Colva Beach

Colva is a long sandy beach in South Goa. It is a part of the 26.7 kilometer long coastline that extends from Dabolim, close to the Goa airport to the Sal River near the Mobor beach. Colva is a major beach in the south that is popular with both Indian and foreign tourists. The beach is only 9.3 kilometers from Margao, which is the largest city in South Goa, and thus, many locals come down to Colva in the evenings and the weekends. At other times, it remains mostly deserted, especially if you move away from the central areas.

Colva is a perfect beach in every way. It has soft golden sand, which stretches gently into the sea. There are no undercurrents in the water, so you can swim safely. Even young children can swim in the sea. There are many water sports activities like speed boats, banana boats, water skiing, and parasailing. The Colva Creek runs parallel to the beach, with many small bridges connecting to the sandy stretch.

The Colva beach is 9.1 kms from Margao railway station if you take the Colva Beach Road, and 20.5 kms from the Dabolim international airport if you take the NH566 and then the Dabolim-Cavelossim Road.

Colva Map

There are several shacks on the beach, like Boomerang, Pina Colada, Anthony’s, Eddies Place, Sea View Café, Esco’s, Mickey’s, and Sucorina. But they are all well spread apart, which ensures that the beach never feels congested. If you move away from the central area, you won’t see anyone for long stretches. Each beach shack has its own sun beds with umbrellas, where you can lay back and enjoy the scenery with food and drinks. On the beach, you can play football and volleyball.

You will see greenery everywhere. Walk just a few steps from the central area of the beach, and you will arrive at a vast coconut plantation. Away from the beach, Colva is busy, especially around the Colva Circle. Most of the hotels, luxury villas for rent, shops, restaurants, and cafes are located here. You will also find many car/bike rentals and tattoo centers.

Even a few decades back, Colva used to be completely barren as there were no restaurants and places to stay. The Mughals preferred the hilly North so they could erect their forts. Colva was owned by the Portuguese Roiz family. Diogo Rodrigues was called the “Lord of Colvá” as he owned the entire beach, which went by the name of “Praia da Colvá”. Diogo constructed a house here in 1551. That was the first residential building here.

Colva Gallery

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Quick Facts About Colva

Best Time to Visit Colva Beach

Tourists come here throughout the year. It is so close to Margao that every weekend, the locals would drive down to the beach and spend time here. Many come to the beach even on weekdays. But most tourists from outside Goa come to Colva in the winter, between November and February, when the temperature is lower, and it is more pleasant. The summer months are hot. It will be wet during the monsoon, with a lot of downpours on some days. Many shacks and restaurants, and also the water sports may not be working in the monsoon, and even the summer.

Weather

The weather in Colva can get very hot in the summer months with the daytime temperature reaching anything between 32°and 36°C. The evenings are much pleasant, though, as the cool wind blows in from the sea. The monsoon months are wet and humid. There can be a sudden thundershower, and sometimes, it may rain for almost the entire day. The sea can be choppy with high waves in the monsoon. It is best to avoid swimming during the rains.

The winter is pleasant but never too cool. You won’t need warm clothes even during the night. There is very little rain, so you can plan to spend an entire day on the beach, relaxing, and getting a sun bath. Or you can plant to hire a car or bike and visit some of the nearby attractions of Goa.

How to Reach Colva

• By Air — The Dabolim airport is 20.5 kms from Colva. There are many airlines that operate flights here like Air India, Indigo, Etihad, Air Arabia, Air Asia, Qatar Airways, and Jet Airways. The new Mopa airport is 63 kilometers away.
• By Rail — The Margao railway station is 9.1 kms from Colva.
• By Road — The Margao city center is 8.9 kms away.

It will take you only 15 minutes from Margao to reach the beach. Along the way, you will pass through small Goa villages and agriculture fields. You will see many beautiful homes and old colonial structures, which will remind you of the Portuguese days. Just before reaching Colva, you will see the fish market to your left and the Our Lady of Merces Church to your right. The Colva Beach Road takes a right turn, 5 minutes from the Beach Circle. Head straight from the Circle and you are at the beach.

It will take you about an hour from Panaji. Take the NH66 and then the Utorda Beach Road and finally the Dabolim-Cavelossim Road and you will reach the Beach Circle.

Top 6 Activities at Colva Beach

Colva Parasailing

You can spend your vacation at Colva just like you want. You can just relax, get a massage, enjoy the sunset views, or see some of the nearby attractions.

1. Water sports, swimming – There are many water sports activities here. You can select from speed boats, banana and bumper boats, jet skiing, parasailing, water scooters, and others. But remember, there is no water sport in the monsoon.
2. Spend time at a beach shack – Most of the beach shacks are away from the busy areas. Relax on a sun bed, get a massage, and enjoy your food, drinks. There is music and dancing in the evening. Choose from Boomerang, Pinacolada, Shaloms Beach Restaurant, Big Boss, Rendezvous Shack, SandPat, and the Papillon Bar.
3. The Colva Church – The Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Merces or Our Lady Of Mercy is a whitewashed church that was erected in 1630. It was later rebuilt in the 18th-century. Here, you can see the miraculous statue of Baby Jesus or Menino Jesus. It was brought here after the statue was found shipwrecked off the coast of Mozambique. It has the miraculous power of healing. Every October, many religious pilgrims come to this church for the for the annual Fama festival.
4. Shops and supermarkets – Very close to the beach, you will find many clothing stores, tattoo parlors, massage centers, souvenir shops, and book stores. There are many big and small street side stalls.
5. Spend a day at Margao – Margao is the commercial, cultural and religious capital of Goa. It has a bigger and better market. There are also many good churches and temples, like the Church of the Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Grace Church, Sri Damodar Temple, The Seven Gables House, Anna Fonte Natural Source, and the Maruti Mandir. You can also visit Ravindra Bhavan, and the Goa Chitra Museum.
6. Visit the beaches of south Goa – Betalbatim, Sernabatim, Majorda, Utorda, Benaulim, and Varca or further South.

The Colva Beach

Main enterance to Colva Beach

Colva has a white, sandy beach that is lined with swaying palm trees. So there is a lot of greenery all around. It’s a long sandy shore that stretches all the way from close to Betalbatim beach in the north to Sernabatim beach in the south. You will find shacks throughout the beach, but they are mostly in clusters, with large empty sandy stretch in between. You will see most tourists around the Colva Circle. The foreigners stay away from this part, preferring the shacks on the north and south. There are however fewer international tourists, compared to the other South Goa beaches, Palolem and Cavelossim.

There is a small creek at the beach circle, but it does not go all the way to the sea. You have to cross a small bridge over this creek to reach the beach. There are other approaches too. Most water sports activities are concentrated just left of the Circle area. You can choose from speed boat and banana boat rides, water scooter, and paragliding. There is no snorkeling or scuba diving.

Colva is clean as there are fewer tourists here than many other beaches in Goa.

Colva Circle

Colve Circle is the busiest part of this neighborhood. The Colva Beach Road from Margao ends here. You will find most of the shops and small street-side stalls around the circle and in the neighboring lanes. They sell everything from clothing to shoes, fridge magnets, and a lot more things. There are massage centers, tattoo shops, and even a few libraries. Most of the hotels, resorts, and villas for rent are also around the Circle.

On the right side, there is a large parking area. There are many car/bike rentals here. On the left, there is a small area, where you will find many cafes and restaurants. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Merces church will be to your right as you approach Colva Circle. From the Circle, you will have to cross a small creek to reach the beach. There are several bridges that will take you there.

Shopping

Colva is a lot smaller than Candolim or Baga. There is no big shopping mall or super store here like Newton or Delfinos. But you will still find plenty of stores selling all kinds of things. You can buy most of your daily requirements. If you want to visit a supermarket, you have to go to Margao city center, which is 8.9 kms away.

While at Colva, you can buy souvenirs of your visit, get a massage or tattoo, buy books and various other things at the many shops here. There are both small and big shops and street side stalls.

• Goa Animal Welfare Trust Shop – A charity shop that sells souvenirs and secondhand books. Also referred to as GAWT, money from sales goes towards the welfare of Goa’s four-legged friends.
• National Cottage Impex – Handicrafts, tea, shawls, and more.
• Mitt Kashmir Jewels and Designs – Jewelry store.

Top 5 Best Restaurants

Colva is a foodie’s delight. You will find all types of foods on offer, including Goanese, continental, Chinese, North and South Indian, Maharashtrian, and even Bengali. Most restaurants are located either on the beach or on both sides of the Beach Road.

From fine dining to beach shacks, restaurants, cafes and street-side food, you will get it all here.

1. Garden Restaurant – In the La Ben Resort. A popular restaurant for breakfast and dinner. Plenty of menu choices. Good cocktail list.
2. Sagar Kinara – On the other side of the Colva Beach Road, just opposite to the Garden Restaurant. Pure-vegetarian upstairs. Non-veg downstairs. Affordable South and North Indian food.
3. The Papillion – On the southern end of the Colva beach. There are many foreigners. Try the prawn curry, sweet chicken, and paneer pakodas.
4. Pinacolada Beach Shack – Goanese and international menu.
5. Mickey's Restaurant – At the northern end of the beach. Try the cheese naan, garlic squids and pork ribs in barbecue sauce, crispy chicken and calamari chili garlic.
6. Leda Lounge & Restaurant – Close to the GAWT shop. The menu includes Goanese, continental and Indian cuisines.

Nightclubs

South Goa’s party scene is not as vibrant as the north. There are no big clubs, festivals or public events. The parties that are held are usually the private ones. However, you will still find a few nightclubs in Colva.

Popular bars, pubs, and nightclubs in Colva:

1. Club Margarita – Located on the Colva Beach Road, it is the first public nightclub in south Goa. It has a very energetic atmosphere. You will find both European and local DJs playing house, hip-hop, R&B and retro music. Parties are usually on Fridays and Saturdays. Margarita also has a hookah bar.
2. Leda Lounge – Leda Balcao or the Leda Lounge is a sports, cocktail, and music bar. You can listen to live music between Thursday and Sunday. It also has a terrace. Enjoy their cocktails, desserts, traditional, and fusion foods.
3. Club Sunshine — This club is at the northernmost end of Colva beach. There is live music, DJ and dancing right on the beach.
4. Boomerang – Boomerang is a fantastic place right on the beach, but away from the crowds. There is a big sitting area that faces the sea. Relax on a sun bed or play beach volleyball. Inside, this beach bar has a dance floor. There is live music and DJ. Boomerang mostly hosts private parties.
5. 49ers Restaurant and Bar – International food, live music and karaoke. Very good DJ music.

Water Sports

There are a lot of water sports activities on offer. There is Xavier's Para Sailing Unit right on the Colva beach. There are other operators too. Choose from speed boats, banana boats, water scooters, and jet skiing.

* You can get discounts by trying different activities from the same provider. You have to negotiate to arrive at a special price.

Hotels

Longuinhos Beach Resort

There is no 5-star luxury property in Colva unlike some of the other beaches in Goa. At the most you will find 3-star hotels. Longuinhos Beach Resort, The Golden Crown Hotel & Spa, Colmar Beach Resort, Soul Vacation Resort and Spa, and Skylark Resort are some of the hotels in Colva.

Villas

Rent a villa in Colva. You will find some of the best luxury villas for rent in South Goa at Colva. Villa Lyon Age, Villa Orchard Garden, Villa Sunny Hills, and the others are all amazing properties. You can select from small 3-bedroom to large 8-bedroom homes depending on the size of your group. We have handpicked each luxury villa after inspecting them personally, so you can be sure of the quality. The photos and descriptions will all match with what you will find in the house.

There is only one star-quality resort at Colva – The Club Mahindra Acacia Palms Resort. The best places to stay here are the luxury villas. Our premium properties offer modern amenities and luxuries comparable to the best 5-star hotels. You will have more per person space in a villa, so you can spread out and live more comfortably. It will be cheaper too than a hotel room if you are a large group.

Select a luxury villa you like. Stay for as long as you want. Shops, restaurants, and cafes, and the beach are all close.

Ultra-luxury 3-bedroom villa with private pool. Complete privacy. Maximum comfort. From 20 000 Rs. per night

Comfortable 3-bedroom villa in gated residential complex. Shared Pool. South Goa. From 10 000 Rs. per night

Large 6-bedroom villa in quite area of South Goa. Private pool. Complete privacy. From 25 000 Rs. per night

There are many other amazing villas and apartments on rent in Colva. They offer many modern amenities. You can check our other villas here.

Related articles:

• Cavelossim beach
• Benaulim beach
• How to Rent a Villa in Goa?
• Best time to visit Goa

Sources: [1] [2] [3]