Colva & Benaulim

Introducing Colva & Benaulim

It wasn’t that long ago that Colva was nothing more than a peaceful little fishing village that attracted a handful of hippies bored of the sex, drugs and rock-and-roll lifestyle of Calangute. However, where hippies go, charter flights follow and in just the blinking of a stoned hippie’s eye package tourism had changed paradise forever. Fortunately, the scale of development here is nowhere near that of Calangute – you can still see the fish being brought ashore in the morning.

Colva is popular with Indian families and a middle-aged European crowd, while Benaulim, 2km south, is still a very peaceful village with most of the accommodation in family guesthouses. It’s a good place to rent long-term if you’re after a relaxing Goan experience, but in both places the beaches are far from immaculate.

Bikes can be hired near the bus stand in Colva and on the beach in Benaulim. With fewer people than the northern beaches and quiet back lanes, occasional robberies do occur in Benaulim. Avoid walking from the beach alone at night.

Last updated: Sep 19, 2008