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Colva

Area Code: 0832

This is one of the more popular beaches in South Goa and there are good facilities here. The beach immediately next to the town is not so nice. In the afternoon, out of state tourists walk around the beach checking out the crowd, and vendors are anxious to sell postcards and other trinkets. On the outskirts of town, the beach is much more peaceful. Colva can be a pleasant place to stay for awhile. The people who come here are older families, Indians, and some young people. This is a popular package tour destination.

If you are looking for seclusion, you may want to head further south to Palolem, and if you want a techno party place, you may want to go to Anjuna or Vagator.

Practical Information
Money can be changed at the Bank of Baroda (Mon to Sat 9:30 am to 12:30 pm). They give cash advances on a Visa card. Several of the larger hotels also change money at a slightly lower rate. Sanatan Air Travel Agency (225-876; fax same), 250m east of Colva Church, changes money at a rate slightly lower than the bank rate. Open Mon to Sat 9:30 am to 7 pm. They also book and reconfirm flights, and sell deluxe bus, catamaran, and train tickets. The travel agency in William’s Resort changes money.

There is a place to rent motorcycles in front of Vincy’s Hotel, xe "Chandor" or ask around the taxi stand. You can get fuel from a house behind Menino Jesus College just east of William’s Resort.

Damodar Book Store, beachfront, has a good selection of second-hand books. They also exchange books. The sub-post office, opposite the church in the village, has a good poste restante service. Postal Code: 403708.

You can send and receive faxes from the phone booth outside the Tourist Complex.

Tours
Private buses depart from Colva at 9 am on Wednesday morning to go to the Anjuna Flea Market (Rs 100). Public transportation is less convenient as you must change buses three times. Several places along the beach sell tickets, as does La Village Guest House, which also arranges a weekly trip to Palolem (Rs 100, including lunch).
Johncey’s operates a boat trip to Palolem for Rs 300, meals included.

Goa Tourism (GTDC) operates some tours out of Colva. The Traditional Tour goes to Old Goa, a few Hindu temples near Ponda, and some other places. You can book tickets in advance at the GTDC Tourist Cottages on the beachfront.

Where to Stay—Lower
There are no shortage of places to stay ranging from budget to luxury. Most of the higher-class hotels are located on, or near, the main beach road.
Garden Cottage, Ward 4, about 1km back from the beach, is a well-maintained budget guest house with a garden in a quiet area. It is popular and a good value. Rooms go for Rs 250. During the high season, it should be booked in advance.
Nearby, the long-established Hotel Tourist Nest, in a 200-year-old Portuguese house, has good rooms with common bath for Rs 150 and Rs 200 for a room with bath.
Rodrickson Cottages, set back from the beach, has basic rooms for Rs 125/165. The toilet is inside the room behind a partition.
The popular Vailankanni Cottages (737-747), centrally located on the main street, has rooms with a bath starting at Rs 150/200. It is a friendly place and serves good meals. This is a good budget place to head to first and is recommended.
The popular Maria Guest House, Ward 4 near the beach, has seven rooms, some with common bath for Rs 150 and rooms with bath for Rs 200. Recommended. The owner is helpful.
Ronnie’s Cottages (721-926) has rooms for Rs 150. It is a good value.
Ma Mickey Guest House, 24/1 Novo Vaddo, Salcete, has clean rooms with common bath for Rs 200 to Rs 350. It has a TV lounge and a garden.
Vincy Beach Resort (222-276) has double rooms with a bath and hot water for Rs 500. It has a good restaurant.
Blue Diamond Cottages (737-909) is a good place with clean rooms for Rs 300.
Jymi’s Cottages, (721-688), near the beach, 100m south of the main road, is a decent place with rooms for Rs 300.
Sam’s Beach Resort (735-304), has large rooms for Rs 250 built around a central garden. It is a good value.
Sukhsagar Beach Resort (721-888), nearby, has fairly good rooms with hot water for Rs 385 and Rs 500 for an A/C room.
Sea Pearl (730-070), 4th Ward, has clean, double rooms with bath for Rs 450. The popular restaurant serves Western food. It is a friendly place.
Skylark Cottages (739-261) has clean rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 375.
La Ben Resort (220-009), about 200m from the sea on the main road to Margao, has clean, comfortable rooms with bath for Rs 450 and with A/C for Rs 600. There is a 50% discount during the off-season.
The pleasant GDTC Tourist Complex (722-287), right next to the beach, has rooms with private balconies facing the sea and cottages. It has a garden and restaurant. Rooms with bath are Rs 400 and with A/C are Rs 600. Dorm beds go for Rs 75. It is a friendly place. Recommended.
C Roque Resort (738-199), on the beach between Colva and Benaulim, has clean rooms with bath for Rs 350. It has to be reached from the beach.
Hotel Colmar (721-253), next to the beach, has good rooms with attached bath for Rs 400/500 (Rs 300 during the off-season), and cottages in a small garden for Rs 850 to Rs 1500. After the high season, there are good discounts. It has exchange facilities and a good restaurant. Recommended.

Where to Stay—Middle to High
Concha Resort (723-593), set well back from the beach near the church, has good rooms for Rs 950. It also has a decent Chinese restaurant.
Longhuinos Beach Resort (731-645), near the beach, has rooms with balconies and attached baths with hot water for Rs 1400. It is in a great location, with a small garden and direct access to the beach.
The friendly Colva Beach Resort (721-975) has clean rooms for Rs 800 and rooms with A/C and a balcony for Rs 1000. It has a good restaurant. Discounts during the off-season.
Silver Sands Hotel (721-645) in the center of Colva, has a pool, health club, indoor games, water sports facilities, a travel counter, and exchange facilities. It also has a good restaurant. Rooms are Rs 1000 (Rs 1200 during Christmas).
The well-managed Penthouse Beach Resort (731-030; fax 733-737) in the center of Colva has a group of pleasant cottages surrounding a pool. It has a garden with palm trees. Rooms go for Rs 1200 (Rs 1400 during Christmas). It has exchange facilities and entertainment during the season. Recommended. Good atmosphere.
William’s Resort (721-077; fax 732-852) is a very good place with clean rooms for Rs 900 and A/C rooms for Rs 1200. It has a nice pool and sport facilities. The rooms are not great, but the place is well-designed and has a good atmosphere. It is a big place, aimed at tour groups. Recommended.

Where to Eat
The most popular places to eat are the string of restaurants lining the beach near the main road. Almost all of them have sound systems and serve Western breakfasts. Many people eat in their hotels. In the parking lot next to the beach are street carts selling belpuri (Rs 8 per plate) and other snacks. They can be good places to eat cheaply. There are several other inexpensive places near the roundabout, close to the beach.
Away from the beach are some popular places.
Pasta Hut, at the Hotel Colmar, 500m south of the roundabout near the beach, serves pasta with a selection of sauces.
Sea Pearl is clean and serves Western food.
Silver Star Restaurant, in the Tourist Complex, serves Indian food.
Man Mar Inn is inexpensive.
Convite Restaurant, at the Concha Resort, serves good Chinese food but is a bit expensive.
The Rice Bowl also serves good Chinese food, but at a lower price.
Viney Beach Resort is popular and the food is good. It was at one time the only restaurant in town.
Zappia’s, on the beach, has both good food and good service.
Longuinhos is a decent restaurant.
William’s Resort serves Continental food.
Often the food is best in the high-class hotels. They often have all-you-can-eat buffets for a set price. Penthouse Beach Resort and the Silver Sands Hotel are high-class hotels with live bands playing most nights.

Entertainment
There are no all-night techno parties here as there are in North Goa. The social scene takes place at the restaurants along the beach and the restaurant-bars about 500m south on the beach. These places play old rock, current hits, and dance music. They do not usually cater to the techno crowd.

Castaways, south of the beachfront, is a popular nightspot, especially after 10 pm. Pitstop stays open late. Splash, on the beach, 500m south of the main road to the beach, is a popular place with a dance floor. Next door, Ziggy’s is also popular. On a normal January night, expect about thirty to forty people at a time in any of these places.

Travel
Buses go to Margao (20 min) every hour from 8 am to 8 pm. Buses depart from Margao (40 min) from outside the Kamat Hotel on Praca Jorge Barreto, to come to here. These buses can get really crowded and uncomfortable. A motorcycle taxi from Margao costs around Rs 30, an auto-rickshaw Rs 40, or a taxi Rs 75. There are also shared taxis. Taxis to Colva from Dabolim Airport cost Rs 300 and from Panaji they cost Rs 350. It takes about 45 minutes to get to Dabolim Airport.
Buses go regularly to Benaulim (2km). You can also get around by motorcycle taxis and auto-rickshaws. Motorcycles and scooters can be rented.

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