Plan 01
1 day at Colva
- 01
Day 1: Sand, church and a seafood dinner
Walk the beach early while the sand is cool and the lifeguards are posted, then have breakfast at a café near the village. Visit the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in the village square before midday, dressing modestly. After lunch and a rest, return for a late-afternoon beach walk and sunset, and settle on a beach shack or a restaurant on Colva Beach Road for dinner. Check any shack is open before walking out.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Church of Our Lady of Mercy 30 to 45 minutes Easy Morning, outside Mass; Fama in October Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
Plan 02
2 days at Colva
- 01
Day 1: Beach and village
Start with a morning on the sand and breakfast at Mon Petit Frère near the church, then walk to Our Lady of Mercy. Rest through the heat. In the evening, take the beach road for a seafood dinner and, if you like, a drink at Boomerang.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Mon Petit Frère 45 minutes to 1.5 hours Easy Breakfast or brunch, any dry-season morning Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
- 02
Day 2: Margao and Benaulim
Take a taxi to Margao for the municipal market and the Holy Spirit church square, then continue to Goa Chitra Museum in Benaulim for the farming and carts collection. Have lunch near Benaulim, rest, and finish with a quiet beach walk at Colva or Benaulim.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Goa Chitra Museum 1.5 to 2 hours Moderate Morning or early afternoon; good for hot or wet days Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Goa Chitra Museum: Parts of the museum are indoors and shaded, but the grounds involve walking on uneven paths. Expect some standing and walking, and ask about guided access and seating.
Plan 03
3 days at Colva
- 01
Day 1: Arrive and settle in
Check in, walk the beach in the late afternoon and have an early dinner near your hotel. Keep the first evening light so travel fatigue settles.
- 02
Day 2: Village, market and museum
Spend the morning at Our Lady of Mercy and the village, then drive to Margao for the municipal market. After lunch, visit Goa Chitra Museum in Benaulim, returning for sunset on the sand.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Goa Chitra Museum 1.5 to 2 hours Moderate Morning or early afternoon; good for hot or wet days Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Goa Chitra Museum: Parts of the museum are indoors and shaded, but the grounds involve walking on uneven paths. Expect some standing and walking, and ask about guided access and seating.
- 03
Day 3: A longer outing or a slow beach day
Either hire a car for a day trip to Old Goa or Chandor, or stay put with a long morning on the beach, an unhurried lunch at Martin's Corner in Betalbatim and a final evening walk. Water sports are only available in the dry season.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Martin's Corner 1.5 to 2 hours Easy Lunch or an early dinner, November to March Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
Read before you go
Guides for the stops on these routes
Pacing
Pacing a Colva Beach trip for parents and children
- Walk on the firm wet sand near the waterline rather than the soft dry sand, and carry a small folding stool or ask your hotel for sun-lounger access.
- Plan beach time before about 10 am and after about 4 pm; the middle of the day is hot and humid even in winter.
- Choose a hotel within a short, level walk of the beach and ask whether it has lifts or ground-floor rooms.
- Never swim beyond the lifeguard-marked area, obey red flags, and do not enter the water in the monsoon.
- Use hired taxis or autos for Margao and Benaulim and agree the fare before you start; a car with a driver is easiest for day trips.
- Check a beach shack is open and has seating with a back rest before you walk down; many are plastic chairs on sand.
Book the pieces
Stay close to the route
Pick a base near the first day's sights. Our guide to where to stay in Colva Beach compares the areas.
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