Special interest

Cuisine:

It is said that a Goan cherishes his siesta as much as his food!

Goan cuisine is chili hot, spicy and pungent and, like the land itself, comes in many flavors and tastes. Naturally, sea food heads the list which also has pork, chicken, lamb, beef and a range of vegetableswith exotic names like Ambot-tik, Prawn balchao, Chicken Carfreal, Sorpotel, Chamuca.

Eateries are plentiful. Sol Bar & Bistro at Candolim, the Ritz Classic and the Upper House at Panjim, Spice Goa at Mapusa; while the beaches offer you St. Anthony Shack, Brittos and Cape Town Café at Baga, Infantaria Café at Calangute and Curly’s at Anjuna, among a host of others tucked away among the palms and serving authentic Goan cuisine.

And if you want to try your hand at some of Goa’s finest, check out the mother-son duo of Oliveira and Clyde Fernandes’ food blog, Goan Food Recipes. It’s yummy!

Cycling Tours:

Bicycling is a popular way to move around in Goa. From solo rides or in organized groups, these bicycle tours help cover a lot of ground – at your pace! A typical group tour lasts for two weeks. The first day is slow-paced, helping you to acclimatize as you ride in the countryside and villages around the city. Then starts your ‘fun in the sun’ as, over a two week period you take in towns and villages, historic sites and beaches (with long, lazy stopover at the last!) lasting over two weeks. Individuals can hire bicycles for their own short trips at their time and pace. There are also bicycling tours from south Indian cities like Bangalore and Mysore – the latter taking you through scenic Ghat (hill) sections and coastal regions.

Water Sports:

The golden coast of Goa is great for all kinds of sports – across the sky or on the waves. From paragliding to wind surfing and lots more. Dona Paula is great for windsurfing. There’re also dingy sailing (also known as ‘beer and sandwiches sailing’!), scuba diving to explore Goa’s many bays and lagoons and maybe even discover an ancient colonial-era wreck, angling for soormai, salmon and mullet off Agonda beach in Canacona, parasailing and good, old fashioned swimming in the mostly placid seas. October to May is the best time when the skies are clear and blue and seas peaceful.

Sea Turtle Watch at Morjim Beach:

The beaches of Goa are only one of two favored nesting grounds for the endangered and protected species, the Oliver Ridley Sea Turtles. They nest together in large numbers and strike a quaint sight as they haul themselves across the sand or swim more gracefully at sea. Morjim Beach has the highest number of nests with the Morjim Hermitage Holiday Home situated very close to the nests and offering a great vantage point from which to observe the turtles. Sporadic nesting also takes place at the more crowded beaches like Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Patnem and Palolem.