Goa is endowed both by nature and history with ingredients that make it a great holiday destination for all kinds of travellers.
If you would like to explore what Goa has to offer, we do have a few suggestions from a list of inexhaustible possibilities. We can (per your request, of course) arrange for a taxi or for a rental car and give you the maps and guidance.
Saligão:
Our quaint little village has a lot to offer.
Take a heritage walk down the village lanes and admire the architecture of houses built in the 19th century. Admire the Gothic spires of the Mãe de Deus church.
Go bird watching near the Salmona spring, or for that matter watch the birds in our quintal (orchard), a special mention is the whistling serenade of the Malabar whistling thrush just before sunrise. Have a refreshing massage and treatment at the Saligão Ayurvedic Center. Go for a jog around the village or on the paved footpaths of Saligão to Mapusa road. Or simply dig into a book sitting under the shade of a mango tree in our quiet garden.
Tours for the culture lover:
The Old Goa church complex marked as a World Heritage Site, with the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral and the Museum of Christian Art at Santa Monica and many other monuments is just 45 mins away.
In the capital city of Panjim, one can stroll along the charming Latin Quarter of Fontainhas with its pousadas, casas sobradas and curio shops.
There are also the Heritage Indo-Portuguese houses like Casa dos Figueiredo's and Casa dos Alvares in Loutolim, Casa dos Braganças and Casa dos Fernandes in Chandor ; where you can have a glimpse of life as it was lived in a bygone colonial era of gracious easy living.
The Big foot Museum in Loutolim promises a comprehensive safari into Goa’s heritage and culture, beginning even before the period of Portuguese colonization while the Chitra Museum in Benaulim is the ultimate museum of Goan ethnography, with over 4000 traditional artifacts and tools on display.
Forts for the historian:
Goa has a number of excellent forts to explore, in varying degree of preservation and accessibility. The most popular are Aguada and Reis Magos just 20 minutes away. Chapora can be reached in 30 minutes and Tiracol on the northern border of Goa will take an hour and half.
There are also the forts of the South: Rachol and Cabo de Rama are the most popular. These can be done in a day in combination with a tour of South Goa.
Adventure for the restless:
For the adventurous bunch, Goa offers a whole range of activities from white water rafting, trekking in the foothills, bird watching, wildlife reserves where you can have a look at big herbivores and carnivores, backwater fishing, boating to watch dolphins, crocodiles and waterfowl or just visit to see the rustic charm of a hinterland village.
Markets for the shopaholics:
The two Saturday night markets Ingo's and Mackie's at Arpora with food courts, live music and dance floors offer all round experiences. The day flea market on Wednesdays at Anjuna offers a great shopping experience.For the big fashion and jewellery brands, Panjim city is the best place to be. Mapusa Friday market is quite famous for condiments and spices used in Goan recipes as well as street jewellery. Bear in mind that it can get pretty crowded.
Our more adventurous shoppers can simply take a walk down the Calangute - Baga road. It is guaranteed to be a fun experience and you can pick up knick knacks that you fancy.