Mandrem Beach

Your search for a serene and peaceful beach with soft sand that is fringed by coconut palms can end at Mandrem in North Goa. It is one of the northernmost beaches in Goa. Maharashtra is only 5.95 kilometers away. What immediately sets Mandrem apart from the other Goa beaches is that, you will find very few beach shacks and no water sports here. What you will get instead are many swaying palm trees casuarinas, and the Jamboree Creek running parallel to the beach.

Mandrem is a small fishing village 28.5 kilometers from Panaji. You will see many fishing boats on the beach. The rustic charm of these wooden boats painted in vivid colors, the bamboo bridge over the creek, and the tall trees make this beach a delight for nature lovers and photographers. You will see many white-bellied fish eagles swooping down to grab fish when the fishermen bring in their fresh catch.

Mandrem Map

A narrow rocky cliff that reaches out into the sea separates Mandrem beach from Ashwem in the south. The popular Arambol beach is further north. But Mandrem can be almost completely empty even in busy December. It is a sandy beach with many dunes and a few shrubs. The northern part of Mandrem is often called Russian Beach, as this is popular with many backpackers and expats from Russia who like to stay for many months. This is where most of the hotels, villas for rent, shops, cafes, restaurants, and beach shacks are located.

Mandrem Gallery

Luxury villa with direct access to the beach. 5* star service. Prime location of North Goa.
Villa for rent from 19 000 Rs. per night

Quick Facts About Mandrem

Best Time to Visit Mandrem Beach

November to February is the peak tourist season in Goa, and this is also the best time to visit the Mandrem beach. The weather is pleasant. You will get long and sunny days, but the sun doesn’t beat down harshly. There is very little rain. The humidity is also low, which makes it very pleasing. Cool breeze comes in from the sea in the evening. The beach shacks are also open. Restaurants and cafes are working at full capacity this time of the year.

Weather

The summer season between March and May is hot and humid. It will rain heavily in the monsoon, with chance of thundershowers often. Besides, the sea will also turn choppy, so it is best to avoid swimming if it rains. The rain begins to come down from September, and by November, there is very little rain.

The winter season is the best time of the year at Mandrem like elsewhere in Goa. This is also the peak tourist season, but there are never too many tourists here. So it is always very nice, perfect for a relaxing holiday. The temperature varies between 31°C and 34°C in the winter. Rainfall is between 16 mm and 31 mm. The months of January and February sees almost no rain. You will get between 9 hours and 11 hours of sunshine every day in the winter. Remember, no beach shacks are open here in the monsoon months, as they are all temporary structures.

How To Reach Mandrem

• By Air — The Dabolim airport is 53 kilometers from Mandrem beach. There are many airlines that operate flights here like Air India, Indigo, Etihad, Air Arabia, Air Asia, Qatar Airways, and Jet Airways. The new Mopa airport is 26.7 kilometers away.
• By Rail — The closest railway station is Pernem, which is at a distance of 15.2 kilometers. The Thivim rail station is 20.6 kilometers away.
• By Road — Mandrem beach is 28.5 kilometers from Panaji, the state capital of Goa.

You can reach Mandrem easily. Take the Mapusa Main Road and go north. After crossing the St. Xaviers College you will reach a crossing. Take the left and keep driving on this road. Turn right after St. Anthony’s Church and follow this road. Take the left turn after the Agarwada Chopdem Village Panchayat. Follow this road and you will reach the beach soon.

The Beach

Mandrem Beach

In Goa, you will find all types of beaches. There are busy ones like Baga, Candolim, and Calangute. Beaches where you will find a fort like Vagator, with a famous flea market like Anjuna, and party beaches as well like Palolem and Arambol. Mandrem is different from them all.

It is laid back, quiet, and almost completely deserted even during the peak tourist season between November and January. Most of the tourists you will find here are from the European countries like Russia, Israel, and the UK. Many of them stay here for long periods to enjoy the privacy, serenity, beautiful nature, and for Goa’s glorious sun. The locals and Indian tourists would mostly come in the late afternoon to see the sunset and go away after dark.

Mandrem is a small 790 meters wide beach. It is sandy and is completely tree lined. Tall casuarinas and palm trees sway to the sea breeze. Lay down under the shade when the sun gets high. At other times, you can head to a beach shack and grab a sun bed and its umbrella. Order the food, snacks, cocktails, drinks, and the beer you like. They serve Goan and Konkani food, French, Italian, and global cuisine.

You will find very few beach shacks at Mandrem because it is a nesting site for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. Just bring your own beach towel or mat. However, you will still find a few shacks, which are located away from the nesting sites. They are mostly in the northern part of the beach. There are no large hotels or resorts here. Accommodation here includes beach cottages and villas for rent that are mostly beside the small river. Tucked away, you will also find yoga retreats, small shops, restaurants, and cafes.

The soft sand of Mandrem beach slopes down to the sea bed smoothly. There are no large waves or rocks on the sea bed, which means, you can swim safely here. You won’t find any water sports activities as well. This ensures that there won’t be any loud noise or the smell of diesel. However, there is a surfing school at nearby Ashwem.

Noisy kids won’t run around this beach. The Beach Street too has fewer cars and bikes. There are hardly any street side vendors pestering you to try their products. Clearly, Mandrem is not for everyone. Go to another beach if you are looking for a busy vacation, water sports, fancy meals, or nightclubs. Mandrem is a great choice for a relaxing and laid-back vacation where you will have complete peace and privacy.

Wildlife At Mandrem

There is nature all around here. Large casurina and palm trees along the coast make the beach look different than the beaches, which have all sorts of constructions nearby, water sports action, and busy tourist activities. Explore the fringe areas of the beach and you will be able to spot wildlife. There are many white-bellied fish eagles that live in the casurina trees, kingfishers, herons, and plenty of crabs because of the few tourists at Mandrem. Often, they will outnumber the tourists and sunbathers.

You can also see the endangered Olive Ridley marine turtles nesting on the beach sometimes, when Morjim beach next to the Chapora River is overcrowded. But do not try to go very near them or disturb them. These turtles are protected.

The Beach Shacks At Mandrem

There are only a few shacks on the beach. But there are still sun beds on the beach with umbrellas where you can sit to relax and enjoy the nature. Most of the shacks are located on the riverfront. The distance is very little, though. In fact, if you stand beside the river, you can see the sea sand and sea on the other side. Occasionally there is live music at the beach shacks. Check if there is some performance.

The food available in the shacks is average. ‘End of the World Café’ is a good place to eat in Mandrem. Try their fish preparations. You can also go to ‘Oasis’ for their prawns, tandori chicken, and breads. You may also go to the riverfront restaurant of ‘Molly’s Nest’. It sits right next to a bridge. The beach is a 2 minute walk from here.

Other places to eat and drink at Mandrem include,

• Mango Tree Beer Garden
• Cafe Nu
• Olive House
• La Plage
• Sea Paradise
• Dunes Huts
• The Lazy Dog
• Bed Rock
• The Sunset

Yoga And Meditation At Mandrem

The Mandrem beach remains isolated throughout the year, and it is thus a great choice if you want to meditate and introspect.

• The Ashta Yoga Valley offers yoga courses, therapies, and yoga teachers training programs. They offer two international certified courses of 200 hours and a more extensive 500 hours course. The director Amit Namdev has more than 11 years of experience in natural and holistic healing.
• You can also take Reiki courses while you are at Mandrem.

Top 9 Things To See And Do At The Mandrem Beach

1. Relax by the Beach – Mandrem is one of the most non-happening places in north Goa, away from the busy party destinations. It is a quiet and serene beach with very few tourists. Just sit back and relax on the beach or beside the river, which flows quietly and meets the Arabian Sea here.

2. Watch Wildlife – There is a lot of nature all around. Palm and casurina trees line the coast. A small hill separates Mandrem from the Arambol beach in the north. You will see white-bellied fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, crabs, and the occasional Olive Ridley turtles.

3. Swimming – The Mandrem beach is safe for swimming. The sea water is clean, thanks to the few visiting tourists. There are guards on the beach.

4. Walking, Biking, Jogging – This is a 9.44 kilometer long stretch of sand that extends from Arambol in the north to the Chapora River in the south. The entire stretch sees fewer tourists compared to the Baga-Calangute-Candolim stretch. Walk to explore the region or bike on the beach. But remember, you will have to cross a few rivers and some small hills. You can also play beach soccer or beach volleyball.

5. Yoga And Meditation Classes – Join a yoga, meditation or reiki class. There are teacher training courses available as well. You can also do yoga on the soft sands of the beach. You can also get an ayurvedic massage.

6. The Fishing Boats – Many of the locals are into fishing. See the fishing boats on the beach, the nets drying, and the locals hauling in their fresh catch. The locals will sometimes take tourists to see dolphins on their boats.

7. Feni – You will find feni, the popular local alcoholic drink of Goa here.

8. Markets – Hire a scooter to visit the market areas of Madlamaz-Mandrem. You can also walk to the market if you like. It is quite near. Different types of drinks and food items are sold here, including feni.

9. Watch the sunset – Mandrem beach is a great place to see the sunset over the Arabian Sea. Watch as the sky turns crimson over the sea and the trees.

Hotels and Villas for Rent in Mandrem

You cannot compare the tourist infrastructure of Mandrem with many other places in north Goa. There are no shopping malls, department stores, luxury resorts, or star-category hotels. The most expensive places to stay are Yab Yum Resort, Amarya Shamiyana, Riva Beach Resort and the Mandrem Beach Resort Hotel. However, you will find many small shops, pharmacies, and a few ATMs, car and bike rentals. You can also buy fruits, vegetables, and currency exchange centers. The market area of Madlamaz-Mandrem has many shops selling food and drinks.

Most people who choose to stay here are budget and middle-income tourists. The best place to stay here are the villas for rent in Mandrem.

Private villa in a quiet area of ​​Mandrem, just 600 meters from the beach. Suitable for 2 people. Starts from 5 000 Rs. per night

Private villa in a quiet area just 800 meters from the beach. Suitable for 4-12 people. Swimming Pool. Starts from 12 000 Rs. per night

A clean and neat guesthouse with 8 rooms is located 200m from Mandrem Beach, North Goa. Starts from 4 000 Rs. per night

* The price depends on the location, the season, and the duration of your stay.

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