One day from Colva covers Holy Spirit Church in Margao at about 09:40, Braganza House in Chandor, Cabo de Rama Fort with lunch nearby, the Goa Chitra museum and Benaulim Beach from about 16:15. It is about 81 km by cab, back by about 17:20, in time to walk to Colva Beach for the sunset. It works on any day of the week.
Holy Spirit Church in Margao at about 09:40, before it closes at 11:00, then Braganza House in Chandor at about 10:30 and Cabo de Rama Fort at about 12:10, with lunch near the fort at about 13:10. In the afternoon, the Goa Chitra museum in Benaulim at about 14:50, then Benaulim Beach from about 16:15. About 81 km by cab, back in Colva by about 17:20. Colva Beach is about 1 km on foot from there for the sunset: about 18:00 in winter and 19:00 in summer. Works on any day.
Margao's big white church, built in the 1670s, with a carved gold altar and a square in front lined with old houses. It is the heart of the old part of Margao.
Tip: Go in the morning: the doors usually close by late morning and open again in the evening. Dress modestly and stay quiet during Mass. The busy Margao market is a few minutes away.
Goa's grandest old family home, in the village of Chandor: a 17th century mansion that runs the length of the square, split into two wings for two branches of the family. Inside are a long ballroom, Chinese porcelain, carved furniture and a small chapel.
Tip: Each wing is a separate visit with its own family guide and its own donation. If you only see one, most people pick the east wing for its chapel. No set tour times: just knock.
An old fort on a headland high above the sea, rebuilt by the Portuguese, with crumbling walls, rusty cannons and a small white chapel of St Anthony still in use. The walk round the walls looks down on the sea and the empty beach below.
Tip: Wear shoes and carry water; the walk to the cliff edge is rough and has no railings. Cabo de Rama beach below is a steep walk down.
A museum of everyday village life in Benaulim: thousands of old farm tools, kitchen pots, carts and boats collected from Goan homes, with a small farm and a museum of old Christian art beside it.
Tip: Visits are guided, so allow an hour. It is 3 km from Benaulim beach, so it fits well before an evening by the sea.
The same long beach as Colva, 2 km south, but quieter. Fishing boats sit on the sand, and the village behind it has old Goan houses and small family-run places to eat.
Tip: A good place to end the day: walk the sand at sunset and eat fish at one of the beach shacks. Shacks are open from about October to May.
Drive times come from road routing without traffic. Margao town and the highway south to Canacona are slow at busy times, most of all from December to early January, so real drives take longer than shown. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.
Call or message a local South Goa operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.
We are still listing South Goa operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.
The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.
| Place | Open | Best time | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Spirit Church, Margao | Open to visitors about 09:00 to 11:00 and 17:00 to 19:00 (listings differ on the midday closing). Free | Morning, before 11:00. | 30 min |
| Braganza House, Chandor | About 10:00 to 17:00, every day, shown round by the family. A donation per wing (about ₹150 to ₹200); one listing says closed Sundays | Late morning. | 1 h |
| Cabo de Rama Fort | 09:00 to 17:30, every day. Free | Morning or late afternoon; there is little shade in the middle of the day. | 1 h |
| Goa Chitra Museum | 09:00 to 18:00, every day (one listing says closed Mondays). Ticket about ₹300 | Afternoon, before the beach. | 1 h 15 min |
| Benaulim Beach | Open beach, best in daylight. Shacks and sunbeds from about October to May? | Late afternoon, for the sunset. | 1 h |
Margao, Loutolim, Chandor and Benaulim · Cabo de Rama, Agonda and Palolem
See the 2-day plan →Margao, Loutolim, Chandor and Benaulim · Cabo de Rama, Agonda and Palolem · Ponda temples and a spice farm
See the 3-day plan →Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.
See all places →Yes, if you swap Margao and Goa Chitra for Agonda and Palolem after Cabo de Rama. That day is about 110 km and you get back after dark, so most people give Palolem its own day.
Holy Spirit Church usually closes to visitors by 11:00 and opens again only in the evening, so the plan starts there at about 09:40.
Near Cabo de Rama Fort, at about 13:10. There are only a few places to eat out there, so ask your driver for one on the way.
