Cavelossim Holidays

Cavelossim's a relaxed seaside village in southern Goa. It comes with a few shack restaurants along the water, while the main road is dotted with market stalls and is home to the charming cream-and-yellow Church of the Holy Cross. The place is cushioned by a long white-sand beach, with the sweeping Sal River running past it to the sea. Although the pace of life is unhurried, it’s just half-an-hour’s drive from historic Margao.

The beach in Cavelossim is 200 metres from the village. It’s a long, wide stretch of nothing but sand and water – with a few shack bars added along behind. Varca's 20 minutes drive away, where wooden fishing boats dot the coast and mango trees line the sand. There’s also Benaulim Beach, which has a watersports centre offering scuba diving courses for beginners. It's 25 minutes by car.

Just 30 minutes' drive away is the town of Margao, which comes with a mish-mash of Portuguese and Indian architecture. Right in the centre is the whitewashed 17th-century Holy Spirit Church, while next door is the old colonial mansion Seven Gables House, a bright red building with a row of wooden balconies. A stylish colonnade runs beneath the red-brick city hall, while banana and mango trees line the paths in the nearby municipal garden.