Baga Beach, Goa – a picturesque resort area located in the vicinity of the city of the same name. It has a well-developed infrastructure, good transport links and a relatively large selection of entertainment for every taste.
General information
Baga (Goa, India) is a small resort town located in the northern part of the state, 15 km from Panaji. Despite its simplicity and small size, this place is one of the most visited corners of the country – thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every year. Despite this, the atmosphere in Baga is calm, pleasant and conducive to a good rest.
The coast of the Arabian Sea, which washes this resort, is surrounded by high cliffs and wild jungles, which create a picturesque picture. The climate in Baga is very mild. The average annual air temperature is +30…+33°C, but in December and February it can be slightly lower. The water near the coast is quite warm (about +28°C). The hottest month is May – the thermometer at this time shows +40°C.
The high season lasts from October to April, during which time Goa has dry and low-wind conditions. The rainy season begins in June and does not stop until the end of summer. Heavy rains are often accompanied by hurricane-force winds, making beach holidays almost impossible.
Bagu is considered to be the territory of fishermen, so every second tourist hopes to catch the biggest fish here. It is also a good place for shopaholics – there are a large number of shops and souvenir shops selling truly unique trinkets in the city.
Beach
Baga beach, which stretches along the sea coast for a little more than 5 km, is divided into several parts, each of which has its own characteristics.
- The site near the mouth of the river of the same name is characterized by a developed infrastructure and a small number of European tourists, due to a strong undercurrent and not very clean water. The sand in this place has a characteristic crunch, resembling the creaking of snow. There is also a spontaneous fish market, where local fishermen sell their catch directly from the land or boats.
- The beach is on the Calangute side – most visitors rest here, but the Indians do not reach here (far from the bus stop). It is in this part of Baga that the main part of shakes and small beach restaurants is concentrated. You can go to the first place you see — the quality of service in them is about the same.
- Baga is somewhere in the middle – with the construction of a full-fledged bus stop, this part of the beach has become extremely popular among the local population, so do not be surprised if instead of the blue sea, you will see the “sea of Hindus” bathing right in their clothes.
If you look closely at the photo of Baga beach in Goa, you can see not only a wide coastline covered with fine yellow sand, but also a smooth entry into the water, which is sure to be appreciated by vacationers with children. The bottom is soft and sandy, with no rocks, algae, or coral reefs. The depth increases gradually, and the shallow water line takes about eight meters.
The sea in this part of the state is quite choppy, so the red (swimming is prohibited), yellow (swimming with caution), or green (swimming is allowed) flag is hung on the beach every day. In addition, professional rescuers monitor the entire territory. However, they care more about the locals than about visitors. As soon as a Hindu goes behind the buoys, he is immediately whistled by someone from the rescue service. In relation to tourists, such zeal is not observed – they can safely swim anywhere and as much as they want.
As for the cleanliness of the beach, it is controversial. On the one hand, the territory is cleaned daily, but on the other – by the end of the day it is again littered with mountains of garbage. Moreover, it is left by both Europeans and Indians themselves, who are not particularly clean at all. Be that as it may, Baga in North Goa is one of the cleanest resorts in India.
There is a toilet on the beach, but the changing booths were never built here. Umbrellas and sun beds belong to restaurants. To get them for free use, just order a dish or drink.
Entertainment on the beach
Some of the activities available include surfing, water skiing, wakeboarding, sailing, banana riding, parasailing, etc. Do you want to go snorkeling or scuba diving? Contact Barracuda Diving, an old dive school located at Sun Village Resort. The cost of diving starts from$55. There is also a casino, a yoga school and a Natural Wellness Center on the beach, offering various types of massages, Vaidya consultations and other Ayurvedic treatments that can last from 1 hour to several weeks.
Tired of a beach holiday, go in search of temples with whimsical architecture and belonging to a variety of faiths — there are plenty of them in the city. You can also visit the water park, Fort Aguada, Anjuna Flea Market, or join sightseeing groups taking sightseeing trips all over India. Dolphin boat trips organized by local fishermen are also available.
With the arrival of the evening, and it gets dark in this part of Goa quite early, a completely different life begins in Baga. Around 19:00, employees of the shakes take out tables with chairs directly on the sand, so that everyone can enjoy a delicious dinner against the background of the setting sun.
Finally, we note that, despite the constant patrolling of police officers, the beach is not crowded with intrusive merchants. Prices for their services or goods are very high, so if you decide to refuse, you will be begged in every possible way and put pressure on pity. Another unpleasant feature of the resort is the unhealthy interest of the local population in white tourists-especially children. They constantly offer to take pictures with them, which starts to get annoying on the second day of rest.
Accommodation
Looking through the photo Bugs in Goa, you will not see a single 5* hotel, and 4* apartments here can be counted on your fingers. Most tourists prefer to settle in medium-priced establishments with a convenient location, decent service and a good level of comfort. At the same time, housing can be rented both in the city itself and on the beach.
If we talk about the cost of living in the resort, renting a double room in a 3* hotel is from$ 30 to $ 100 per day, while a guest house will cost a little cheaper – from$12 to $ 90.
Where to eat?
Baga Resort in India has a wide selection of cafes, restaurants and beach shakes serving both local and European cuisine. Meals on the beach will be slightly more expensive than in the city. In addition, juices are often diluted with water, and additional snacks are often added to the bill. In general, this resort should adhere to this principle – the further from the sea, the cheaper. But the cuisine in both beach and city establishments is quite decent, and the atmosphere is light and relaxed.
The most popular dishes include rice, fish, curry, crab meat and various seafood. Food in India is seasoned with an impressive portion of spices, which make it too spicy for a delicate European stomach. Unlike vegetables, which local cooks are very good at, meat is poorly prepared here – you should not buy it.
Lunch or dinner for two in a medium-priced establishment will cost$7-12. Otherwise, the prices are as follows::
- Bottle of beer-from $ 1 to$2;
- Cocktail – $4.5;
- Fruit fresh – 2$;
- Spicy crab soup – $3.5;
- Tomato soup – $1.80;
- Seafood salad – $3;
- Hot frying pan with “sea cocktail” – up to$8;
- Masala tea – $0.70;
- “Old Monk” (local rum sold in every Baga supermarket) – from 70 cents to $ 2.5, depending on the volume of the bottle.
Prices in Goa are shown directly on the product. Most restaurants have non-smoking areas, and live music and dancing can be enjoyed in the evenings. In one of the city’s establishments, Cafe Relish, each visitor receives not only the menu that the dog brings here, but also a portion of free snacks. By the way, it is not necessary to eat in the necks at all. You can buy groceries at the supermarket and prepare your own meals – many hotel rooms have mini-kitchens and small fridges.
How to get from Dabolim Airport?
Baga City in Goa is 50 km from Dabolim International Airport, which accepts flights from Europe and Asia. There are several ways to get to the resort area from there.
Method 1. By bus
There are no direct flights from Dabolim to Baga, so you will have to make a couple of transfers. First, take the airport shuttle to the intersection leading to Vasco da Gama. After getting off, go to the bus station and take the bus to Panaji. It travels non-stop for at least half an hour. At the final stop, take a shuttle to Baga, which will take you to your destination. In addition, you can get to the resort you need from Calangute – the distance between the beaches can be covered on foot in 10-15 minutes.
The average ticket price is$1. Buses run more frequently on weekdays than on weekends. However, there is no clear timetable for municipal transport in Goa. Flight numbers are also missing, so you need to look for directions on the sign inserted in front of the windshield. If you don’t have one, check with the conductor.
Method 2. By train
The nearest train stations to Baga are located in Margao and Karmali. You will have to get from there to the resort either by bus or taxi.
Method 3. By taxi
For all its high cost, this method is considered the most convenient. But even in this case, an unpleasant surprise awaits you: the road from the airport to the city will take at least an hour, since you will have to go not along a wide expressway, but along an old road with heavy traffic and cows facing the asphalt.
You can call a car in advance, using a special online service, or order by phone. If the decision on taxi services was made at the last moment, catch the car at the exit of the terminal.
Among the most popular services are “Goa taxi “and”Prepaid taxi”. There are no counters in the car. The fare is paid at boarding and is fixed, but you can bargain with private cabs.
Useful tips
If you decide to visit Baga Beach, Goa, read the recommendations of those who have already been there:
- Visitors to night clubs are often spiked with psychotropic substances, so never leave your drink unattended and carefully monitor the actions of the bartender preparing the cocktail. Better yet, order your drinks in sealed bottles. This rule does not apply to beach establishments – they are completely safe.
- Excursions to the main attractions of India are best planned for the weekend. The fact is that at this time a huge number of Hindus come to the beach, so you still won’t be able to relax in peace.
- After sunset, it is better not to go into the water – most marine life is active at night, so no one is immune from bites here.
- The climate in this part of Goa is even, so you should definitely not take things with you for all occasions. But you will certainly need comfortable shoes, sunscreen with a high UV filter, a headdress, a flashlight and a first-aid kit equipped with a bactericidal patch, hand antiseptic and tablets for intestinal disorders and poisoning.
- Carefully recalculate the money issued at the exchange office. Scammers are not uncommon here.
- Renting a car is only justified if you are staying in Baga for a few weeks and intend to drive it around the state.
- To fend off intrusive merchants and curious Hindus who want to take photos, put on a strict look and communicate with the local population exclusively in Russian.
- In cafes and restaurants in Goa, it is customary to remember guests, so becoming a regular visitor to the same institution, you can count not only on better service, but also on regular compliments from the chef.
- In Bagh, however, as in all of India, you should carefully adhere to the rules of personal hygiene.
- Never drink tap water or river water. For washing fruits and vegetables, it is also better to use bottled water.
