Agonda Experience: Agonda Beach, South Goa is (yet) one of coastal India best-kept secrets...as a base to explore South Goan beaches, Agonda remains my personal favorite. From Agonda, you can do a number of beaches depending on what you're looking for: Palolem if you wanna party (check out the headphone parties) Patnem if you prefer a bit of a classier crowd. Cola beach: right next door to Agnda is zero-network zone with a beautiful fresh-water lagoon. Galgibag: a good 30kms from Agonda, one of the most desolate beaches in the South, Galgibag is a protected beach for the Olive Ridley Turtle.

Food, sight-seeing and shopping: Food in South Goa is to die for. On Agonda beach, you must visit Fatima for their (primarily vegetarian) Thali with their Surmai (Kingfish) fry. Then there's Bandekar ... a very very local restaurant where Mrs.Bandekar will serve you the best Richard Masala fish. Soak that up with some gin-tonic and you're hitting the goan chill vibe real fast! NOT to be missed is Simrose's Grilled Kingfish. A simple dish cooked in olive oil lime and garlic, you'll be fighting yourself not to have another. For breakfast, check out 'On the Way' owned by a Nepali man who comes to Goa every year to set up a food business just for the season (Oct-Mar).

Activities & things to do: Swim, Swim, Swim. When in south goa, expect the waters to be clean and mostly clear. Every beach is worth shedding for and taking a dip. Just watch out for the rocks on some beaches and consult locals about restrictions on other turtle-protection beaches. Don't expect water-sports in South Goa. For the adventurous, there are waterfall visits or the fort visit to Cabo-de-Rama.

Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc: South Goa is relatively safe. The crowd is mostly what they call the shanti-shanti kind and don't be surprised if you're asked to keep it down. Agonda is lights out relatively early (compared to Palolem or North Goa). To get to Agonda, simply get to either Dabolim airport or Margao station first. Next, you could either cheap it down in a bus to Agonda or show up in Canacona and then find your way to Agonda in a rickshaw or just hitch-hike.