We know North Goa is known for its late night parties and South Goa for its pristine and calm beaches. But guess what, I had an amazing experience in North Goa without going for a single party. Read on to know how I did it.
I decided to visit Goa for a weekend just before Christmas. Although I have already been there several times before, Goa vibes never disappoint me.
This time I decided to go there by myself. I booked an Airbnb in Calangute. The place is very well located (only 2 min walk away from the Calangute Beach) and Karen (the host) was very welcoming.
Started my first day with lunch at Antares Restaurant in Vagator Beach. Situated on the cliff, the view the from the restaurant is very scenic. Ordered for the local coconut fenny with hummus with za'atar bread. Both were delicious.
After lunch, I went to see a museum in Calangute. The name of the museum is AAA - All About Alcohol. As the name rightly suggests, the museum is all about alcohol. There is a tour conducted around the museum where we are explained everything one needs to know about alcohol - its origin, how it is prepared, the types of glasses that are used and also how the local drink Cashew Fenny is prepared. I found the tour to be very interesting and I'm sure it would interest anyone who likes to drink and is would want to know more about it. To top it all off, they gave us 3 shooters made with cashew fenny and one neat shot of fenny! The entry fee here is Rs. 300 per person which is totally worth it.
In the evening I decided to go to a beach to watch the sunset. So I went back to Little Vagator beach which is very close to Antares Restaurant. One needs to climb down to get to this beach. Proper cement were being constructed to the beach when I went there and I'm sure by now the climb down would be much easier. The beach is beautiful and some of the shacks there had laid out beach chairs on which you can sit, chill and order food/drinks. Even if you don't want to eat or drink, you can still enjoy sitting on those arm chairs for free.
Next morning I woke up and hit the road by 7:00 am to go visit the Salim Bird Sanctuary in Chorao Island. It was a beautiful 1 hour ride to that the place. After reaching the area, I had to cross over the Mandovi river by ferry. Every 15 min, there is a ferry that is available and you can ride on it at no charge!
Once you arrive on the other side of the river, the bird sanctuary ticket counter is on the left hand side of the ferry stand. The entry fee is Rs. 20 per person. Once you enter the bird sanctuary, you get to see the mangrove forest which is beautiful!
I walked up ahead and noticed a family with a tour guide. I quickly joined the group. From what I gathered from the guide was that the sanctuary is 400 acres big and that it is home to several different species of birds. We then got into a boat and started our ride around the mangrove forest.
Since this was in the morning, the weather was very pleasant and perfect for the boat ride.
After this I rode to Eva Cafe, Anjuna Beach for breakfast. The place was full but managed to find a table for myself. Again the view from this cafe is scenic! Ordered for salmon bagel and orange juice, both were delicious. Note - this cafe accepts only cash for payment.
On the way back to my room, I stopped by a liqour shop and picked up a pint of lager beer of the Goa Brewing Company which I enjoyed later. The beer tasted good and would like to try out their other beers next time. I also picked up alcohol filled chocolates for Rs. 200 per packet from a cashew store. Karen (my airbnb host) also suggested me to visit a bakery in Candolim - La Confiserie where I picked up plum cake with rum and brownies. They were delicious!
My trip was nearly ending here. I only had time left for lunch before finally leaving. So I headed to the Calangute beach which was a 2 minute walk away from my room. I chose to sit at Souza Lobo restaurant where I enjoyed the local Goan dish - rice with fish (Bangda) curry.
Sadly I had to check out from my room and finally leave Goa with my amazing memories of the trip. So yes a non party goer can definitely enjoy North Goa as there is so much to do and experience!
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