3 days In Goa

3 Days in Goa: Suggested Itineraries

The state of Goa, the former colonial Portuguese outpost for nearly 500 years, is home to white sand beaches, ancient churches, cobblestone streets and one of the most notoriously wild party scenes in the world. While vestiges of the hippie haven of the 1960s and 70s remain, the coastal state has plenty more to offer the intrepid traveler.

Day 1: Beach Bum

Honeymooners, backpackers and luxury travelers all flock to Goa with a plan to visit the beaches. Highly developed Calangute Beach is the place to be for a lively atmosphere and nearly any water sport you could dream of. If your ideal beach vacation involves more peace, spend the day lounging on the white sands of Palolem or Patnem. For sun and shopping, head over to Anjuna Beach for its weekly Wednesday flea market. Once the sun goes down, get in touch with Goa’s party roots with a night at Baga Beach, where the dancing and revelry continue well into the early hours of the morning.

Day 2: Historic Goa

Dig into Goa’s colonial Portuguese roots with a day in the current capital of Panaji (Panjim) and the former capital in Old Goa (Ela). Start the morning wandering the cobbled streets of Fontainhas and Sao Tome where the old mansions and church buildings date back to the mid-eighteenth century. After lunch, catch an auto rickshaw to Old Goa, once a great trading capital of Asia. Be sure to stop by the Basilica of Bom Jesus, home of the bodily remains of Saint Francis Xavier, founder of the Jesuit order and one of the first missionaries to visit India.




Day 3: Wild Goa


The waters of Goa’s coastline and rivers are teeming with wildlife and natural wonders waiting for you to explore while also offering a chance to escape the beach crowds for the day. New and seasoned divers alike can explore the underwater reefs and shipwrecks just off the coast or go further afield to the clearer waters of Netrani Island. If you’d prefer keeping your head above water, go for some bird watching at the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Alternately, make the trek through Goa’s deciduous forests to Dudhsagar Falls, among the 100 highest waterfalls in the world and home to an abundance of flora and fauna.

Eco Tours

Appreciate the natural beauty of Goa on this full-day adventure that includes an exciting crocodile-spotting tour, an elephant ride and a spice plantation tour. On this private eco-tour, enjoy a Crocodile Dundee-like adventure as you cruise along the Cumbarjua Canal with your guide in search of crocodiles. Discover the culinary and medicinal values of different types of spices on a tour of the Sahakari Spice Plantation and then enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience of riding an elephant – you’ll even get to assist in giving it a bath! End your day with a delectable spread of traditional Goan specialties.

Highlights

·         Private, full-day eco-tour in Goa with an expert guide

·         Cruise along the Cumbarjua Canal and catch a glimpse of crocodiles

·         Learn about a variety of spices on a Sahakari Spice Plantation tour

·         Enjoy unique and fun activities such as riding and bathing an elephant!

·         Delight in a traditional Goan lunch

·         Private guide ensures a more personalized, enlightening experience

What You Can Expect

Cardamom Pods

In addition to its world-renowned secluded beaches, Goa also boasts abundant wildlife and spice plantations, both of which you will experience on this full-day private tour. After hotel pickup by private, air-conditioned vehicle, head to the port in Cortalim, where you’ll board a ferry with your guide and an expert lifeguard for a 3-hour (approx.) crocodile-spotting cruise along the Cumbarjua Canal, one of the only places in the state of Goa where crocodiles live abundantly and in harmony with local fishing villages – you may even see young children safely swimming right alongside them!

Along the way, listen to your guide’s interesting commentary about this area’s crocodile history. Make sure you have your camera out and ready for when your guide points out the crocodiles hiding behind trees or idly basking in the muddy estuary! Complimentary drinks and fresh local fruits are served on board for you to enjoy.

Afterward, re-board your private vehicle and head approximately 30 minutes to the Sahakari Spice Plantation in the city of Ponda. With your guide, take a 45-minute tour of the plantation and learn about the process of farming various types of spices, as well as their uses in both traditional Goan cuisine and medicine. See how locals farm betel leaves by climbing up betel trees and learn how cashew fenny, a Goan liquor, is distilled.

Next, explore the outskirts of the spice plantation in a fun and unique way – on an elephant! Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of riding an elephant outfitted with cushions and an ornamental covering for a comfortable 15-20 minute ride. Then, help bathe one! Delight in the excitement of this experience as these lovable creatures roll over to let you scrub their back, legs and even behind their ears!

After your tour of the spice plantations, get a taste of how the spices are used in traditional Goan cuisine as you dine on a large buffet spread of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Try fried kingfish, chicken sagoti (curry), prawn curry and more. Then, sit back and relax on the comfortable drive back to your hotel.