Agonda Beach

Agonda Beach is in a serene and picturesque stretch of coastline in South Goa. A 4-kilometer-long beach, Agonda is in a quiet bay between two rocky headlands on the north and the south. It is a quiet part of Goa as there are only a few tourists. There are no star-category hotels or resorts, but you will still find many luxury villas for rent. If you are looking for a quiet holiday in a picturesque location away from the crowds, then you can certainly stay here. You can also visit Agonda on a day trip from other places. Agonda Beach is 70.3 kilometers from Panaji and 39.2 kilometers from Margao.

The beach and the water are both clean because of the fewer number of people visiting this place. You can swim safely in the sea as there are no riptides. Agonda and the nearby Palolem are together the two best beaches in South Goa. If you are planning a day trip, then you can certainly visit both these beaches in one day.

TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® awards have ranked Agonda as Asia’s #1 beach for 2018. Back in 2016 as well, TripAdvisor ranked Agonda as Asia’s 4^th best beach, and the first in India.

A road runs parallel to the beach. You will find most of the hotels, resorts, and villas in Agonda here. Just behind this road, there is a beautiful backwater, which almost touches the beach at its northern end and then runs parallel to the road. Called the Saleri Backwater, it is surrounded by thick vegetation. The serene river, together with the greenery, and the hills, make it very beautiful. You can enjoy boating and kayaking in the river. There are several wellness centers, yoga studios, and ayurvedic centers hidden within this greenery, a perfect location for wellness therapies, meditation, and relaxation. There are no nightclubs here, which contribute to its quiet and peaceful ambiance.

In the central part of Agonda Beach, you will find the very nice St. Anne's Church. And at its southern end, there is a Ghost Hotel, which is actually an abandoned large structure on the top of a hill. You won’t find any ghosts here, but it’s a lovely view from the top.

Agonda Map

Agonda Gallery

Luxury villa with direct access to the beach. 5* star service. Prime location of North Goa.
Villa for rent from 19 000 Rs. per night

Quick facts about Agonda

• Agonda Beach in South Goa is 70.3 kilometers from Panaji and 39.2 kilometers from Margao. You can reach the beach in only 20 minutes from Palolem.
• The closest airport Dabolim is 60.5 kilometers away. The new Mopa airport is 100.8 kilometers away.
• The closest railway station is at Margao.
• It is a tree-lined beautiful beach between two hills.
• The beach runs for 2 kilometers. It has golden and smooth sand that goes down into the sea gradually.
• Swimming is moderately safe here.
• The beach has some places to stay. But most of them are along the road that runs parallel to it. You will find only a few shacks.

Best Time to Visit Agonda

The winter season, between November and February is the best time to visit Agonda beach. It is more pleasant. It is not too crowded, even in the peak December season. There is very little tourist infrastructure in the monsoon. The beach shacks will be closed. Most of the restaurants, shops and pubs will also be closed.

Weather

The summer months are hot. Chance of thundershowers in late afternoon or evening on some days! It is much wetter in the monsoon, between the middle of June and early September. The humidity is high. However, late evenings and early mornings are pleasant.

Agonda is not the best beach for swimming because the sea is choppy. There can be undercurrents. It gets choppier in the monsoon, and the waves are also higher. So it’s best to avoid swimming. The winter is a great time. Little rain! Very little humidity! Much cooler and more pleasant!

Top 7 Things To Do At Agonda

1. The Beach – This is a clean, wide, picturesque, and very serene beach. TripAdvisor has rated it as Asia’s #1 beach for 2018. Enjoy its beauty. Spend a lazy day here, relaxing, getting a sunbath and a massage. Swimming, though, is not advisable. Visit the turtle center at the north end of the beach. In September, you can see the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles. See the unique rock formations at the south end of the beach.
2. Palolem – The most famous beach in South Goa, Palolem is just 15 minutes away. Visit Palolem to see the beach and enjoy its nightlife. Palolem is a hot party destination. You can also visit Cola beach and see the lagoon there, and also the small but beautiful Butterfly beach.
3. Yoga – Enroll for yoga classes at the Shiva Yoga Centre. Agonda is small enough for a lesson in spirituality. There are never too many people. No loud nightclubs. Learn from yoga gurus as you are surrounded by the calm waters of the sea.
4. Ayurvedic Spa – The Bio Veda Ayurvedic spa offers excellent, relaxing sessions. Choose from hand and foot massage, sirodara session, and other authentic Ayurvedic treatments.
5. Chapoli Dam – A large water body, this beautiful dam is just 10.5 kilometers from the Agonda beach. It is nestled within a scenic valley and hills. There is a lot of fish in the water. Chapoli Dam is an excellent getaway from the beach.
6. Conco Island – Also called the Canacona Island or the Monkey Island because of the huge number of monkeys in this wooded island. It is closer to Palolem, but you can still visit from Agonda. You can easily walk to the island from Palolem in low tide. You can also cross the channel by swimming. Or you can take a ferry in high tide.
7. Cabo De Rama Fort – An interesting fort in good condition just north of Agonda, beyond the Cola beach! You can get excellent views up to the Colva beach and of the Canacona stretch. There is a church of Santo Antonio inside the fort.

What to Expect in Agonda Beach

It is a very nice and quiet beach. There is no water sport here, which makes it quieter. However, you will still see some tourists hitting the waves with their surfboards as the waves are often quite rough and big. In the Saleri Backwater, there is boating and kayaking. Mostly, you will find friends, families, and couples enjoying and sunbathing on their beach loungers with food, drinks, fresh juice, and books.

Where to Visit From Agonda

Visit Palolem, which is only 20 minutes to the south. It is another beautiful tree-lined beach with another backwater, also at its northern end. Palolem Beach has nightlife too. Canacona Island is just off the shore in high tide. During low tide, you will be able to walk to the island.

Between Agonda and Palolem, go to Honeymoon Beach, Dragonfly Beach, and Butterfly Beach. They are all very beautiful and are likely to be completely secluded. You have a high chance of seeing dolphins as well. Consider renting a boat at Agonda for a short cruise on the Arabian Sea. The boat can take you all the way to Palolem. On your cruise, you will see Honeymoon Beach, Dragonfly Beach, Butterfly Beach, and also Turtle Rock, Crocodile Rock, Canacona Island, and also Shark Rock. The Cabo de Rama Fort is 30 minutes by road from Agonda.

Turtles on the Beach

Agonda is one of the four sites in Goa where you can see the rare and endangered Olive Ridley Turtles that come to lay their eggs. These places are Morjim in North Goa, and Agonda, Galgibaga Beach, and Talpona in South Goa. You can see them in large numbers in September. They will stay back for the eggs to hatch and will then go back to the sea. Sometimes, they come in November as well.

Agonda Rocks on South Side

Agonda Nightlife

Agonda is sometimes called Silent Beach because of the peace and serenity you will have here. You won’t find any noisy dance bars or nightclubs. But in the evening, you will see some shacks playing mellow music. For dancing and parties, it is best to go to Palolem beach, which is only 15 minutes away. Palolem hosts trance parties. You can also go to Leopard Valley on the Palolem-Agonda Road. It is one of the biggest dance clubs in south Goa. There is also Club Zoya in Benaulim, Underground Pub in Margao, Silent Noise Club, and Club Margarita.

Top 7 Restaurants

There are many food and drinks options – North and South Indian, Konkani, Chinese, Italian, Continental, and seafood.

1. Blue Planet Café – A vegan café between Agonda and Palolem. Run by a couple, the café offers smoothies, cocktails, juices, salads, and vegetarian dishes. The menu changes daily, depending on the availability of fresh ingredients.
2. La Dolce Vita – On the Agonda Beach Road, this is an Italian restaurant that offers very good pizzas, pastas, tiramisu, and other Italian foods. Try their authentic wood-fired pizzas. Plenty of food options to choose from.
3. Romya’s Inn – Located on the Church Road, this is the place for breakfast. You will love their eggs, salads, coffee, cakes, breads, cookies, and fresh juices. It’s a cozy and lovely café right on the beach.
4. Kopi Desa – In Indonesian language, it means “coffee village.” This is an expat cocktail bar and restaurant that has become very famous thanks to its Euro-centric menu. There is live music.
5. Madhu Bar and Restaurant – A beach bar and restaurant, great choice for your romantic candle light dinner. The tables all face the beach. On offer are beer, cocktails, drinks, and fresh seafood. Try a barbecue, shark, and the famous Goan fish curry.
6. Fatima’s Corner – Off-beach location, but another great choice for tandoori dishes and seafood. Ask for the special of the day – it could be mackerel, King Fish, red snapper, crabs or tiger prawns. Try their tandoori chicken and butter chicken. Don’t miss the ice tea with mint.
7. Sand Sapphire Restaurant – A beachfront restaurant that offers good sunset views. Choose from Chinese noodles, fish fingers, and the Goan Fish Curry with steamed rice. 650ml beer costs just Rs 100.

Shopping

There is no big supermarket or flea market in Agonda, which means, there are no congested streets with shops and vendors. This is one reason it is such a peaceful and quiet place. But you will still find everything you need. There are restaurants, pubs, bars, grocery shops, internet cafes, wine stores, massage centers, and ATM’s. You will find them on the Agonda Beach Road and elsewhere too.

Hotels and Villas in Agonda

Rama Resort at Agonda Beach

You won’t find any 5-star hotels or large resorts in Agonda. The White is a 3-star hotel – this is the only star category property here. There are many small cottages, bungalows, and villas for rent of varying sizes. The villas are the best places to stay at Agonda. There is also a camping site and a jungle hotel up in the hills.

The tourist infrastructure in Agonda beach is well developed. You will find comfortable places to stay, many cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, car/bike rentals, and currency exchange shops. The prices are lower than Baga, Candolim, and even Cavelossim.

Olive Turtles Nesting

Olive Turtles

Agonda beach is one of two South Goa beaches where olive turtles are nesting. These amazing creatures are under threat of extinction, that’s why the beach is under federal protection and is kind of a protected zone.

Panchayat is a local government, which is struggling to not let the Agonda turn into another overcrowded and bustling resort. The village is trying to avoid the environmental deterioration and to preserve its beauty for future generations. Everything you have done or just plan to do is for the reduction of waste, water and electricity consumption is also highly appreciated. Tourists are urged to keep quiet at night and not to turn on a bright light to not chase the turtles away.