Day trips from Talpona: forts, forests and quiet beaches

Many of our guests come for the beach and never leave it, which is perfectly reasonable. But Canacona has a lot to see within an hour’s drive, and a day or two of exploring makes a longer stay richer. These are the trips our front desk arranges most often.

Cabo de Rama is an old fort on a headland about 35 minutes north. The walls are partly ruined, but the views over the sea are wide, and there is a small chapel inside the gates. Go in the late afternoon and stay for sunset, then come back for dinner. Wear good shoes; the paths are uneven.

The Cotigao wildlife sanctuary is about 30 minutes inland. It is a forest of tall trees, with a treetop watchtower and walking trails where you may see birds, langurs and, with luck, a giant squirrel. Go early, by 7.30 am, when the forest is cool and the animals are active. Carry water and keep voices low.

Galgibaga beach, 20 minutes south, is one of the quietest beaches in Goa, lined with casuarina trees and protected as a turtle nesting site. There are no shacks on most of it, so bring a picnic, and leave nothing behind. Palolem, 15 minutes north, is the opposite: a curved bay with cafés, kayak hire and evening crowds. It is a good place for a change of pace, or for a dinner out. We arrange taxis for each of these trips at fixed rates, from ₹1,200 for Palolem to ₹2,200 for a half day at Cabo de Rama. Scooters can also be hired in Canacona.