Sernabatim Beach

Sernabatim is a vast expanse of golden white beach in South Goa. It is between the popular Colva beach and Benaulim, both popular resort areas in South Goa. What makes Sernabatim stand out is its pristine beauty and tranquility. The entire coastal stretch is lined with palm trees, casuarinas, and wild bushes. There are only a few places to stay, luxury villas for rent, and beach shacks. There is very little water sport activities here, so the beach remains quiet and secluded. You won’t find any tourists for long stretches, and will then suddenly come across a cluster of hotels, resorts, and beach shacks. Sernabatim is the perfect beach for a lazy, laid-back holiday for a relaxing holiday. You can play beach volleyball, beach soccer, sunbathe, or just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views. There are no pesky vendors bothering you or inquisitive neighbors disturbing your privacy.

Sernabatim is a 1.2-kilometer long beach with soft golden sand. It is part of the 26.5 kilometers long stretch of sandy shoreline that extends from Hollant beach just south of Vasco da Gama to the confluence of the Sal River with the Arabian Sea in Mobor.

Sometimes, Sernabatim is also called ‘South Colva’ as it is immediately south of Colva and very close. However, Sernabatim is much quieter and cleaner than Colva as there are only a handful of tourists and most of them are day visitors. Throughout the day, you will only see tourists who are staying in the hotels and villas at Sernabatim and sunbathing on the beach. Most day visitors come early in the morning and the evening.

Sernabatim retains a more natural and laid-back ambiance. There are no vendors and large hotels, which contributes to its tranquility. The beach has many coconut and casuarina trees, which gives it a picturesque setting. It is a great place for those looking for a peaceful and rejuvenating holiday, away from the hustle and bustle. It is a serene escape where you can immerse yourself in the unspoiled beauty of nature.

Margao, the largest city of South Goa is 10.7 kilometers from Sernabatim by the Colva Beach Road. It will take you about 25 minutes to reach the city by road. Other popular South Goa beaches like Benaulim, Agonda, Varca, and Palolem are close.

Quick Facts About Sernabatim

Safe for swimming. The beach slopes down to the sea gently. There are no rocks here.

There are only a few beach shacks here with their sun beds – Sucorina, White Crab, Xaviers, Gois, and Wilma's.

Best Time To Visit Sernabatim Beach

Sernabatim is one of the most serene and quiet beaches of Goa. You will find very few tourists here, but most of them visit during the winter (between November and February). It is noticeably cooler this time of the year. There will also be little rain so you can spend the entire day relaxing at the beach. The beach shacks will also be open. The smaller guest houses and villas are fully staffed. Often, they will be closed down in the low season, with the staff returning to their villages.

Weather

Goa is sunny and hot during the summer months. It’s much the same in Sernabatim. During the day, the temperature can go up to 36°C. On some days, it can be even hotter. Avoid direct sunlight exposure between 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. The beach is going to feel scorching because of the sand. It cools down in the evening, but the humidity will remain high.

The sun won’t burn your skin during the monsoon (June to August), but it will rain a lot. Every year, there are a few days when it will rain almost throughout the day. Occasionally, there are thundershowers as well. Goa gets a lot of rain because of its coastal location and the western ghat mountains. Rain clouds come in from the sea, hit the hills, and bursts into rains.

Winter is the most pleasant time of the year. There will be almost no rain. The sun won’t burn your skin, but you will have long hours of sunshine. You can plan an entire day at the beach, playing beach soccer or volleyball or simply relaxing. You can also visit some other South Goa beaches or see other attractions nearby. Ride a bike on the beach without sweating too much.

How To Reach Sernabatim

By Air — The Sernabatim beach is located 23.1 kilometers from Goa International Airport at Vasco da Gama by the Cavelossim Road and NH566. Goa's 2nd airport at Mopa is is 64.1 kilometers away. There are many domestic and international flights from all around the world. In the peak season, there are also many charter flights.

By Rail — Margao is the closest rail head. It is 7.3 kilometers from the beach by the Benaulim Beach Road and the Varca- Margao Road.

By Road — The city center of Margao is 10.7 kilometers from Sernabatim beach.

The Beach

Sernabatim is one of the cleanest and quietest beaches in Goa. There are only a handful shacks and no vendors. It is a wide and flat beach with soft yellow sand. There are coconut and casurina trees adding a nice green touch. Around the area, you will find only a few hotels, guest houses, and villas. They are small properties, not star-rated, so there are just a few people on the beach.

The water is shallow and the waves are low. You will also see lifeguards here. So even the kids can go into the Arabian Sea for a swim.

Relax on the beach if you do not want to swim. Spread out on the beach over a towel or take a sun bed under the shade of an umbrella. You can even take a quick nap. Sernabatim beach is the right place for a relaxing vacation.

You can drive up to the beach using one of the unpaved tracks or you can use the main beach road. There is a small car parking space at the right just before the beach. Unlike several other Goa beaches, this road is not crowded with cars and shops on both sides. There is just a single shop selling souvenirs and a tea stall. You will be able to find a parking space easily.

The sunset is beautiful here. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins if you are lucky. There are many birds flocking on the waves, trying to catch a fish. There are a few fishing boats, but they don’t disturb the serenity of the beach.

There are only a few beach shacks here with their sun beds – Sucorina, White Crab, Xaviers, Gois, and Wilma's.

Top 6 Things To See And Do At Sernabatim

1. Goa Chitra Museum – An ethnographic museum, it is just 4.1 kilometers from the Sernabatim beach. According to TimeOut Mumbai, this is ‘one of Goa's most charming attractions’. A must-visit, you can see here many antiques from the state, and its agrarian lifestyles and technology. There are more than 4000 artifacts displayed in the museum that includes local pottery, musical instruments, ancient carts, and farming tools. Also visit its organic farm to learn how spices, sugarcane, rice, herbs, and vegetables are grown in coastal Goa.
2. Churches – There are several chapels close to the beach. You can visit the Menino Jesus Chapel, Our Lady of Miracles, and the Santa Kuris Chapel, which are all close. Appreciate the rococo architecture of St. John the Baptist church. Also see the parish hall beside it and the cemetery opposite to the church. You can visit St. Christopher Church, Our Lady of Mercy Church, and see the modernistic Holy Trinity Church.
3. Beaches of South Goa – Sernabatim is close to some fantastic South Goa beaches. There is Benaulim and Varca, both pristine, Agonda, which has won the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® award for Asia’s #1 beach for 2018, Cavelossim and Mobor with the meandering Sal River on the other side, and Palolem a little south that has a party-like atmosphere. Rent a car or bike and you can cover most of them in a day.
4. Dolphins – You will often see dolphins just off the Sernabatim beach. There are hardly any water sports here and very few swimmers, so these wonderful animals sometimes come very close to the beach. You can also sail on a fishing boat to get close to these dolphins. If you like, you can swim with them too. They are not afraid of humans.
5. Go Kart Racing – Visit the karting track at Nuvem, which is 11.3 kilometers from the beach. This is the only place in Goa where kids over the age of 12 years can also do karting. The track is open Tuesday to Sunday from 4 PM to 10 PM. While you are visiting Nuvem, you can also go to the Froggyland waterpark, and the vintage car museum.
6. Yoga – Serene and quiet, Sernabatim is a good place for yoga and meditation. Vimoksha Yoga is located right on the beach. This is a yoga retreat and school that offers comprehensive teacher training courses for 200 and 300 hours. The yoga center also offers detox programs. Meditation courses are for 10 hours.

Tourist Infrastructure At Sernabatim

The beach has developed tourist infrastructure, even though it remains mostly deserted throughout the year. There is a parking lot for vehicles just outside the beach. The beach road is narrow, but that is not a problem, as there are few cars.

You will find several shops, restaurants, bars, bakeries, banks, massage centers, and ATM’s, most of them in the village area. There are a couple of department stores as well and a big playground too. Bikes/cars are available on rent.

Top 5 Reasons for Visiting Sernabatim

1. For a quiet and peaceful holiday
2. Beautiful nature. The beach is surrounded by palm and casuarinas.
3. Central location in the South. Sernabatim is close to Margao and many other top beaches in South Goa. You can plan to visit many places easily from here.
4. Crowd-free holiday as the beach gets very few tourists.
5. Sunbathing, swimming, beach soccer, beach volleyball, privacy

Places to Visit from Sernabatim

1. Goa Chitra Museum – Very close to the beach, this museum has a large collection of more than 4000 artifacts showcasing Goa’s traditional lifestyle and agrarian technologies. It showcases Goa’s indigenous art forms, origins and their development.
2. San Thome Museum – Located at Varca, San Thome presents the evolution of technology. You will see old projectors, clocks, cameras, gramophones, and typewriters. There is also a Raleigh bicycle, a grand piano, and an anchor cast from the same pattern like the one in Titanic.
3. Our Lady of Merces Church – Also called Nossa Senhora de Merces, this whitewashed beautiful church is in Colva. It was built in 1630 and rebuilt in the 18th century.
4. Menezes Braganca House – It is the largest Portuguese mansion in Goa. Built in the 17th century, the west wing of Menezes Braganca House is a museum with many antiques from Macau, Portugal, and China. It has Italian marble flooring and Belgian glass chandeliers. The east wing is also grand. It has a large ballroom and a chapel where a fingernail of St Francis Xavier is kept.
5. Margao – South Goa’s largest city Margao is also nearby. Here, you can see Our Lady Of Grace Church, Damodar Temple, Gomant Vidya Niketan, House of Seven Gables, Ana Fonte Garden, and other attractions. You can reach the city in only 20 minutes from the beach.
6. Nearby beaches – Several beautiful beaches are close to Sernabatim. You can easily reach Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Betalbatim, Majorda, and Cavelossim.

Hotels

There are no big hotels and 5-star properties at Sernabatim. You will mostly find small hotels, resorts, and B&Bs here. Baywatch Resort, Furtado’s Beach House, Camilsons, and Maynard Goa Beach Palace are the biggest hotels.

Villas

There are a few villas, traditional Goan bungalows, and homestays in the village. Located in green neighborhoods, they provide an insight into traditional village life of Goa. The green and quiet neighborhood allows a serene and relaxing vacation. Most villas at Sernabatim are standard properties offering budget stays.

Comfortable 2 bedroom apartment with a swimming pool. Gated complex. Starts from 2 800 Rs. per night

3 bedroom villa in gated complex. 10-15 minutes by car to the beach and Margao city Starts from 30 000 Rs. per month

Luxury 2 bedroom apartment. Close to all "happening spots" still in a quiet area. Starts from 4 700 Rs. per night

* The price depends on the location, the season, and the duration of your stay.

Villas for rent in Goa