A guide to the best beaches in Baga Beach

Baga Beach

Boasting a watersports area, fresh seafood shacks and plenty of sunbathing space, you’ll be pleased to hear that naturally, a trip to Baga Beach puts you in prime position for the perfect beach holiday.

This particular beach is lined with bars and restaurants selling flavour-packed curries and cooling cocktails, while lifeguards keep a watchful eye on the waters. It can get crowded, but there’s ample opportunity to dodge the throng here by getting stuck in to some windsurfing or parasailing away from the shore.

Calangute Beach

A stroll to the southern end of Baga Beach leads you to the seafront of Calangute. Baga and Calangute Beach are essentially one long, glorious stretch of sand, with access to different activities and restaurants in each area.

Of the two, the Calangute end can be a little less crowded. Here you’ll find cheap and cheerful snack shacks like Mama Cecilia’s as well as the option of booking banana boat rides and jet-ski trips.

Anjuna Beach

Popular with backpackers from around the world, Anjuna beach is a real party beach and a firm choice if you’re hoping to enjoy cheap drinks at sunset and late nights on the sand.

By day, markets that neighbour the beach sell handmade trinkets and treasures and are well worth a look. When you get peckish you won’t regret a trip to nearby Goa’s Ark – an unassuming restaurant, serving gluten-free and veggie delights among a host of delectable local fare. There are plenty of rickshaws serving this beach, located around a 10-minute drive from Baga – making it pleasingly easy to get to.

Vagator Beach

If you feel like venturing a little further afield, Vagator Beach is approximately a 20-minute drive from Baga and tends to be quieter by day than its bustling southerly counterparts.

There are striking red cliffs here, from which you can access freshwater springs and the ruins of Chapora Fort, as well as neighbouring Ozran Beach. During the summer, Vagator Beach comes alive at night with nearby Nine Bar and Primrose Bar playing dance and trance music into the early hours.

Ozran Beach

Stroll down the steps from Chapora Fort on the opposite side to Vagator, and you’ll sink your feet in Ozran Beach sand. This peaceful strand is a breath of fresh air after the hustle and bustle of Baga Beach and comes with sweeping palms to shade yourself under. There are also shallow waters that are perfect for little ones to play in, without the commotion of watersports activities.

Famed for fantastic sunset views, Ozran has its own selection of beach shacks where you can find flavoursome food and drinks, as well as a few great restaurants atop the nearby hill that look out across the ocean.

Candolim Beach

A stone’s throw south of Calangute is Candolim Beach, which finds the perfect balance between action and relaxation. You can still book banana boat rides here and pick up fresh samosas from Samuel’s Shack, but this beach is quiet enough that sometimes you might even feel like you’ve got it all to yourself.

Ideal for sunbathing and paddling, there are shallow waters for children to play and build sandcastles in, but do be aware that currents can be strong further from the shore. Instead, lay at the water’s edge with your feet in the Arabian Sea and a cocktail in your hand – a truly Goan experience.

If the lure of this area’s stunning beaches is enough to draw you in, be sure to check out our fantastic range of cheap Goa holiday packages.