations!
Besides if you don’t necessarily want to join in on a guided yoga class and instead you know the basics of Yoga, you can always get a beach towel from your hotel lay it on the sand and break out into that sun salutation! This is why we love Palolem beach as there are so many empty spots and corners, perfect to engage in such activities & have the privacy while doing it! SUP Yoga, aka Stand Up Paddle board yoga, is also offered because who wouldn’t enjoy a floating yoga studio over the beautiful Arabian sea, right?!
6. Witness magical sunsets right on Palolem beach
Being nestled in nature, the scenery here is a treat to the eyes any hour of the day! The morning starts off with rays of the sun brightening up the mountain, bouncing off them & bejewelling the Arabian sea with the shimmer from its light, and this play of light goes on till the end of the day! The sun here doesn’t shy away from putting on a grand show as it sets either. Every sunset we witnessed here each day of our stay was magical, breathtaking and a grand end to an already mesmerising day! Trust us you wouldn’t want to miss a sunset here and sundowners in Palolem will be unlike you have ever experienced!
Some evenings we enjoyed these sunsets while walking on the beach, some days sipping cocktails with our feet in the sand and front row seats at the colorful beach shacks with live music in the background, and some days with chilled beers in the comfort of our own private sea facing balconies! Just goes to show sundowners in nature are far more comforting than within any fancy manmade place!
Here are some sunsets we captured to share with our virtual family aka you lovely people!
7. Kayaking
Sure all these activities have got you super relaxed and put you in zen mode and you are loving it but incase you are also craving for a little thrill, this activity would be perfect for you. Imagine venturing out into the sea, braving the waves, the vast Arabian sea is now your playground for a couple of hours and it’s time to explore the blues for a while. The best part is you don’t have to be experienced, they teach you proper techniques to paddle your kayak, and give you life jackets. It’s a fun thing to do while in Palolem beach, to add some excitement to your laid back holiday and take in the warmth of the sun while swaying freely on the water!
8. Swim in the Arabian sea
You have had your fair share of sunbathing lying on those beach loungers, and bounced on the waves, but nothing beats immersing yourself in the cool waters of Palolems beach. Take a break from the heat and the sun and enjoy a dip in the refreshing water with endless sea behind you as far as your eye can see, with the view of colorful Palolem beach huts, and swaying palm trees in front of you. No better way than this to submerge yourself in this beauty & take it all in with a 360 degree view of the place right from the Sea. We have been to some of the world’s best beaches all the way to the Caribbean but having a clean quiet beach encircled by scenic sights just a short flight away is truly a blessing. Another reason why we love South a bit more than North Goa, for the pure fact that we have access to such gorgeous, clean and uncrowded beaches we can actually swim in.
9. Play beach games
You aren’t on a beach holiday until you indulge in some beach games, a match of beach volleyball, football or even a Frisbee to enjoy with your group. Several stores by the beach or out on the shopping street sell Frisbees and footballs in case you didn’t carry yours. These activities definitely add some joy to your holiday letting you spend quality and fun time with your group/partner, and helps you a great deal in loosing some pounds only to gain it back for what’s coming up next 😉
10. Visit a new beach shack in Palolem everyday
With all those calories you burnt doing fun things like kayaking, swimming, running around playing beach games on Palolem beach, this next thing to do is most definitely a well earned one. Indulge in all the food, from Italian, Asian to Indian and fresh seafood, sweet treats, and sugar-loaded yummy cocktails Goa has to offer.
The entire Palolem beach coastline from start to end is filled with beach shacks serving lip smacking food, with many offering comfy bean bag seating, tables in sand, live band kind of set-up for you to choose from. So dig in and devour all the yummy goodness also often being accompanied with cute doggos just laying by your side. So stay tuned and subscribe to our newsletter to get alerts & not miss out when we post about our favorite beach shacks here in Palolem, (coming up soon).
11. Stock up your mini fridge
Shacks on Palolem beach close earlier than North Goa say around 11pm-12 midnight (max 1am on a weekend) and if you want to continue the party in your beach house balcony we suggest you stock up that in-room mini fridge.
Alcohol in Goa is cheaper than other states in India or even the ones you find in the shacks. You can purchase your choice of beer, or other hard liquor from the stores out on the shopping street on MRP (Retail price) and this way you don’t have to end your party early and also save some bucks while at it. Hence we have ‘booking a sea view cottage‘ in Palolem beach as the number 1 thing to do, this is where it helps by letting you continue the fun beyond the closing hours. Being at a beach shack then is not the only way to enjoy front row seats to the sea & take in that sea breeze, you get the same feels & view right in your balcony too. We spent quite a few of our most memorable sundowners right at the comfort of our own sea facing balcony like the one below.
12. Sight Bioluminescent plankton on Palolem beach
If you thought nature’s last show ended at sunset then you have another thing coming and you are rather in for a treat. An experience that might just be on your bucket list. You wake up to nature’s beauty around you so it is only fair to witness its magic before hitting the bed. You are sitting with your loved one or your favorite people, having scrumptious food & chilled drinks under a sky full of stars with your toes wiggling in the sand. The water kisses your feet every now and then and as you are about to take in that next bite, your hands freeze, jaw drops and your eyes are wide open for you can’t believe what you saw in front of you in the waters! You rub your eyes and stare harder and witness it again. At least that was exactly how we reacted, in that order. Brace yourself, for your eyes would have been right in seeing the water light up with each wave with glittering blue bioluminescent plankton! Watching these has always sparked so much joy within us, this had always been on our bucket list and was first fulfilled on a magical out-worldly avatar like canoeing trip on Thailand’s waters which you should definitely experience once too. Now Palolem was the second time we got to view it each night we were there and it totally took us by surprise as we had no clue this place could get any more magical than it was. That too it wasn’t just a one-time look at this beautiful shining blue water, it became an activity we engaged in each night! How we wish we could have such dream-like date nights with magical waters around us each night!
13. Dolphin watching tour & Butterfly beach, South Goa
Another enriching experience and one of the most fun things to do while in Palolem beach is to go on a boat trip in search of secluded conclaves surrounded by waters, home to pods of dolphins. Doesn’t that sound fun, watching wild dolphins jump around you and your boat?
We had already in our lives gone on a dolphin watching tour off the coast of LA and it has till today been one of the most cherished memories having a huge pod of dolphins race against our catamaran all throughout. So to be honest we didn’t think much of this trip and always were of the opinion that no other dolphin watching tour could ever beat that one. But we were so pleasantly surprised as nature never disappoints! It was a completely different experience from the earlier one and sure we didn’t see a big pod at once but did spot quite a few jumping around our boat not too far away and mainly met a sweet old dolphin that swam and rather hung out for a while quite close to our boat, and that is what made it different and a super special moment.
Post meeting sweet wild dolphins, we ventured out further and as we kept riding the waves the water started turning from deep blues to emerald green and we arrived at what we like to call a paradise away from paradise – Butterfly Beach! This bay surrounded by lush green of the trees & the glistening emerald green water is truly a paradise tucked away in nature away from the crowd! It is a great spot to get out to on an early morning trip.
We highly recommend this trip, for it is short yet a memorable experience that will stay etched in your hearts! We also hope you get to meet that sweet old dolphin, that truly left a mark on our hearts!
This trip cost us 1000 Indian Rupees in total for the both of us and we shared it with another couple who were charged separately. So it was sort of a semi private trip with just 4 of us instead of 10+ people. Also we went there early in the morning before more boats ventured out, which reduces the chances of spotting dolphins. So we started off at 7:30am and were back by around 9:30 am.
Word of advice: There are several boat guys in front of a lot of hotels offering this tour so you could pick any, however make sure to bargain, ask and find out how many people will be on the boat for your made deal, and talk to find out if they are genuinely interested in making sure you spot dolphins and not just there to make money and rip you off.
Mainly please bargain, ours started off with 2000, we bargained for a deal of 1500 for a private tour just the two of us, but in the morning we got a call saying there is one more couple so we further bargained and made the final deal of 1000 rupees total for the two of us. We found this particular guy right outside of Palolem Beach Resort.
14. Spa day in Palolem
With yoga, natural beauty and scrumptious food, we are sure you will have had plenty of nourishment for the mind, belly and soul and now before you head back to your daily grind, pamper & let your body get all that nourishment it can too. Another thing we love here is to go for spa treatments to rejuvenate ourselves. With all these wonderful experiences and moments spent on this piece of heaven, we had already de-stressed but just had last remaining bits of releasing of some stress points in the body, and booking ourselves a spa treatment specifically deep tissue massage truly took care of it and healed us completely. Again plenty of Spa options but the one we went with & loved is Kalpaka Spa located inside the Palolem Beach Resort.
15. Take postcard like pictures on Palolem beach
Last but not the least, we are sure you wouldn’t want to leave this place, but like they say one adventure must end for another to begin, but it doesn’t have to in your hearts & mind and even for your eyes. Capture your time on this paradise & take it back with you in the form of postcard like pictures. We guarantee you photos here won’t be ordinary, rather truly postcard like, that you can actually even mail to your loved ones with a personalized message on the back!
Don’t believe us? See these pictures below:
Whether you are a photography enthusiast or not, this is not exactly a “Thing to do” but rather a fun reflex your mind will compel you to do here in Palolem beach! There is so much beauty that it is hard to not want to capture it. Even the same exact spot here bathes in different colors and patterns, each day and every moment! And if you are a photographer then you truly have landed in paradise and we suggest you empty out your camera before you get here cause the clicks won’t stop!
I always heard the beaches in Goa were gorgeous. Now I know there is also lots to do when you visit the beach at Palolem. I do love to start my day with a beach walk when it is cooler. And who could pass o a great sunset to finish the day? Kayaking would certainly be a way to get a different view from the water. Maybe we would see dolphins?
Imagine that having dolphins jumping by while kayaking! We would have loved that too, but they are really further away deep into the sea, hence we recommend going on these boat tours to spot them and then head to this secluded bay called Butterfly beach! 🙂 These two things make for a perfect day out on the water.
I would love to go shopping in Palolem. These dream catchers are nice. It would be nice to grab some flowy beach dresses and the pretty trinkets you shared. Will make sure to include this in our itinerary.
Shopping on this street is definitely a must! You will most certainly find beautiful pieces to carry back for the corners of your home and some colorful dresses to add to your wardrobe 🙂
It’s be great to explore this area and have an active day … but personally I’m leaning towards a spa day! There’s nothing better than having an unhurried massage and then relaxing afterwards to drink in your surroundings. Especially when you have the option of sitting outside to enjoy the view.
You can never go wrong with spa days! We in-fact did this too post our spa session, just went out to the beach to lounge there with drinks in our hands and scrumptious food! Next time we are definitely beginning and ending our trip this way! Can never have enough spa time 😉
Wow I’ve never heard of this spot! The beach looks so peaceful and clean. I’m adding this one to my bucket list for sure.
We couldn’t believe it either, we have seen and swam in gorgeous unbeatable Caribbean beaches, so when we found this one it truly felt like we found a hidden gem that too not too far off from our city!
What a stunning place! I would spend my days there just relaxing with a drink and a book on the sand and occasionally going out to swim. Un like the beaches in my country it looks like it is safe to swim there without having a ton of training.
So gorgeous!
Ahh yes it is super safe to swim plus there are lifeguards on duty too! We did that as well just lounged on the beach with a book and some yummy cocktails, it’s a perfect way to spend you day in this paradise. Can’t wait to do this again though 🙂
Palolem beach looks lovely! I would love to walk along the shore and visit the beach shacks. I love the color of the water. The Dolphin watch and Butterfly Beach sounds like a lot of fun to. And going to the spa would be a perfect end to the day. Your post has inspired me to visit!
We always feel so happy when we can inspire our readers to want to travel to the destinations we have had wonderful experiences in! We hope you get to visit soon Melissa and when you do, we would love to hear all about your time here in Palolem too! 🙂
Oh my God, those trinkets look so pretty. I would love to get them too. Anyway, I have been to Goa many times and it is one place which I long to keep visiting over and over again. I loved Palolem Beach even though I did not stay anywhere closer to it. I think it is definitely a good idea to stay by the beach which I will ensure next time.
Your first photo of Palolem Beach in South Goa really looks like beaches of Hawaii or any Caribbean beach. Even the view of sunset from your oceanview room looks splendid. It would be great to play some beach games here and spent sometime in relaxing at beach shacks. It looks a good shopping place for trinkets and some handicrafts.
Wow! This is stunning, I don’t know that I’ve actually heard for South Goa! So beautiful, it looks like a wonderful place to visit!
It sure is! Such a wonderful beach getaway in India! Full of culture, beautiful scenery, and delicious food 🙂
The beaches of Goa are no doubt gorgeous and South Goa is especially beautiful. Palolem Beach is a great one as well. I had visited Goa almost a decade back and at that time Palolem was not quite as famous as today. We had visited it, spent some time and came back. Next time I visit Goa, I would love to stay near this beach and spend more time here. I also love shopping in Goa. And the trinket you are wearing is quite cute!
Goa is one of our favourite destinations in India. We return again and again, and the best part is that everytime, Goa unveils a different dimension. Of course beaches are Goa’s prime jewels, we have always love the beaches of South goa more for the sheer natural beauty that envelops them. Palolem happens to be one of our favourites too, there is so much to do there.No wonder you ended up spending all your vacation days there.
South Goa is definitely the gem! No wonder you chose to spend all the 6 days instead of going to the busy, touristy North Goa! Beach cottages with the view of the beach are the best! That gives the best chance to explore the beach late at night or early in the morning without another soul in sight! Those dream catchers are so adorable!
What an absolutely beautiful place. I am completely unfamiliar with Goa, so this was a fantastic introduction. I can see what you decided to stay for 6 days instead of 3. It’s a great example of paradise. I Think my favorite thing would be seeing the dolphins and also trying all the yummy food. What a meat place.
I have never even heard of Goa, but I will definitely have to research it further. It looks like heaven and it sounds like you had the perfect 6 days in paradise! I would love to do a tour to watch the dolphins. I have gone on many whale watching tours, but have never seen the dolphins in their natural habitat.
This sounds absolutely great and I would so love to go – but due to covid, Goa has to wait for at least another year.
Ahh yes Covid has cancelled out on so many places. But better late than never 😉 We hope you get to Goa next year Renata! In fact we hope all of us can travel freely soon now.
I was supposed to be travelling to Goa this month but I am little bit hesitant to travel because of the COVID19 situation. However, I look forward to travelling soon and south Goa is such a nice place to spend some quiet days.
Even though Goa is now open we understand your concern, we are ourselves reluctant to even step out too far unless really necessary. But hopefully soon, and when you do, definitely spend some time in South Goa and Palolem. It’ll be a perfect and refreshing break, more so after these trying times 🙂
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