A Backpacker's Guide to Goa - Into the Wild!

chillibreeze writer — Joel Dias

Need an editable PowerPoint map of India

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going”
– Paul Theroux.

Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent, international travel. Backpacking is perceived as being more than a vacation, but a means of education. Backpackers want to experience the "real" destination rather than the packaged version often associated with mass tourism, which has led to the assertion that backpackers are anti-tourist. There is also the feeling of "sneaking backstage" and witnessing real life by involvement with the local people.

Goa is perceived by the world tourist as a beach destination with an incomparable scenic coastal charm. Although precise in their perception, the preposition of this west coast abode goes way beyond the shores. This would require an intensive research on behalf of the backpacker planning a holiday in the state, and he would be rewarded by a unique and exhilarating experience. The Ghats in the eastern region of the state have a rich and diverse wildlife. Following is a backpacker’s guide to a different route to take in Goa.

When is the best time to visit Goa? A question invariably asked by people planning to backpack across the state. The answer to this will vary depending on what he/she would want to see. The question is quickly rephrased to when is the best time to see nature and wildlife in Goa. Well, that would still depend on what the backpacker would want to see. The best time to see snakes is not the best time to see birds. And there are daily fluctuations too. There isn’t much sense in starting birding at 11 am unless you are only looking for raptors. Neither is there much sense in organizing a boat trip without checking the tide schedules!

So the answer to ‘when's the best time to visit Goa?’ would be ‘at any time and all of the time!’ Pick a month at random and there’s always some wildlife to see that you probably wouldn’t see rest of the year.

But of course, most backpackers visiting Goa won’t be popping by every other day to keep tabs on the seasonal changes in wildlife. For the sake of convenience, the Goan year can be sliced and diced into rough chunks. It is not possible to trace and delineate subtle changes in nature. This division may therefore be a bit arbitrary.

So where do you start? January? No, no! You’re not making any New Year resolutions here, you’re looking for wildlife.

A good start would be in June instead. If you’re looking for snakes and amphibians you’d better start in June. ‘But in June, it will be pouring’ you’d say. Yes. It does pour in June and that’s what makes it the best time to find snakes, frogs and other amphibians and reptiles. Though many reptiles move around only in the day, your best chances of spotting one is at night. And all you need is a good torch, to light your way up. Take a walk along a lonely road cutting through fields and you’re almost certain to find checkered Keelbacks and striped Keelbacks, especially if it’s pouring cats and dogs.

The myriad ponds created by the flood of rain water are full of frogs. The male frogs croak tirelessly. Each species has a different call so as not to summon the female of the wrong species!

Each place has its own range of species, although some of them stand out with rich diversity. A favourite for spotting reptiles and amphibians is Ambolim. Ambolim lies just outside Goa, around forty kilometers away from the border and is spectacular for spotting snakes. You can have good sightings all the way up to mid-October. The most common snakes are vine snakes. It’s not uncommon to find Malabar pit vipers, cat snakes, and many different kinds of shield tails here either. Lord House, Sailee Hotel and Vrindavan Hotel are budget hotels in Amboli are ideal places to stay for the Backpacker.

The rains are a lousy time for birds. Many of the birds found in Goa are migratory and are usually gone a few weeks before the monsoon sets in. The heavy rains turn out to be annoying for the feathered. They wait until mid-October before they start flying back.But not all birds found in Goa are chickens —many will stay on and rough it out in the rains. Orioles, plum headed Parakeets, Bulbuls and Chloropsis will stay on, no matter what. Trouble is, you still won’t see them if it’s pouring. This is because birds love the morning sun, and since there’s no guarantee of that during the monsoons, you’d best plan your birding backpacking trip post mid-October.

By mid-November there are plenty of teals. Black-winged stilts are also nonchalantly probing around ponds on extremely long and skinny legs. By the time they fly away, the bizarre hoopoe will be pecking around on the ground erecting its spectacular crest every once in a while to the astonishment of birders, who’ve never seen anything like it before! By April, many of the birds are nesting, and it’s a good time to see those cute and cuddly vernal hanging parrots.

Another place to go backpacking and spot wildlife are the sanctuaries at Bondla (close to Mollem) and Cotigao (extreme south Goa). Here you can spot rare birds like the Malabar whistling thrush, trogons, and Asian fairy bluebirds are the best here. Written permission for an overnight stay in Cotigao, either in the watchtower or the forest department's small rest house must be obtained from the Deputy Conservator of Forests, 3rd Floor, Junta House, Panaji, as far in advance of one's visit as possible. If one gets stuck, however, the wardens can arrange tent, blankets and basic food.

And then there’s camping. Yes, the period from November to February is a lovely time to go out camping. Pitch your tent beside a stream in the jungle, make a campfire when it gets dark, roast your marinated chicken when you get hungry, and lie on your back and look at the stars until you get sleepy. But that’s a different story altogether. So happy backpacking into the wild!

Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in April, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

More on Chillibreeze.com

Other popular articles on Chillibreeze

Nagala – A Haven in Your Backyard
Be Your Own Surrogacy Sleuth
How to Pack for India
Ten Tips for Working From Home
Ten Tips for NRIs Returning to India

Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...

—About our writer:

Joel Dias has graduated with a degree in Hospitality & Tourism and is currently working as an Assistant Editor for a national travel magazine. He has previously trained with the Taj Group of hotels and worked with Marriott International. As a writer, travel & tourism is his forte and meticulous attention to detail and quality his modus operandi. Joel is currently based in Goa, India.

>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:

More resources for Writers on Chillibreeze.com

Chillibreeze offers Indian writers the opportunity to work on customer projects. We are also India’s biggest writer network and a one-stop shop for Indian writers and editors. The writers’ section on Chillibreeze offers freelance writers and editors a variety of tools to advance their careers. Resources for writers include:

Assessment of your writing, editing and proofreading skills
Writing courses
Expert Feedback on your article
An opportunity to promote yourself on our website
Top websites for Indian writers
Tips and resources for Indian freelancers
Book Publishing services
And more………………..

Explore our writers’ section using the links on our left-hand side menu.