Baga Beach Holidays in Goa

Situated between Colva and Calangute on the coastline of Goa in India, Baga Beach nestles at the foot of a craggy wooded headland. It's a loud and lively resort, very popular with young and middle aged people. It has something of the 60s vibe about it with music, parties and dancing all night. It can be really busy, but this is the unique vibrancy that is Baga Beach and it brings flocks of people back year after year.

The beach itself is stunning, with miles and miles of brown sand. This area has a varied landscape and is more unspoiled than other resorts in the area. The black rocks and the palm trees are a great place to chill out and watch the waves crash in from the Arabian Sea. There are loads of beach shacks with warm, friendly service and a great choice of snacks, from curries to chips. English is spoken everywhere, letting you get straight on with enjoying yourself. There are a multitude of colourful stalls everywhere you look and you need to be good at bartering (and saying no firmly) if you don't want to pay over-the-top prices. Haggling is very much the norm, so don't be afraid to give it a go.

Water sports are a definite favourite with fantastic waterskiing, surfing and snorkelling. For the more adventurous, grab a great view of the resort by parasailing. Of course this stretch of coast is renowned for its seafood, so a spot of angling is a great way to relax in the sun. If you fancy a bit of culture there are historic forts dotted along the coastline, such as the imposing Chapora Fort. Also on the Baga hilltop overlooking this beautiful scene is the Casa de Retiros, a retreat house dedicated to St Francis Xavier. Also worth exploring are the foothills past the Bom Viagem Convent where the springs at Mottant are reputed to have medicinal qualities – it's a lovely spot for picnicking.

There are frequent buses to the capital Panjim, which is about half an hour away and also nearby Mapusa, about ten minutes away. The nearest railway is at Karmali which is 11 km from Panjim. The airport at Dabolim is only half an hour's drive from Baga Beach.

Evenings can often see one beach shack serving a barbecue, another presenting a firework display. For the more romantic amongst you, you can even choose to have a candlelit meal on the beach whilst watching the sun go down in a gorgeous spectacle of colour. Expect to be entertained as there will be jugglers, fire-eaters and traditional dancing amongst the ravers and hippies. All-night parties tend to be acoustic and not amplified now, making the destination more family friendly, but Tito's still has an outdoor dance floor and pumping sounds system. All-night parties are still there – you just need to look hard enough. Spectacular scenery, wonderful nightlife and a friendly hustle and bustle give Baga Beach its thoroughly understandable reputation as a great destination in Goa.