Hotels near Arambol Beach

Arambol sits at the far northern end of the Goa coast and holds onto a distinctly counter-cultural feel. The main beach is a wide sweep of soft sand, and a 15-minute walk north over a rocky path leads to Sweet Water Lake, a small freshwater lagoon sitting just behind the shoreline. Sea swimming is reasonable in the main bay, with a gentle gradient and lifeguard cover in season. The rocks on the northern path get slippery, and the current stiffens noticeably as you approach the headland, so keep to the bay.

Shacks here are simple, cheap and slow: pancakes, thalis around INR 200 (EUR 2.20), and beach beds usually thrown in with lunch. The crowd is long-stay - musicians, yoga and acro groups, Russian families, and travellers who booked a week and stayed three months. A drum circle forms on the sand most evenings before sunset and runs for hours. Arambol closes down more completely than anywhere else in north Goa once the monsoon starts in June.

Pro Tip: Rent a scooter instead of relying on taxis. Arambol village is strung out along 2 km of narrow lane, a taxi back to Panaji runs around INR 1,200 (EUR 13), and parking at the beach entrance costs about INR 30 (EUR 0.35).