Butterfly Beach: A Hidden Paradise in South Goa

Butterfly Beach

📍 Butterfly Beach, GoaView map ›

🗓 Best Time To Visit:November to February, during the cooler months.

⏰ Open Hours:24 hours. However, it's best visited during daylight hours for safety.

🎯 Things To Do:Swimming, sunbathing, dolphin spotting, and photography.

💰 Budget:No entry fees. However, budget for transportation, food, and activities.

👥 Traveller Types:Solo travellers, Couples, Nature Lovers, Photographers.

🔖 Known For:Scenic beauty, secluded location, dolphins, sunset views, and colourful butterflies.

📍 Distances:39 km from Dabolim Airport, 47 km from Madgaon Railway Station, 66 km from Panaji.

🚣 Water Sports:N/A - Butterfly Beach is more suited for quiet relaxation and wildlife spotting.

🌅 Sunset Views:Butterfly Beach is known for its stunning sunset views over the Arabian Sea.

🍽 Food Options:No restaurants or food stalls on the beach. Advisable to carry your own food and water.

📝 Tips:Wear comfortable footwear for the trek to the beach. Remember to carry back any litter as there are no waste disposal facilities.

Butterfly Beach in Goa, nestled between Palolem and Agonda beaches, is renowned for its seclusion and natural beauty, often hailed as a hidden paradise. This picturesque cove is accessible only by boat or a trek through the forest, adding to its untouched charm.

It’s celebrated for the myriad of butterflies that flutter over hilltop blossoms, alongside a rich display of aquatic life such as crabs, goldfishes, and sea urchins visible during low tide. The beach offers a spectacular vantage point for sunsets, making it a unique gem in Goa’s coastal crown

Things To Do At Butterfly Beach

Photo of Butterfly Beach 1/7 by — Butterfly Beach - (c) Goa Tourism

At Butterfly Beach in Goa, indulge in dolphin sightings, marvel at the colorful butterflies, enjoy serene sunsets, and partake in water activities like canoeing and boat riding for an unforgettable experience.

Enjoy the wildlife: The beach is famous for its variety of colorful butterfly species. You can also see crabs, goldfishes, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, redfishes, starfishes, and turtles on the shore during low tide. If lucky, spot dolphins playing near the beach, as well.

Visit the Butterfly Conservatory of Goa, which is a butterfly park that offers guided tours and nature walk.

Watch the sunset: Witness the sky changing colors from orange to pink to purple as the sun dips into the horizon. The sunset at Butterfly Beach is one of the most romantic and magical sights you can see in Goa. You can also camp on the beach overnight and sleep under the stars.

Try Butterfly Beach Water Sports: Rent a kayak or a canoe and paddle along the tiny streams that flow into the sea. You can also rent a paddle board, surfboard or go for snorkeling & scuba dive. Take a boat ride to nearby Cola Beach, if you have time in hand.

Must Read: Find the best places to visit in South Goa with Tripoto

Butterfly Beach Hiking Trail

- The trail to Butterfly Beach is approximately 2.5 miles long.

- It typically takes about 59 minutes to complete the trek.

- The difficulty level of the trail is classified as easy, making it suitable for activities like bird watching and hiking.

- The terrain includes a mix of beach views, forested areas, and encounters with local wildlife.

- The path can be overgrown in places, and some sections may not have a clear trail.

- For safety, trekkers are advised to exercise caution and stay on the dirt track.

- Trekkers should be prepared for a potentially challenging journey due to the lack of clear markings on the trail.

Other Hiking Trails Near Butterfly Beach

Dudhsagar Falls:This trail leads to the spectacular Dudhsagar Falls within Mollem National Park. The trail is 12.7 miles long and takes about 5 hours and 42 minutes to complete.

Kulem - Dudhsagar: Another route to the Dudhsagar Falls, this trail is 12.9 miles long and offers a hard difficulty level for hikers seeking a more strenuous experience.

Sinquerim Fort View Point Trail: A moderate 2.0-mile trail that provides stunning views and takes approximately 52 minutes to hike.

Kulem - Caranzol: An easy 5.9-mile trail within Mollem National Park, offering a peaceful hiking experience.

Treetop Lookout: Located in Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, this easy trail is 3.0 miles long and takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes to complete.

Places To Stay Nere Near Butterfly Beach

Photo of Butterfly Beach 4/7 by — (c) Sobit Sarovar Portico

Butterfly Beach does not have any accommodation options on the beach itself, as it is a protected area and a wildlife sanctuary. Find many hotels, resorts, cottages, huts, and homestays near Palolem Beach or Agonda Beach, which are only a short boat ride or trek away from Butterfly Beach.

Sobit Sarovar Portico: Set in Palolem, 1.5 km from Palolem Beach, Sobit Sarovar Portico offers accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness centre and a restaurant.

Cuba Agonda : Cuba Agonda is a beachfront resort near Agonda Beach, offering cozy and colorful huts with private balconies. The resort has a restaurant, a bar, a spa, and a library.

Dreamcatcher Resort: Dreamcatcher Resort is an eco-friendly resort near Palolem Beach, offering wooden cottages and tents & has a restaurant, a cafe, a spa, and a yoga studio. They arranges boat trips, fishing trips, dolphin watching, and trekking for its guests.

Fern Gardenia Resort: Fern Gardenia Resort is a boutique resort near Palolem Beach that offers wooden cottages with elegant interiors and has a restaurant, a bar, a pool, and a garden.

Art Resort Goa: Art Resort Goa is an artistic resort near Palolem Beach that offers stylish rooms and suites with contemporary art and design. The resort has an art gallery, a restaurant, a bar, and a library. It also hosts art workshops, cultural events, live music, and movie nights.

Best time to visit Butterfly Beach

The best time to visit Butterfly Beach in Goa is between November and March when the weather is pleasantly balmy, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. This period offers ideal conditions for beach activities.

The best time of day to visit Butterfly Beach is in the morning to enjoy calm seas and vibrant marine life. You can also visit from April to June for cheaper deals and fewer crowds, but be prepared for hot and humid weather.

Must Read: Best things to do in South Goa with friends and family

How To Reach Butterfly Beach

Butterfly Beach is located in the Canacona region of South Goa, about 37 km from Margao and 76 km from Panaji. There are two ways to reach Butterfly Beach from Palolem:

By boat

The easiest and most popular way to reach Butterfly Beach is by taking a boat ride from Palolem Beach or Agonda Beach.

- You can hire a boat from any of the local fishermen or tour operators on the beach.

- The boat ride takes about 30 minutes and costs around Rs. 1500-2000 per boat for a round trip.

- You can also visit nearby beaches, such as Cola Beach or Honeymoon Beach.

By trekking

- You can also trek to it from Palolem Beach to Butterfly Beach, about 2 hours one way

- The trek is not very difficult, but it requires some guidance. You can hire a local guide.

- You will have to cross some water bodies, steep climbs, fields, and forested areas along the way.

Tips For Visiting Butterfly Beach

- Plan ahead, book accommodation and transport, check tide and weather.

- Carry cash for boat rides, guides; no ATMs nearby.

- Pack light, avoid heavy luggage, leave valuables at hotel.

- Respect nature, wildlife, avoid littering, use reusable items.

- Follow beach rules, avoid restricted areas, noise disturbance.

- Swim cautiously, wear life jacket, follow guide's instructions.

- Have fun responsibly, share feedback, be respectful.

Butterfly Beach Reviews

Vinnie Singh

458 Followers

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9. Trek to the Butterfly Beach -The boat ride to secret beaches is good. But trust me, once you get a glimpse of the Butterfly beach, you'd want to be back here again to spend some more time. It's a small beach with not a single construction on it. But it has a thick forest, a stream flowing out of the jungle and two Butterfly wings-shaped hills for a backdrop. It's almost like a private beach when no one else is there! The good news is that you can access this beach by a walk through the forest as well. However, you'll need someone who knows the route and can draw a map for you. The walk is not long - it takes hardly 30 minutes. It is not difficult - the terrain is mostly plain, but you might find mud here and there, especially after rains. Just watch for out for the langoors, snakes and occasional scorpions :P (Trust me, they won't hurt you if don't threaten them and let them be) P.S. Please bring your trash back with you. Do not leave it on the beach.

Nikita Das - Vagabond Stories

347 Followers

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Butterfly Beach, Goa This beach is situated in South Goa, though you would never dream that a n unexplored beach exists in Goa, it does! Surrounded by rocks and trees, this beach is like a hidden treasure. Butterfly beach got its name because of the beautiful butterflies that keep fluttering around here. This might be one of the most romantic beaches in Goa with its deep blue waters and dolphins in the ocean! Though it’s a little far from the main area, you will have to take a boat from Agonda or Palolem to reach this place. Flight cost Round-trip fares start from Rs 20,000 on wards. Book in advance and fly to Goa from New Delhi to get the best price. Best time to visit The best months to visit Goa is from September to February, because the weather is just perfect to roam around the beaches! A slight nip in the air is just whats needed. Where to stay Cyrus resorts ( Rs 4248), Diana Apartments (Rs 2000), For more options, check here.

Omkar Nilapwar

81 Followers

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We decided to go for sightseeing. We all woke up and left our place at 10 A.M. We explored the Leopard Valley, a beautiful place. There are 3-4 beaches in Leopard Valley, and if you are taking car, make sure you grab your barbeque setup, Bluetooth speakers and have your own private party. The beaches are amazing, just don’t take left from Leopard Valley name stone, the road is quite awful instead you can opt for straight road through the village, and on the way you can ask the villagers for the route to Butterfly beach. The beach is situated right after Honeymoon beach. There are many beaches between Palolemand Agonda. Agonda is a huge beach and even there is a rock formation that resembles a Tortoise on Butterfly beach, you can see the rock formation while exiting from Honeymoon beach. The Chicken and Fish tastes amazing here. Here is where you can have delicious Chicken, Moraes Fast Food, Old Market.

Abhishek Sharma

31 Followers

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Have y'all ever had dreams of you being nude inside a water body? Water flowing over your butt hole, ball sac and other intimate areas? I had these dreams, desires, fantasies, fetishes - bucket list idea - if I may This got realized when i least expected it to - during my post graduation days. So this was a very difficult, rigorous course, and our institution was kinda anal about us taking leaves and being out of campus. We hardly used to get any leaves, and even if we did, it used to be for a few days - like 3-4 days in one shot. It was during one of these periods that I heard about Butterfly Island - a small cove at the extreme end of Palolem in South Goa - The place has no roads. The way to reach was - trekking through Leopard valleyon foot and trying to figure a way to the beach on the basis of your natural navigational skills.

Zafar Anis

308 Followers

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Butterfly Beach:This is another hidden Beach adjacent to Palolem beach and is a smaller version of Kakolem beach. You have to trek down a bit to reach this beach or you can take a boat ride from Palolem. For the more adventurous ones, you can kayak to the butterfly beach from Palolem beach. If you plan to do this, let me make you aware that it looks closer than it is. Once you cross Palolem beach, waves get stronger so do it of you're confident of pulling it off physically and mentally. Carry a phone in a dry bag if you're going alone, you'll have connectivity throughout, you can call the place you rented a kayak from in case of emergency. You'll be able to do this in high tide, in low tide you'll not be able to cross Palolem beach.