Cavelossim, Goa – one of the most beautiful beach resorts, which managed to maintain its unique flavor even after the tourist boom that overtook the world in the 60s of the last century. Sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Sal River, it is a classic fishing village, famous for its beautiful beach, abundance of entertainment and quiet atmosphere of the Indian hinterland.
General information
Cavelossim (South Goa) is a small village with a population of just over 12 thousand people. It is located in the middle of the west coast of India, washed by the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. The entire resort is a long street lined with rows of villas, hotels and bungalows. Cavelossim differs from other villages in the region by its high level of service (for India), inexpensive seafood that is prepared right in front of your eyes, and a measured lifestyle that combines with all the elements of tourist infrastructure.
Cavelossim is also closely connected to the nearby village of Mobor, where it forms a single coastline with a length of up to 28 km. There are not so many natural attractions in this resort. The only exception is the huge beach, which attracts travelers from all over the world.
Beach
If you look at the photo of Cavelossim beach in Goa, you will notice that it occupies a fairly large territory: about 4 km in length and up to 80 m in width. This place is great for both youth and quiet family holidays.
What the beach looks like
The beach is covered with lava stones and compressed golden sand, which is convenient to move not only on foot, but also on bikes or bicycles. The sand on Cavelossim Beach is soft, and the bottom is clean and gentle, so you don’t need special shoes. Just beyond the scythe stand the crowns of trees, in the shade of which you can hide from the Indian heat. A smooth approach and a wide strip of shallow water create all the conditions for swimming with children. True, during high tides, a significant part of the coast goes under water, but due to its long length, there is enough space for everyone.
The sea at this resort is warm, clean and transparent – it is muddy only after heavy rains. The water temperature is +26…+28°C and remains unchanged throughout the year. Undercurrents are rare. In addition, there are always lifeguards on duty here, so Cavelossima can be called one of the safest beaches in Goa.
Another important feature of this resort is the absence of stray dogs and wild cows. But there are more than enough different crabs and large beautiful birds hunting for sea fish. It can be very interesting to watch them. In addition, sometimes jellyfish wash up on the shore – so be careful, do not go barefoot.
Infrastructure on the beach
No less attention should be paid to the tourist infrastructure, which is represented by everything that is necessary for a full-fledged holiday. So, along the entire coast you can see not only sun beds with umbrellas, but also small eateries, souvenir shops and many shops “sharpened” for tourists. The most famous shopping complex is The Saga Store, whose assortment includes clothing, personal hygiene items, tourist accessories, leather goods, as well as a mass of national goods such as natural spices, singing bowls, scented candles, Indian jewelry and silk shawls.
An even larger number of retail outlets are located on the main village street. There you can buy almost everything – from clothes to jewelry. If you want to taste the exotic fruits that Goa is so famous for, go to the local market – it is located at the entrance to the beach. By the way, there is a free car park there. But for real Indian tea, you should look at the Indian Tea House – the choice is really great.
Cavelossim Beach Activities
Cavelossim beach is also rich in active sports. Tourists can go windsurfing, kayaking or parasailing, go water skiing, or rent a bike to explore the surrounding area. Other popular activities include dolphin boating, banana and jet ski rides, fishing in the open sea, and a trip to the nearby butterfly Beach.
During the high season, discos, acrobatic performances, fire shows with fireworks, magicians ‘ performances and other cultural and entertainment events are organized here. The rest of the time, the coast remains quiet and sparsely populated, which is sure to be appreciated by fans of a relaxing holiday. Another advantage of Cavelossim Beach is the abundance of spa centers, Ayurvedic halls, massage rooms and beauty salons offering all kinds of beauty treatments.
Tired of swimming, sunbathing and taking photos of the beach in Cavelossim, each of you can go on a sightseeing tour of Goa, organized by one of the local travel agencies. Most tourists choose to go to the Cabo de Rama Fort, the Church of the Holy Cross, built in the second half of the 18th century, and the Portuguese Dao Palace, which has a small family-run restaurant.
Accommodation
Arriving in Cavelossim, you will definitely not be left without a roof over your head, because there are places for accommodation both on the beach and in the village itself. The cheapest way is to stay in guest houses that stretch along the entire coastline. A room with amenities, but without additional services, costs from$ 10 to $ 14 per day (wireless Internet is charged separately). In the second place of our rating are apartments, the rent of which is from$14 to $ 30.
This is followed by 3-and 4-star hotels offering rooms from$ 20 and above. If you want to live right on the coast, opt for luxury villas and comfortable 5* hotels with their own private beach and various types of active entertainment. The cost of daily accommodation in such establishments starts from$ 50 per person.
If we talk about the most popular hotels in Cavelossim in south Goa, these include:
- The Leela Goa Beach is a 5* hotel complex surrounded by blue lagoons and exotic gardens. It offers en suite rooms with a balcony and satellite TV, Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, a tennis court and a 12-hole golf course. On-site facilities include a spa center, a tour desk, and several bars and restaurants;
- Radisson Blu Resort Goa is an Indo-Portuguese style resort hotel. The main amenities include an outdoor pool, free internet access, a fitness center, a spa, rooms with sea views, and private bathrooms. There is also an express laundry service, several restaurants, a coffee shop and free parking.;
- Holiday Inn Resort Goa is a 5* hotel located in the middle of a picturesque garden. It offers air-conditioned rooms with a mini-bar and views of the sea, pool or garden. On-site facilities include a spa, free parking, a fitness center, a tennis court, a beauty salon and a 24-hour cafe.
Where can I eat on the beach?
Cavelossima Beach in Goa has a large selection of restaurants, shakes and fast food outlets serving both local and continental cuisine. Among them, the greatest demand is for Indian sweets, as well as fish and various seafood, which the resort has more than enough. Interestingly, if you order food and a drink, you get a bonus in the form of a free sunbed with an umbrella. At the same time, the most popular beach establishments are Mike’s Place, Octima bar & restaurant, Jazz Inn, Dom’s Beach Shack and Betty’s Place.
Most restaurants are open until late in the evening, offering guests not only snacks, but also complex breakfasts, lunches and dinners. In addition, they can be found vegetarian and specialized menu, assuming a complete absence of gluten.
As for prices:
- all kinds of soups cost about$2,
- second courses-from $ 3 to$10,
- seafood and fish-from $ 8 to$30,
- naan tortillas – about$1,
- a bottle of beer 0,650 liters – 2,5$.
How to get from Dabolim Airport?
Dabolim Airport, which serves many European and Asian airlines, is located 5 km from Vasco da Gama. The distance between it and Kavelossima in India is just over 30 km, so you can overcome it both by taxi and by public transport. We will consider all the options.
Method 1. By bus
This transfer option involves several transfers at once. First, you need to drive to Kadamba bus station, the local bus station (shuttle buses from the airport run every 30 minutes), and take a bus to Margao city. The fare is about 50 cents. Tickets are sold at ticket offices located directly on the platforms. After reaching the final stop, take the bus to Cavelossima and head to your destination. The ticket price is up to 30 cents.
Important! Municipal transport in Goa is irregular – there is no specific schedule, but there are breaks for breakfast and lunch. In addition, buses are not numbered, so you can only find out the route from the sign on the windshield.
Method 2. By train
In this case, you can also do without transfers. First go to Vasco da Gama Train Station and take the train to Madgaon Station, Goa. The journey takes no more than 20 minutes. At the same time, be extremely careful, as ticket office employees often make mistakes and can write out a ticket to a completely different city. Regular buses run from Margao to Cavelossim and take you to your destination for 20-30 cents.
Important! You need to buy train tickets in advance. It is almost impossible to do this right before the trip.
Method 3. By taxi
This type of movement is not only convenient, but also fast. You can order a car at the airport terminal, call it through a specialized website, or just catch it on the street. Among the most popular services in the region are “Goa taxi”and” Prepaid taxi”. There are no counters in the cars, the cost of the trip is from$ 9 to $ 11, depending on the level of comfort. Payment is made upon boarding. The journey takes about an hour. At the same time, you will be taken directly to the hotel.
Useful tips
When traveling to Cavelossim (Goa), take note of some useful tips:
- The high season in most resorts in India lasts from October to April. At this time, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops are reopening on the beaches of Goa, and the number of tourists is increasing every day. However, you can not guess with the weather-in the fall there are often prolonged rains that last for weeks.
- The best time to visit Cavelossima is in winter, when the water in the Arabian Sea warms up to +28°C, and the weather outside is dry and warm (+27 … 29°C).
- If your trip to Goa falls in October, March or April, choose hotels with individual air conditioning. Due to the high humidity level, the heat in these months is very difficult to bear.
- Being in a swimsuit and swimming trunks in India is only allowed on the beach. If you appear in this form on one of the streets of the village, you risk running into a fine (about$3). The same penalty applies to smoking in public places and sunbathing topless (plainclothes policemen regularly walk along the beach).
- Do not bring evening dresses and high – heeled shoes with you- they will still lie in the room, as there will be nowhere to put them on. Yes, and T-shirts, shorts, sandals, personal hygiene items and other things forgotten at home can also be bought in one of the local stores.
- Local alcoholic beverages in the village are not only cheap, but also high-quality, so you should not stock up on bottles at the airport’s Duty Free.
- The windiest months are October and March. If you look at the photos of Cavelossima taken during this period, you will see huge waves rolling over the beach every now and then.
- The amount of tips in beach establishments is 5% of the total bill.
- During your vacation in Goa, you can order glasses and treat your bad teeth. Ophthalmic and dental services here are very high-quality, and cost less than in most European countries.
- Theft on the beaches and in hotels of Cavelossima happens all the time, so we advise you to leave your valuables in safes, and keep your bags and cameras firmly in your hands.
