On our most recent trip to Goa, finally we got to explore the northernmost beaches of Goa. Wherein we spent one day at Arambol beach in North Goa. And now I can definitely say, just like Palolem beach on the south end of Goa, Arambol Beach in North Goa is one of the most beautiful beaches. And from what I have understood on our several trips to Goa in the past.
While north-central Goa is the most buzzing, including Calangute, Bag, Candolim, Arpora and Anjuna – Vagator. When you move to extreme north or extreme south of Goa, the crowds disperse. And what you get is wide fine sand beaches, ideal for swimming and other water activities, relaxing small stays and more peaceful nights. Arambol beach is also one such beach in Goa.
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Drive to Arambol Beach in North Goa
Post breakfast, we drove from our airbnb in Calangute to Arambol Beach in North Goa. The drive via Anjuna – Vagator – Chapora bridge made me feel nostalgic. Bringing back memories from my previous trip to Goa.
If you want to get a glimpse of what all we did on that trip, here are some posts for you:
Exploring the Anjuna Beach Goa
Scaling the Dil Chahta Hai (Chapora Fort) location
A tranquil vacation at Agonda Beach South
Wednesday Flea Market at Anjuna Goa
Things to do in Goa beyond the beaches
The drive to Arambol beach is one of the most scenic. As you first cross the beautiful green fields through Anjuna and Vagator. And then start winding up the western ghats. From up the mountain, at times you will get excellent views of the beach below. So, do have a few pit stops on the way. It took us a little over an hour to reach Arambol Beach from Calangute.
Parking at Arambol Beach Goa
As you arrive at Arambol beach Goa, there is a huge parking space where you can conveniently park your vehicle.
The parking charges, as I remember, are INR 100 for an unlimited time.
We also parked our vehicle here and then walked to the beach, which would be some 300 meters from here. But you walk through the shade created by the shops, so, heat is not really a bother.
Shops at Arambol Beach Goa
From the Arambol Beach Parking to the Aram Beach, there are several tiny shops lining the pathway. And they sell stuff similar to most of the other shops in Goa. These items included some beach wear, “Goa” painted T-shirts, dresses, swimwear, local crafts, bead and oxidised silver jewellery, spices, slippers etc. The shops are colorful, a feast to the eyes. And the prices are reasonable.
Beach Shacks at Arambol Beach in North Goa
After crossing the shops, we arrived at the beach shacks at Arambol Beach in North Goa. Although it was 12:30 in the noon, still there was no lack of beachside shacks. And table-chairs with umbrella-shade on the top. And almost all of them were pretty much occupied. We were hungry, so we started looking for a restaurant. There are many lining the beach. And finally we settled in one which was relatively uncrowded.
The food menu was extensive. Goa has never disappointed us when it comes to food. And the prices here were particularly reasonable compared to the main areas of Calangute and Candolim.
Exploring Arambol Beach in North Goa
After finishing our food, we headed to the Arambol Beach. The Arambol Beach has a long stretch of fine sand, flanked by the western ghat mountains on both north and south end. You can take a long walk from one end to the other. And that is what we exactly did. The sand at Arambol Beach is the softest of all the beaches that I have experienced in Goa. And the gradient of the water is also very gentle. Thus making it a perfect beach to swim.
While we walked through the beach, with gentle waves caressing our feet now and then, I spotted happy faces all over. There are a lot of foreigners on this beach. While they basked in the sun, their kids played in the gentle waves. Some street hawkers were also there selling icecreams and “bhutta” – corn cobs roasted on fire. We also spotted some beach sports happening. If I were to list the things to do on Arambol beach in North Goa, this is how my list would go:
Things to do on Arambol Beach
- Take a long relaxing walk on the fine sand beach (Always on top of my list)
- Relax in one of the beach side restaurants, enjoying some delicious food or drink and watching the buzzing life on the beach go by
- Stay till late to watch a marvellous sunset
- Enjoy banana boat ride
- Try Para-selling
- Take a ride in the ocean on a speed boat
- Enjoy some of the typical Indian snack sold on the beach like the roasted corn cob
- Make a sand castle with your kids !!
- Trek over the Arambol mountain and then view the beautiful coastline from up there
- Shop for some local souvenirs
- Enjoy a candle light dinner by the beach as the night approaches
We stayed at Arambol Beach till 5:30pm. After which we started for our airbnb back in Calangute. I for sure loved this beach. It was not so crowded inspite of this being the peak season. And there was enough variety of food and activities to keep you pretty busy. Overall, it can make for a perfect budget friendly beach if you want to just relax for a few days in Goa. I definitely hope to stay here overnight on one of my future trips.
If you are obsessed with Goa like us, here are some of our other resources on Goa to help you plan your dream trips to Goa, hope you will enjoy browsing through them:
How we planned Our Goa workcation
A Complete guide to The best beaches of Goa
A heritage walk through Fountainhas in Old Goa
Our long stay at Biera Mar Beach Resort in Goa
Artjuna – a cafe, a discovery on our last trip to Goa
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