Galgibag beach, in the far south of Goa is a dream come true for anyone searching for solitude, seclusion and an absolutely stunning beach! The long sweep of golden sand is often completely empty, apart from the occasional fisherman or children from the local village chasing crabs.
Galjibag is a breeding site for the the protected Olive Ridley turtles (leading to its better known name of Turtle Beach) which explains why the beach is so deserted and almost untouched by development. If you are in Goa in January and February you may be lucky enough to see the turtles nesting and hatching. Visitors are only requested not to touch or disturb the turtles so that the conservation program can continue its successful work.
The north side of the beach is still a completely protected turtle zone, but there are a handful of simple shacks at the south end of the beach serving sensational fresh seafood. From oysters collected that day from the river estuary, to the catch of the day simply grilled or served Goan style with coconut and spices - great with a chilled beer!
Until recently, resorts were totally restricted, so staying in Galjibag was not possible unless you took a basic room in the village. However, whilst big developments are still barred, a few small sensitive accommodation options are opening up, to allow visitors to extend their day trip to a longer laid back vacation. From a handful of beach huts attached to the shacks at the south of the beach to some traditional Goan houses that have been delightfully restored and fitted out to make comfortable Goa holiday homes. As accommodation is still in short supply, however, it is best to pre-book your stay.
Gajibag is only a 20-minute drive from Patnem beach and Chaudi town, which offer a wide range of accommodation, activities, bars and shops. But “Turtle Beach’ seems a world away: a place to just relax and relish the peaceful setting and pristine natural beach. Enjoy an afternoon lounging in a hammock or take a stroll to the far south end of the beach, where the river estuary creates a natural lagoon for safe swimming. The long rolling waves travelling up the beach can be strong but are great for body boarding early in the season (borrow a board from a beach shack), and then pick up to create one of the only surfable breaks in Goa in March and April.
This is possibly the cleanest beach I have seen on the Indian mainland and am also amazed at its smooth silver sands. These are two traits that you predominantly see on island beaches and very rarely on mainland beaches.
And I guess this is the reason why the Galgibaga Beach is an important turtle nesting site in Goa. And it is for this very reason that tourism infrastructure is not allowed to develop here.
Hence, unlike the more crowded beaches of Goa, it is here that you will not even see a single shack or hut near the beach. There are only three restaurants close by and they are situated a fair distance away.
But, it is this privacy and cleanliness that adds a zing to this beach. If you happen to visit this beach between Dec and Feb, you might be lucky to see some turtle nests/eggs, though it is advised that you do not touch any. At other times, you might get lucky and see the olive ridley turtles making their way across the beach. The entire area comes under the purview of the forest department and they work hard to ensure that the turtles reach the sea safely upon hatching.
This sea is also great for swimming as long as you stay within the stipulated area. Lifeguards are available on this beach to ensure your safety. It is recommended that you don’t venture out close to the Talpona river side as changing tides might bring in under currents.
During weekdays, you will hardly see an tourists around. On weekends, this beach sees some visits from locals. So, if your idea of a beach vacation is a quiet, philosophical, meditative and a great beach, then Galgibaga is the perfect place in the Canacona district of South Goa. All you need is to carry your towels, umbrella, sun shade, etc. and you will have a fantastic time. Please ensure that you carry all your litter back to the city.
Galgibaga Beach is located about 18 kilometres from the city of Canacona (locally called Chaudi) in South Goa. It is best to take the internal coastal and more scenic roads to reach Galgibaga Beach from Palolem Beach. The Galgibaga Beach is to the south of the Talpona river estuary. Though, you can also travel on NH 17 from Canacona and take the winding road to Galgibaga.
Galjibag is a breeding site for the the protected Olive Ridley turtles (leading to its better known name of Turtle Beach) which explains why the beach is so deserted and almost untouched by development. If you are in Goa in January and February you may be lucky enough to see the turtles nesting and hatching. Visitors are only requested not to touch or disturb the turtles so that the conservation program can continue its successful work.
The north side of the beach is still a completely protected turtle zone, but there are a handful of simple shacks at the south end of the beach serving sensational fresh seafood. From oysters collected that day from the river estuary, to the catch of the day simply grilled or served Goan style with coconut and spices - great with a chilled beer!
Until recently, resorts were totally restricted, so staying in Galjibag was not possible unless you took a basic room in the village. However, whilst big developments are still barred, a few small sensitive accommodation options are opening up, to allow visitors to extend their day trip to a longer laid back vacation. From a handful of beach huts attached to the shacks at the south of the beach to some traditional Goan houses that have been delightfully restored and fitted out to make comfortable Goa holiday homes. As accommodation is still in short supply, however, it is best to pre-book your stay.
Gajibag is only a 20-minute drive from Patnem beach and Chaudi town, which offer a wide range of accommodation, activities, bars and shops. But “Turtle Beach’ seems a world away: a place to just relax and relish the peaceful setting and pristine natural beach. Enjoy an afternoon lounging in a hammock or take a stroll to the far south end of the beach, where the river estuary creates a natural lagoon for safe swimming. The long rolling waves travelling up the beach can be strong but are great for body boarding early in the season (borrow a board from a beach shack), and then pick up to create one of the only surfable breaks in Goa in March and April.
This is possibly the cleanest beach I have seen on the Indian mainland and am also amazed at its smooth silver sands. These are two traits that you predominantly see on island beaches and very rarely on mainland beaches.
And I guess this is the reason why the Galgibaga Beach is an important turtle nesting site in Goa. And it is for this very reason that tourism infrastructure is not allowed to develop here.
Hence, unlike the more crowded beaches of Goa, it is here that you will not even see a single shack or hut near the beach. There are only three restaurants close by and they are situated a fair distance away.
But, it is this privacy and cleanliness that adds a zing to this beach. If you happen to visit this beach between Dec and Feb, you might be lucky to see some turtle nests/eggs, though it is advised that you do not touch any. At other times, you might get lucky and see the olive ridley turtles making their way across the beach. The entire area comes under the purview of the forest department and they work hard to ensure that the turtles reach the sea safely upon hatching.
This sea is also great for swimming as long as you stay within the stipulated area. Lifeguards are available on this beach to ensure your safety. It is recommended that you don’t venture out close to the Talpona river side as changing tides might bring in under currents.
During weekdays, you will hardly see an tourists around. On weekends, this beach sees some visits from locals. So, if your idea of a beach vacation is a quiet, philosophical, meditative and a great beach, then Galgibaga is the perfect place in the Canacona district of South Goa. All you need is to carry your towels, umbrella, sun shade, etc. and you will have a fantastic time. Please ensure that you carry all your litter back to the city.
Galgibaga Beach is located about 18 kilometres from the city of Canacona (locally called Chaudi) in South Goa. It is best to take the internal coastal and more scenic roads to reach Galgibaga Beach from Palolem Beach. The Galgibaga Beach is to the south of the Talpona river estuary. Though, you can also travel on NH 17 from Canacona and take the winding road to Galgibaga.
One of the best experience of my life was when I traveled to Goa. It was really an unique experience among all other places which i visited in Goa. The most amazing part of the tour was doing Parasailing, scuba diving, body boarding in Goa. Thank u sea water sports for making my trip memorable.
ReplyDelete