RIVER CRUISES
THE MANDOVI RIVER CRUISE:
A popular alternative to watching the sunset from a beach bar - at least for most Indian
tourists - is an evening River Cruise along the Mandovi from Panjim. GTDC runs two return
trips every day from Santa Monica jetty the first at 6.00 pm, and the second at 7.15 pm.
Snacks and drinks are available, and the price includes a display of Konkani and
Portuguese dance accompanied by folk singers in traditional Goan costume, and sometimes a
live Hindi cover band.
FULL MOON CRUISES:
Two hour "Full moon" cruises leave daily at 8.30 pm, regardless of the lunar
phase.
EMERALD WATER CRUISES:
Operating in direct competition to GTDC are Emerald Waters Cruises from the quay outside
the Hotel Mandovi. They also offer longer sightseeing trips during the day.
Bookings: For the GTDC Cruise can be made through their travel agents.
Emerald waters' ticket counter is opposite the hotel mandovi.
CONDUCTED TOURS
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) offers several daily tours aroundGoa starting
from Panjim, Margao, Mapusa, Calangute, and Vasco. Ordinary and A/C coaches are also
available.
North Goa: Includes Mapusa town, Sri Saptakoteshwar Temple at Narva,
Mayem Lake, Beaches at Vagator, Anjuna and Calangute, Fort Aguada and the handicrafts
Emporium at Panjim. The tour can also be combined with a river cruise.
South Goa: Includes Old Goa Churches - Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se
Cathedral, Sri Mangueshi and Shantadurga temples, ancestral Goa at Loutolim, Colva Beach,
Margao, Bogmala Beach, Dona Paula Bay and Miramar.
Tours to Dudhsagar Falls and Tiracol Fort are operated by GTDC subject to a minimum of 20
persons.
Package Tours: These tours are available from Mumbai and Pune to Goa
including travel, stay and visits around Goa.
CROCODILE AND DOLPHIN SPOTTING TOURS
A number of tour agents along the Baga, Candolim and Calangute beach strip nowadays offer
backwater Crocodile or Dolphin spotting down the Mandovi River to the Zuari River whose
banks are thickly forested with mangrove trees. Crocodiles inhabit the swamps in this
area. In the open sea at the mouth of the Mandovi River, one can also spot some Dolphins.
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