Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Benaulim to Agonda
Immediately south of Benaulim are the beach resorts of
Varca
and
Cavelossim
, with wide,
pristine sands and a line of flashy five-star hotels set amid landscaped private grounds
fronting the beach. About 3km south of Cavelossim, at the end of the peninsula,
Mobor
and
its beach is one of the prettiest spots along this stretch of coast, with simple beach shacks
serving good food.
If you're here with your own transport, you can cross the Sal River from Cavelossim to
Assolna on the rusting tin-tub
ferry
, which will run until the nearby bridge (you can't miss
it) is completed in late 2014. Ferries run approximately every 30 minutes between 6.15am
and 8.30pm (free for pedestrians and motorbikes). Continuing south, after about 7km
you'll pass the charming fishing village of
Betul
.
From Betul heading south to Agonda, the road winds over gorgeous, undulating hills
thick with palm groves. It's worth stopping off at the bleak old Portuguese fort of
Cabo da
Rama
(look for the green, red and white signposts leading the way), which has a small
church within the fort walls, stupendous views and several old buildings rapidly becoming
one with the trees.
Back on the main road to Agonda, look out for the turn-off to the right (west) to
Cola
Beach
, one of south Goa's most gorgeous hidden beach gems complete with emerald-green
lagoon. It's reached via a rough 2km dirt road from the highway, but it's not totally deser-
ted - a couple of beach shacks and a tent resort set up in season. Agonda is only about
2.5km south of the Cola Beach turnoff.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Agonda
Peaceful Agonda is a small village with a wide, relatively empty stretch of white-sand
beach on which rare olive ridley turtles sometimes lay their eggs. Although there's a string
of beach huts and restaurants here in season, Agonda is low-key compared with Palolem -
strong currents make the water here unsafe for swimming at times, which has kept
Agonda from getting too popular.
There's lots of yoga and ayurveda in Agonda - look out for notices - and a community
feel among the shops and cafes in the street running parallel to the beach. There's a HDFC
ATM near the church crossroads.
