Palolem Beach, Goa- things to see, eat, and do

Palolem Beach in South Goa is extremely famous for fewer crowds, yoga, and its beautiful huts along the seashore giving you an unapologetic view of the infinite Arabian Sea. This blog covers all the things to do, see and eat in Palolem Beach along with costs!

Unlike North Goa, Palolem Beach is far from the tourist traps and as a result, it is less commercialized. This gives us a chance to experience raw Goa of what is left.

The best thing to do in Palolem Beach is to relax, unwind in nature and DO NOTHING!

However, if you have itchy feet like mine, here are some things you can indulge in:

Things to do in Palolem Beach-

Go Kayaking

in the Arabian waters just for INR 300 /- per person! There is no need to pre-book and you will find vendors with Kayaks right on the beach where you cannot miss seeing them!

Island Hopping

You can go for a trek or a boat ride to Butterfly Island for INR 400 per person from Palolem Beach.

There is no need to pre-book and you will find vendors right on the beach where you will be approached.

However, if there is no one around, you can call Mr. Raju on +91 9158591537.

I would highly recommend to NOT TO GO for dolphin spotting because the rowers chase them which is not an ethical way to enjoy dolphins. In conclusion, not making it healthy for them since it panics and scares the dolphins just for our fun.

On this boat ride, you will cross Monkey Island (not visit it but see from the boat) before reaching Butterfly Island. En route, you will spot a lot of venomous jellyfishes with 2 foot long tentacles inside the water!

Do not worry since they will be only in the interiors of water and not in the shallow waters where you will be having fun!

Indulge in an authentic Ayurvedic massage

Surprisingly, Palolem Beach along with Kerala has also earned its name in ayurvedic massages.

Mr. Ranjit Mogu a world-renowned Yoga and Reiki master runs Mogu school for training and for giving massages starting from ~INR1700. Do note they do not have a lady masseuse.

In case, you need a lady masseuse, you can consider Kalpaka Spa. My friends where my friends were really happy with their services.

Booking your spot at least a day prior at either place is mandatory.

Learn to cook Goan dishes

Let Chef Rahul excel your Goan cooking skills? Check out timings and options here with the location in the center of Palolem Beach!

Get your adrenaline high with Canyoning

GoaJungle helps you reach that adrenaline high with Canyoning. Ranging from various options from a beginner’s level to an advanced level, you can pick anything that suits you.

You will need an entire day only for this since the travel to this canyoning place takes some hours and the activity begins after a trek.

Do consider that you will be in deep jungles and sightings of reptiles and insects will be quite common.

GoaJungle will have you all covered right from pick up and drop from your stay in or around Palolem Beach, food and activity equipment starting from ~INR3000 (depending on which activity you choose).

Stretch, stretch and stretch more with Yoga!

Palolem has yoga sessions in every nook and corner. The calm vibes of Palolem make you indulge in Yoga instantly! Here are a few places where you can rejuvenate yourself – Cozy Nook, Anand Yoga Village, Bhakti Kutir, Ruban Yoga and Ayurveda Village, Earth Yoga Village, and Dreamcatcher.

Shopping

I generally do not add this in the to-do list but Palolem roadside shops have some different styles altogether!

Above all, La Mangrove boutique has some more upbeat things for sale in case you’re looking for some extremely aesthetic things.

Did you hear PAARTY?!

Goa is an ultimate destination for partying and luckily Palolem has not fallen in the tourist trap yet. Yet, you’d like to party in Palolem, here are a handful of options: Cafe Del Mar, Silver Star, Sundowner hosts full moon parties, Silent Parties, and Leopard Valley.

Go Chase those sunsets!

Last but not the least, one of the things to do in Palolem beach is enjoying the sunset and sunrise!

After getting off the boat from our evening adventures, we were gobsmacked when we looked at the sky and could not stop gaping!

And without a doubt, the rest of the evening was spent sitting on the sands marveling these orange hues!

How to reach Palolem?

Palolem is only 2km away from Cancona which is the nearest railway station and Dabolim, the nearest airport.

How to reach Palolem from a railway station or Goa airport?

Railway Station:

When we got out of Cancona’s railway station, there were NO public vehicles!

Luckily, Palolem was only 2kms away and we had no option but to walk it up. We hit the main road in just 20 meters and luckily got an auto who charged us ~INR 200.

We had a train from Madgoan Railway Station which is 38 km from Palolem and a cab ride (no autos go to Madgoan) away. Therefore, the cab generally charges ~INR1200.

Meanwhile, You can wait on the main road for someone to approach you for a cab or you can book it on the GoaMiles app since Ola/Uber does not work in Goa.

Airport:

You can book a prepaid taxi or use the app for commuting to and fro from Goa airport.

There are also buses from the airport up to North Goa (INR 150) from the airport. In addition, you can also get on the bus and then take a cab from north to south Goa.

Where to eat in Palolem Beach?

There is no shortage of cafes and local delicacies here. I am mentioning a few places where I had some food.

Zest (they take almost an hour to get your food), The Space Goa, The Little Corner offers vegan, healthy and vegetarian options.

Sundowner is famous for its wooden pizza. Draoupadi, Cafe Inn, Ourem 88 are some other cafes to explore. For having a bite of local cuisines, you can drop by any roadside hotel to have lip-smacking authentic Goan food.

Where to stay in Palolem Beach?

Hostels– The Hotel Crowd

Hotels / Huts – Sundowner, Cuba Beach huts, Camp Sanfrancisco, Ciarans, etc. You can look up for options on Goibibo / MakeMyTrip.

Villas – Turia Villa is one of the ancestral villas on the list in Palolem.

Sundowner is a secluded space in the northern end of Palolem Beach and therefore, making an excellent place to stay.

Moreover, they have their own night parties (check the dates on their website) and subsequently they also rent out spaces for weddings!