Dona Paula Things To Do

Dona Paula has a lovely sandy stretch of beach, ideally located in a secluded bay, backed by shady coconut trees and boasting fantastic views out across Old Goa. Thanks to the convenient facilities in the resort, beach holidays in Dona Paula can be as busy or as relaxed as holiday-makers choose.

 

The resort is well-known in the area for its water sports facilities, with the local sports club offering jet-skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing, water-scooters, sailing, snorkelling, kayaking and parasailing, as well as scenic boat trips, motorboat rides and fishing excursions.

 

Active guests can make the most of facilities for tennis, swimming, volleyball, table tennis, or enjoy scenic walks or bike rides along the headlands to experience fantastic views out across the water. The resort also has a local cinema.

 

Goa is known for its healing ayurvedic medicine, and Dona Paula has options for various beauty treatments and natural remedies, from relaxing massages and body wraps, to yoga and meditation.

 

There's plenty of shopping for visitors to indulge in, with a number of shops and street vendors peddling everything from clothing and food and drink, to trinkets, souvenirs and local handicrafts. Local goods to buy include jewellery, lace, spices, cashew nuts and the regional tipple, feni. 

 

Dona Paula holds a water sports festival in November, with water scooter and cycle races and surfing competitions, as well as the Janmashtami Festival and the Feast of St. Lawrence.

 

Visit the Cabo Raj Niwas (the Govenor's House) where the chapel houses the tomb of the famous Dona Paula de Menezes, the National Oceanography Institute or the Reis Magos Church - one of the oldest in Goa. 

 

Other beaches to visit in the area include Miramar and Vainguinim Beaches, each just a few kilometers away. Frequent buses leave Dona Paula for Panjim, where there's a host of sightseeing options, including ferry rides to Divar Island, as well as excellent shopping and dining. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is 10km away, and features local and migratory birds in its mangrove forests, which can be explored by canoe.