Shopping at Natural Nirvana

Calangute and Baga

Area Code: 0832

This is the most developed beach in Goa. It is popular with backpackers, college students, and package tourists coming for a Christmas vacation. It is also popular with middle-class Indian tourists. Most of the hotels here are small, double-storey buildings.

Baga is just north of Calangute and they are connected. They seem to be the same beach. Calangute is a 45-minute bus ride north of Panaji and 10km west of Mapusa.

Information
Travel agencies for air, train, or bus tickets and flight confirmation: Sea Breeze Travel on the main road; MGM Travels (276-703, 273-223) on the roundabout in Calangute; Royal Tours and Travels (276-109), opposite the GTDC Tourist Resort; Raj Travels (276-643).

There are many Kashmiri-run handicraft and Tibetan shops along the beach. The quality of what is sold is usually good, although the prices are high. Bargain hard and expect an extremely heavy sales pitch. If you want to buy something, leave and return in twenty minutes to settle the sale. Many of the same items are sold at the Anjuna flea market on Wednesdays for much less.
The beach around the main congregation of hotels in Calangute can be busy with gawkers and hawkers. For more privacy, head south for about fifteen minutes.

Rama Books & Jewelry at the roundabout has a decent selection of new and used books in English, French, and German (open 9 am to 5 pm).

Topless bathing is strictly prohibited on this beach and this rule is strictly enforced. Women should be careful of sexual harassment in secluded areas.

Money and Internet
You can change money at the State Bank of India on the main street past the roundabout going away from the beach. Wall Street Finances, in the shopping complex on the beach front, opposite the petrol station, changes cash and travelers cheques. Open Mon to Sat 8:30 am to 8 pm, Sun 10 am to 2 pm. You can also change money at ENEM Finances, open daily 8 am and 9 pm.
Often the hotels and travel agencies in Calangute give Rs 2 less on a dollar than the bank rate, so it pays to shop around when changing money. They often offer some of the worst rates in India.
The Computer Spot (276-290), at Shivam Xerox, has internet facilities (Rs 120 per hour).

Where to Stay
There are many places to stay here. Except for the high Christmasxe "Calangute" -New Years season, there are usually plenty of hotels available. You can often bargain for a lower price, especially after January. Most of the cheaper hotels are in family houses or concrete blocks connected to family houses. Nicer places may have a verandah or balcony and an attached bathroom. The higher-priced hotels have pools and are right on the beach.
As many of the hotels in Baga are booked during the high season by chartered tours, it is harder to find a room there than in Calangute. If you want to stay in Baga, you could get a room in Calangute the first night and then find a room in Baga the next day.
Prices in this section are for double rooms during the high season.

Calangute—Main Area near Beach
The popular Angela P Fernandes Guest House, south of the beachfront, has rooms with common bath for Rs 250 and doubles with bath for Rs 350 (Rs 200 during the off-season). It is a good value.
P V Fernandes is an old Portuguese house with rooms for Rs 250.
Rodrigues Cottages, near the roundabout on the road to Baga, has basic rooms with bath built around a courtyard for Rs 250.
Fellah’s Guest House has basic rooms with bath for Rs 300.
Hotel Souza Loba, well-located right on the beach, has clean rooms for Rs 350. The rooms are basic and do not have windows. It has hot water only between 3 and 6 pm when the restaurant is closed.
The government-owned concrete-block Calangute Tourist Resort (276-024) is right at the steps leading to the main area of the beach. From October to June, rooms with bathrooms are Rs 300/350 and Rs 500 for a triple. Between June 15 and September 30 rooms are Rs 250/300 (triples Rs 400). There are dorm beds for Rs 75 (Rs 60 during off-season). The cottages are nicer than the other rooms.
La Bamba (276-108), near the Tourist Resort, next to the beach, is a well-maintained small place with rooms for Rs 400.
The friendly Coco Banana (276-478), Umta Vaddo, has comfortable rooms ranging from Rs 650 to Rs 900. The rooms surround a peaceful courtyard and have balconies. It is a good value.
The Victor Guest House (276-966) is a good place with rooms for Rs 400.
Hotel A Canôa (276-082) has good rooms, some with sea views, for Rs 350. It is often full.
The secluded and friendly Varma’s Beach Resort (276-077) has clean, comfortable, A/C rooms with attached bathrooms and their own verandah with a table and chairs for Rs 750 to Rs 1000. It is well-designed and well-maintained. The rooms surround a nice courtyard. It has its own restaurant for guests only. It is closed June to September.
Hotel Linda Goa (276-066) has rooms for Rs 650 to Rs 900.
Falcon Resorts (277-327) has rooms and cottages starting at Rs 600. It is an interesting place decorated by antiques.
Albenjoh (276-422), near where the bus lets you off in Calangute, has clean rooms with bath ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 500. The higher priced rooms have balconies.
Behind the bus stand is the family-run Au Vin, 5/193 Umta Vaddo, with six clean rooms for Rs 250.
Sundowner Holiday Home, 5/128 Umta Vaddo, behind the Tibetan Kitchen, has big rooms with bath for Rs 350. It is a good value.

South Calangute
The friendly, family-run NV Guest House has basic double rooms for Rs 300. It has a great location right on the beach.
Kismat Mahal (276-067), near St Anthony’s Chapel, is a family-run place with rooms for Rs 350 to Rs 450.
There are some small hotels in this area charging Rs 700 to Rs 1000. They all have good locations on the beach.
Hotel Goan Heritage (276-120) has a pool. Rooms are Rs 1400.
The Hotel Golden Eye (276-187; fax 276-187), A-1/189 Gaura Vaddo, on the beach, has large rooms with balconies and sea views for Rs 900. Rooms have hot water. It has a good terrace restaurant.
Nearby is the family-run Gabriel’s, Gaura Vaddo, which is close to the beach. It has rooms for Rs 900. Recommended.
The are several expensive resorts away from the beach. Paradise Village (276-155) has rooms for Rs 3700.
Calangute to Baga
The friendly Stay Longer Guest House (277-460), on the main road, is a good place with rooms for Rs 500.
Melvin House has rooms with a common bath for Rs 250. It is a nice place.
Joanita Guest House (277-166), Baga Rd, has clean, airy rooms with a bath for Rs 300 to Rs 500. It has a nice garden.
Graceland has rooms with kitchens for Rs 600.
Vila Goesa (277-535), at the end of the side street opposite the Shelsta, near the beach, has a garden. Rooms are Rs 1550.
Close by is the Estrella do Mar Beach Resort, with rooms for Rs 1400. It has a garden and a restaurant.
The next three places are all next door to one another and near the beach. All three have pools.
Colonia Santa Maria (276-011) has rooms for Rs 1400.
Mirbat Holiday Homes (276-310) has rooms for Rs 1400.
Captain Lobo’s Beach Hideaway (276-103) has comfortable rooms with a fridge for Rs 1200.
Villa Bomfim (276-105) is a pleasing, beautiful old building with large rooms for Rs 1200.
Sunshine Beach Resort has a pool and rooms for Rs 1200.
Hotel Linda Goa (276-066), the Beiramar, and the Paraiso de Praia have rooms for about Rs 1000.
Ronil Beach Resort (276-101) is a good hotel which has rooms built around a pool. Rooms are Rs 2500 between Dec 20 and Jan 8, Rs 1500 for the rest of the high season and Rs 1200 at other times. It has a Swiss restaurant. It is a 10-min walk to the beach.
Ancora Beach Resort has good-valued cottages for Rs 450.
Angelina has rooms for Rs 400.
Hotel Sea Wolves has double rooms with bath for Rs 400.
Miranda Beach Resort has rooms for Rs 350.
Hotel Hacienda (277-348) has good, large rooms with hot water and a balcony for Rs 700. There is a garden.

Baga
The popular, family-run Villa Fatima Beach Resort (277-418), away from the road and surrounded by palm trees, is a good place. Rooms with a bath are Rs 250, and rooms facing the sea with hot water cost Rs 550. There is a TV area, a nice garden, and a restaurant. You can rent a safety deposit box for Rs 50. During the season, it is often full.
Jose D’Souza, in an old villa, has basic rooms for Rs 250. It has larger rooms with bath across the street for Rs 300 to Rs 500.
Alidia (276-835), Baga Rd, is a nice modern, friendly place with rooms and verandahs looking out to the beach. Rooms are Rs 1000.
Venar, 1963 Cobra Vaddo, has large, clean rooms with common bath for Rs 125/150 and with private bath for Rs 200/250 in a Portuguese-style house. It is run by a nice family. A good value. Hot water in a bucket.
Martin’s, 1928 Cobra Vaddo, is a family house with simple rooms for Rs 250.
The popular Nani’s Bar & Rani’s Restaurant, across the river over the concrete footbridge, is a pleasant place with rooms with common bath and outdoor showers for Rs 150 and rooms with a bath are Rs 400. It has a quiet garden. A recommended budget place. During the season it is often full.
Hotel Riverside (276-062), located in a quiet area, has large, comfortable, modern rooms starting at Rs 900. It has a restaurant and a good view of the river. It is a good place.
Jimi’s Tepee Village (276-124), near the bridge, has nice tepees with fans, electricity and mattresses.
Cavala Motel, (276-090), Cobravaddo, has clean, modern rooms with balconies for Rs 1100.
The two-star Baia do Sol (276-084), on the square, is a modern, clean place with a good garden. Rooms are Rs 1200.

Where to Eat
Restaurants line the beach from Calangute village to the end of Baga.
Tibetan Kitchen serves fresh juices and Tibetan and Western food, and is a sociable place.
Mr Cater’s, in front of the Calangute Beach Resort, serves good North Indian food.
Milky Way is a good place for ice cream, yogurt, and milkshakes.
Boutique-Tatophanie Cafe sells cakes, pies, and other items. It is also a boutique for designer clothes.
The popular Tito’s Restaurant has a great location right by the beach. Main preps are Rs 75 to Rs 200. It is by far the most popular night spot, having a powerful sound system and a small dance floor, which gets happening after 10 pm. They charge Rs 100 to use the dance floor.
Infanteria Pastry Shop serves good pastries, breads, and cakes. They also serve some regular meals.
Squeeze, in Baga, makes good, homemade pasta and fresh juices.
Nani’s & Rani’s Restaurant has good food and a pleasant atmosphere.
Hotel Souza Lobo is one of the most popular places on the beach.
Casa Portuguesa, Baga, serves Goan and Portuguese cuisine. It is in an old Goan home with antiques, and it has a verandah. A meal costs about Rs 250.
Indian Cafe, between Calangute and Baga on the main road, has good South Indian food. Also changes money.
The vegetarian Plantain Leaf, near the petrol station, about half a km from the beach, is a good, inexpensive vegetarian restaurant. It is a big place and is popular with the locals.

Entertainment
The main party place is Tito’s at the Baga end of the beach. It has a powerful sound system and is right on the beach. It stays open late in December and January.

The Kerkar Art Gallery (276-017), at the south end of the beach in Gaurwaddo, plays classical music and holds dance performances on Tuesdays and Saturdays (6:30-8 pm).
Performances by teachers and students from Panaji’s Kala Academy are held in the garden in the back. There is a short introductory talk. Admission Rs 150.

Bicycle and Motorcycle Rental
You can rent a bicycle for Rs 4 per hour (Rs 25 per day). Many places will ask for up to Rs 50 a day. Motorcycles can also be hired. Men ride around looking for people to rent the motorbike upon which they are riding.

Travel
Long-distance buses can be gotten at Panaji and Mapusa. Frequent local buses from Panaji (every 20-min, 40 min, Rs 4, 6 am to 7:30 pm), Mapusa (every 20 min, 30 min, Rs 4; 7 am to 7 pm), and Anjuna (every hour, 30 min, Rs 4) stop at the bus stand in the center of Calangute. From there it is a few minutes walk to the main hotel area. From the bus stand in Calangute, an auto-rickshaw to any hotel should not cost more than Rs 30. To the Calangute Tourist Resort, it should cost Rs 15.
A taxi is a convenient and quick way to get from Panaji to Calangute (Rs 150, 20 min). On Wednesdays, boats depart regularly to the Anjuna flea market from Baga Beach (Rs 50 maximum).

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