North Goa’s Famous Candolim Beach

The small seaside town of Candolim in the North of Goa, about a 30-minute drive outside of Goa’s capital city Panjim, plays host to the longest stretch of beach in the entire state. Beginning at Fort Aguada and merging with Calangute Beach towards the end Candolim beach plays host to everything special about Goa.

The beach starts with the famous Fort Aguada, a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort overlooking the epic Arabian Sea. The Fort location now plays host to a Taj Group 5 star resort and spa, though public access remains to enjoy the spectacular views and crashing waves. From the edge of the Fort looking down the beach the eye can see as far as Calangute. In the season time between October and April, the beach scene will be alive with tourists, and water sports, with the beach front hosted by beach shacks as far as the eye can see. In the off season one can view the waves, the palm trees and dunes. A deserted paradise swept by mother nature. The views of Candolim town followed by the jungle hills littered with villas or holiday homes are also not to missed.

The beach ends by merging into Calangute beach. Candolim and Calangute are two major north Goa seaside towns visited by millions of tourists every year. The towns border each other as the beaches do. The beach remains roughly the same from start to end with Candolim beach, though the Calangute end becomes the busiest the deeper one enters. Calangute beach is filled with thousands of tourists throughout the season. It is one of the busiest beaches in Goa.

On the Beach in Candolim

Candolim-Beach-Goa

Coming down onto the beach at Candolim you are met with a burnt orange colour sand, on a long beach front sloping to murky waves from the Arabian Sea. The sea tends to remain choppy, throughout the day small waves can be found in the ocean which are enjoyed by tourists soaking up the luscious weather (in season). At the Fort Aguada end of the beach and at the Calangute end of the beach, many water sports are available from different locals or shacks in the area. The sand of the beach is landscaped with sand dunes, mangroves and palm trees. Between these lie small resorts holiday homes and restaurants. On the beach front itself is where the shacks will lie. Providing a barrier between the sea and the resorts for the tourists to take rest, eat and drink.

It is at the shacks on Candolim beach that the sunbeds, umbrellas and seating is provided. Each shack has its own section of the beach which it serves. There are sections of the beach with no shacks (small area), it is also possible to not use the provided beach furniture but to place your towel down to relax or go for a swim. The shacks offer a different ambience for all visitors. A host of different structures with music playing serving food and drink. These shacks are all run by the local people, some with small foreign investment. Menus range in cuisine serving every taste bud imaginable. Shaded areas are a given, as are toilets in small independent structures around the back of the shacks. The Shack owners are very used to customers from all walks of life with English spoken throughout the majority.

Candolim Beach is a place usually for tourist beach goers having a more seaside town type of vibe. Compared to other north Goa beaches like Vagator or Anjuna known for the party scene or hippy vibe. Candolim has a more beach holiday feel to it, mostly. The beach does play host to VH1’s Supersonic festival in the Christmas week every year, where thousands of people the world over flock to dance on the beach to their favourite EDM artists. Though the general vibe is a little more family friendly, this does not mean Candolim Beach closes early. On the contrary, though not all the shacks remain open some do providing music, drinks and a party atmosphere into the early hours of the morning. Most nights one can hear fireworks at the beach from bonfire parties hosted by the Shack owners.