Varca Beach Holidays

South Goa’s best known for its long swathes of sand. It’s a little less developed than the north, so peaceful seaside spots aren’t hard to come by. Varca Beach definitely ticks that box – the strip of sand that gives this place its name is top-drawer. There’s lots of history, too. Goa was ruled by Portugal for hundreds of years, so there’s a really interesting mixture of east and west at play. Head over to Loutolim to see some impressive Portuguese-style architecture – it’s a 30-minute drive from Varca Beach.

The Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary might be off the beaten track, but it’s worth the hour’s drive. One of the sights is the 400-year-old artificial Bubbling Lake. There are lots of legends about why the lake’s always full of bubbles, but it’s actually because of the plants that live below its surface. Netravali’s a great place to go for a walk in the wild, too. You can hire a local guide to lead the way.

Seeing dolphins frolicking about in their natural habitat never fails to impress, and you’ve got plenty of places where you can see them in action. Lots of companies put on dolphin spotting boat tours from Varca Beach. Look out for the ones with a no dolphin, no pay policy – you’ll get your money back if you don’t see one. If you’re really lucky, you might even see some fins from your sunbathing spot on the beach.

Up-close encounters with Goa’s wildlife are on the cards at the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. This protected mangrove forest is set on the Island of Chorao – it takes around an hour by car to get to Ribandar village, where the free ferry sets off from. You’re likely to see an exotic mixture of rare birds, crabs and even crocodiles. Hire a local guide to take you to the best spots by boat.