Calangute

Calangute beach is possibly the most well-known of all the Goan beaches. Situated in the northern part of the state, Calangute is often referred to as the “Queen of beaches”, in part due to its wide expanse of golden sand. It is also popular because of the number of tourist activities that it plays host to. From water sports to adventure sports, live music to throbbing club scenes, every conceivable form of revelry and many more can be found at Calangute beach. The Osborne resort hotel in Calangute, situated as it is in the very heart of the town of Calangute, is a mere 800m walk from the beach. This makes it the perfect place to stay when your inner beach bunny is clamouring for some time in the sun. The energy and colourful life of beach is sure to get you in a holiday mood, the better to get into the spirit of your Goa holiday.

Getting there

Calangute is in North Goa, about 20 km away from Panjim city centre which is the capital city of Goa and about 40 km from the Dabolim International Airport and 4 km of Vasco de Gama. The beach is easily accessible by road. Besides the buses – plying to and from the area at regular intervals – other forms of public transport like taxis and pilots are also available.

Best Time to Visit

The tourist season in Goa is usually during the winter months, from October to February. At the height of the season (November to January) the beach is usually awash with tourists, taking advantage of the mild, sunny weather. In the summer season, from March to the end of May, the tourists are usually Indian holidaymakers taking advantage of the summer vacations of schools and colleges. During this time, the weather is hot and the towards the end of the summer, the seas become rough and unsafe for swimming and other water-based activities. The monsoon season, from June to September sees the least number of visitors to this and other beaches in Goa thanks to the stormy weather and rough seas.

Things to Do at Calangute Beach

Osborne hotel in Calangute near beach offers plenty to do for the intrepid tourist. Even before you reach the beach itself, the walk down the main thoroughfare of the town is lined with a number of stalls selling just about anything you can think of. These enterprising people sell everything from clothes and beach wear, to hats and trinkets. The merchandise is very often locally sourced and the vendors usually expect you to bargain with them, some even consider this to be half the fun of this type of shopping. Some of the wares are also imported from the neighbouring country of Nepal, especially the jewellery and trinkets.

Foodies have a blast at the beach shack restaurants that line the landward edge of Calangute beach. These quaint shacks are mostly constructed of bamboo and coconut palms, whilst the floor is a sandy extension of the beach itself. The shacks are known for their authentic Goan cuisine and seafood, but they also serve a variety of dishes including Indian Chinese and Continental. The food here is sure to be good and extremely tasty. On the beach itself, water and adventure sports are most sought after with operators organizing banana boat rides, jet ski (water scooter) rides, parasailing, water skiing and motor boat rides in addition to many more. Swimmers too enjoy a visit to Calangute, since the seas here are safe within the demarcated areas. There are lifeguards on the beach at all times to safeguard against accidents.

There is always music playing somewhere on Calangute beach; either from the beach shacks or from the nearby nightclubs. The nightlife of Calangute and Baga is well-known and some of the best clubs and pubs in Goa are located on this stretch.

So grab your swimwear and sunscreen and head on down to Calangute to indulge yourself with a great holiday in the sun, sand and surf. Osborne hotel in Calangute Beach Resort in Goa