Baga, Goa
Keynotes on Baga, Goa
Famous for: Gorgeous sea beach and Goa’s party destination
Visit Duration: One to two days
Ideal for: Day or Weekend trips
Ideal time to visit: October to March is recommended – Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are the biggest tourist attractions
Best Visited With Solo, Group, Couple, or Family
Accommodation: Budget hotels, homestays, boutique hotels available
Languages spoken: Major Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Marathi is widely spoken – English is understood by most locals
If tourists like you who want to experience an exotic holiday and are not shy away to spend some money, then Baga is your ideal holiday spot. Here you can enjoy adventurous water sports, or do club-hopping at the Tito’s Lane – famous for its nightclubs.
Baga beach is India’s popular party strip frequently visited by Indian millennials as well as international tourists. Flooded with nightclubs and luxurious restaurant shacks offering modern-day amenities like attentive service, Wi-Fi connectivity, and plush sun beds – this beachfront is the included in the bucket list of urban and hipster tourists.
Let’s uncover the beautiful seaside town located close to Bardez.
Uncovering Baga Beach
Located on the north end of Goa’s unending beach stretch, Baga beach is a tourist destination. Named after the Baga Creek, the beach is filled with luxury boutique hotels and stores selling designer stuff, a vibrant nightlife, and exotic street markets. A place for a perfect beach holiday, it is an ideal destination for the splurging on you.
Popular Landmark near the Beach
Although, the beach is the most popular destination of this small township there are several small and beautiful landmarks nearby which are worth a visit. They are:
1. Casa de Retiro
Dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, this place is also referred to as the Baga Retreat House. Overlooking the gorgeous Arabian Sea and Baga creek, the place is accessible though available for hire scooters or motorbikes from the beach.
2. Chapora and Aguada Fort
The Charpora Fort is an ancient fortress built during the reign of Adil Shah and has been the center of conflict for Marathas, Mughals, and the Portuguese. Overlooking the gorgeous Arabian Sea, the place often featured in different Indian movies and short films. Fort Aguada is another seventeenth-century fortress of the region, built by the Portuguese.
3. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a beautiful estuarine mangrove habitat close to the Baga Beach. A popular bird sanctuary spread in the area of 178 hectares (440 acres), here one can find several exotic and stunning birds including the black bittern, jack snipe, and pied avocet.
Activities that Can Be Done Here
Baga Beach has several options for travelers who want to pamper themselves in a wellness retreat. Start the day with a relaxing walk or mediating along the beach early in the morning. As you walk through the seashore, you might find several spas – ideal for a refreshing massage session to start your day.
After a relaxing massage and meditation session, head over to the beach for Baga’s biggest attraction - Watersports. Here parasailing, kite surfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, or jet skiing could be done. For visitors who are not that keen on water-sporting, island trips or dolphin spotting excursions are available. Also, believe it or not, Baga Beach has an exclusive indoor snow park that comes with its sledding area and playgrounds.
After some beach adventures, it is time for some shopping. The street shops along the road are a popular destination for shopaholics. The Tibetan market or Ingo's Night Market is frequented by tourists. Apart from that, the Wednesday flea market is also popular. A new Saturday market operated by the Goa Collective is also gaining popularity.
But, as for many tourists highlight of their Baga Beach holidays is relaxing at the cozy sun lounges all day while enjoying a constant supply of cocktails and food.
Some of the Most Happening Nightclubs of the Beach
Café Mambos, Cape Town Cafe, Ivy, Club Titos, Kamaki, and Red Square are some of the popular nightclubs on the beach. Usually, these clubs open late in the evening and stay open till daybreak. Music is the core part of the nightclubs, and their playlist usually contains disco, Bollywood, house music, electronic music, etc.
P.S: in these clubs, Stag Entry is a bit expensive and costs around INR 3000. The Couples Entry is INR 1500. Additionally, couples might have to pay a cover fee for drinks and snacks. Few clubs have free entry for ladies. On the weekend, these clubs might have special discounts.
Shacks / Restaurants at Baga Beach
Want to experience the North Goa style cuisines? Then, the restaurants or shacks of the Baga Beach must be on your bucket list. Several small and large food joints along the seashore sell delicious and fresh seafood, light continental cuisines, and so on. All you need is chilled beer, found plenty in the region.
How to Get There
Nearest Railway: Thivim
From Thivim Railway Station, there are no direct buses available for Baga. Usually, passengers have to either get down at Mapusa or Panaji or then board a separate bus for their destination. Some of the buses are:
a. Panaji - Hivrem via Mapusa, and then board bus Mapusa - Baga Beach
b. Board a bus on the Panaji – Kudchire route from Thivim railway station and drop at Assaonara Bus Stand. Now, board the bus on the route to Belgaum Bus Stand - Vasco via Sakhal, drop at Mapusa. From Mapusa Bus Stand, board Mapusa - Baga Beach bus.
c. From Thivim Railway Station, board a bus on the route to Panaji - Sinquirem via Mapusa. Next head to the Panaji KTC bus stand and board the Calangute - Dabolim Airport bus making at stop here. Arrive at Calangute, and walk for around 1.7 km (1.05 miles) to reach Baga.
Or else you can book a taxi from the Thivim Railway Station, which will take you to Baga for approximately INR 600 (amount is subjected to change). During the peak tourist season, the fare might exceed. So, bargain before getting into the taxi.
Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport
Located 31 miles (50 km) away from the Baga Township, prepaid taxis are available and could be booked from the airport. These cabs usually charge around INR 1300.
Or else, board the following bus:
a. Calangute - Dabolim Airport via Panaji towards Calangute via Panaji
The direct buses are quite frequent and would take you to your desired destination within two hours. Bus ticket usually costs around INR 40 – 160. You can either buy your ticket directly from the bus depot or from the ticket checker in the bus. Do carry loose change to avoid hassle.
What to Keep in Mind
Being a popular tourist spot, during the peak tourist seasons the booking rates for taxis and hotels might peak up. To avoid unnecessary hassles, book your hassles in advance. Also, being located in the tropical belt, always carry a good sunscreen and sun hat for protection. You need to drink a lot of water, to keep yourself hydrated.
Goa’s Baga beach is a beautiful destination and attracts tourists looking for a break from the mundane. Eat, drink, and party here – and explore the most of Goa.
So, what are you waiting for? Just pack your bags, the beaches of Goa are waiting for you.