'Fringed by lush palm groves and green hills, welcoming Arpora makes a quiet base close to the beach, bustle and nightlife of lively Baga.'
Edging the lively beachside town of Baga, the small village of Arpora is great for mixing up some peace and quiet with the buzz of the northern Goan coast.
Essentially a sprinkling of hotels, shops and private villas, the village threads itself along the Baga River and two serene lakes, casting an air of natural stillness about the place. Here, as you gaze out over coconut groves and emerald green hills, it's hard to believe that you're still on the same planet.
Yet step outside your hotel and the vibrant colours and bustle of Arpora will sweep you off your feet. After getting your bearings and trawling the local shops for hand-made mementoes, take a stroll to nearby Baja beach. You'll be met by an idyllic stretch of sand, sandwiched between palms and cobalt seas and offering everything from sunbeds to watersports and boat trips. Lollop in any direction and you'll soon find a palm-roofed beach shack ready with chilled beers and the best curries you've ever tasted. And if you're feeling truly Goan, book a soothing Indian head massage on the sands – believe us, it'll make you feel like emigrating here permanently.
By night, Arpora's excellent restaurants twinkle out their welcome, inviting you in for specialities like caldeirada - mouth-watering stew made with freshly caught prawns. If it's Saturday night, round off your evening at Baja's colourful evening market or jump feet first onto a local dancefloor.
And when Wednesday comes round, there's only day trip to take. The next resort north, Anjuna hosts a world-famous weekly flea market, where scores of clothes, jewellery and bric-a-brac stalls take over the sands.
When you're not sinking into the sands, sipping feni and watching another impossibly romantic sunset, indulge in a relaxing massage or join an energising yoga class. The more energetic will perhaps want to hire a bike to explore more secluded coastal spots or the tangle of quiet country lanes inland. Away from the beaches, Panaji, Goa's capital, awaits your exploration. The old quarters are particularly appealing with remnants of its Portuguese past seen in the narrow streets laced with shops, bars and pastel-washed houses. Nine kilometres east is beautiful Old Goa, now a World Heritage Site and definitely worth a trip if you can tear yourself away from the shimmering, sun-drenched shores.
Find the cheapest late deals to Arpora leaving in the next six weeks.
Arpora hotels and apartments
Our hotels and apartments in Arpora include Marinha Dourada and Sun Village.
More Goa holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Goa? Our Goa holiday destinations include Arossim Beach, Arpora, Baga, Benaulim, Betalbatim Beach, Calangute, Candolim, Cavelossim Beach, Divar Island, Dona Paula, Goa, Mobor Beach, Raj Bagh, Sernabatim, Sinquerim and Varca Beach.
Beaches
The toughest decision you're ever likely to face during your stay in Arpora, is which stretch of sand to pitch up on. A haven for hedonistic hippies in the 60s and 70s, nearby Calangute is undoubtedly the most famous with a carnival-like atmosphere lacing the air. Baga, on the north end of Calangute, is a better choice if you're looking for something a little more restful, with a carpet of clean brown sand caressed by crystal waters. A colourful crowd is drawn to Anjuna beach, best known for its Full Moon parties, while more peaceful Vagator is a sublime spread of soft white sands and swaying coconut palms sandwiched between topaz waters and emerald landscape.
Eating out
Arpora is home to a clutch of small restaurants dishing up traditional Goan fare, but you'll find literally hundreds of eateries crammed into Baga and Calangute. Of course, their proximity to the sea means seafood tops most menus, with the classic dish being fish curry and rice. A whole host of mouthwatering recipes revolve around pomfret, shark, tuna and mackerel, and there's no shortage of fresh shellfish, with liberal amounts of seasoning added to give it that extra kick. Sorpotel is a popular meat dish, with pork, liver, and kidneys, smothered in a thick, spicy sauce flavoured with chilli, garlic and ginger. Another recipe worth sinking your teeth into is amotik, a slightly sour curry dish prepared with meat or fish. Goa's most famous drink is feni, made from either palm sap or the fruit of the cashew tree. Be warned, it's powerful stuff!
Nightlife
Close enough to the action without wearing you out, Arpora is ideally based for exploring North Goa's vibrant nightlife. Most people start their evening with a chilled drink in hand, watching the sun dissolve into the sea from the comfort of a beach shack. Against the breathtaking backdrop of a sky streaked with colour, hundreds of bars and clubs light up throughout Baga and Calangute. One of the most popular nightspots is Tito's, a disco-cum-bar in Baga which is great for drinking, dancing and people-watching. In nearby Anjuna the Shore Bar is a great place to catch those captivating sunsets, and time your trip to tie in with the full moon and you'll find yourself in the midst of a colourful all-night beach party.
Shopping
Twice a week, when the sun sinks into the horizon, the quiet streets of Arpora leap into life with a vibrant night market where you can haggle for souvenirs whilst listening to live music. Meanwhile, every Wednesday hordes of holidaymakers call time out on tanning and head for the former hippy hangout of Anjuna and its world famous flea market. Once a place where free-spirited backpackers and peace-loving hippies sold off their unwanted possessions before returning home, these days you'll find everything from Tibetan curios and African carvings, to traditional Rajasthani clothing and brightly-coloured sarongs. Along the most popular beaches you'll find a procession of stalls tempting you with souvenirs ranging from the traditional to the tacky, while hawkers parade the sands selling sarongs, providing massages and offering to read your fortune.
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