Patnem Beach itinerary

Plan 01

1 day at Patnem

1. 01

   Day 1: Sunrise walk, garden lunch, sunset pizza

   Be on the sand early, when it is cool and the boats are in. Walk north past the rocky point towards Colomb and stop for chai or breakfast in the village. Swim only if the flags and surf allow, then retreat to a shaded lunch at a garden café such as Jaali. Rest through the heat, browse the road stalls in the late afternoon and finish with a pizza or a seafood dinner at a shack, booking ahead in December and January.

Plan 02

2 days at Patnem

1. 01

   Day 1: Beach and village

   Spend the morning on the sand and the afternoon in the shade. Have a fish thali at a village eatery for lunch, then walk the road stalls and end the day with sunset at the north end of the beach.

2. 02

   Day 2: Palolem and a temple

   Walk or ride to Palolem for a morning among its shacks and the backwater, then hire a car in the afternoon for Mallikarjuna Temple at Sristhal. Return to Patnem for a quiet dinner in a village restaurant.

Plan 03

3 days at Patnem

1. 01

   Day 1: Settle in

   Arrive, pick your stretch of beach and keep it light. Swim if conditions allow, rest in the afternoon and have dinner near your stay.

2. 02

   Day 2: Colomb, Palolem and Rajbag

   Take the early walk to Palolem via Colomb, have breakfast on the way and return by rickshaw in the heat. In the late afternoon, walk south to Rajbag for sunset.

3. 03

   Day 3: Forest or fort

   Hire a car for Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, about 10 to 12 km away, or for Cabo de Rama fort, about 25 km away. Return for a long lunch and an easy evening.

Pacing

Pacing a Patnem Beach trip for parents and children

• Choose a stay within a short, flat walk of the sand with a fan or air-conditioning, and ask about steps. Several guesthouses sit on rocks or headlands.
• Swim in the morning or late afternoon, and only when the flags and surf allow. Sea swimming is prohibited in the monsoon, and red flags mean stay out.
• Plan activity for the first and last hours of the day, and rest through the afternoon. The sand and temple floors are hot at midday.
• The road between Patnem, Colomb and Palolem has no pavement in places and is poorly lit. Use a rickshaw after dark and agree the fare first.
• Use a car or taxi for temples, sanctuaries and Chaudi. Parking near the beach is hard for cars, so ask your stay to arrange transfers.
• Confirm that your preferred shack, café or stay is open, especially in October and in April and May, when many places run limited hours.

Patnem Beach with elderly parents: the full guide →