A guide to Anjuna beach, north Goa

Anjuna beach is located in Bardez taluka, north Goa. To the north of Baga beach, divided by the Baga river and a small headland, and south of Vagator beach. Anjuna beach is easily reached from anywhere in Goa via theMapusa bus terminal (8km’s away), or by rickshaw from the nearby beaches. The beach stretches north to south for about 1,3km’s. The south part of Anjuna beach is where the original freaks first settled in Goa in the late 1960's, this part of the beach is backed by red cliffs and lined with tall palm trees, it forms a little bay by it's own, between rocks sticking out into the sea. The northern part of the beach, lined with huts and palm trees, stretches out towards it's rock strewn end, and the headland dividing Anjuna beach from Vagator beach. Behind the beach it’s stall city, home to the famous, and ever growing, Anjuna flea market, every Wednesday from 11am, this classic Goa market draws thousands of bargin hunting tourists from all over Goa.

On Anjuna beach you will find a wide selection of accommodation in all price ranges, everything from mid-size hotels to villa homestays and wooden huts right on the beach. Places are scattered over an area both on the beach and inland, in the village, most of the places to stay are on the north end of the beach but there is no real centre.The selection of places to eat and drink is equally wide, there are many good places in Anjuna, and with Baga, Calangute and Vagator only short rickshaw rides away, the selection is very large.

Anjuna beach is the original ‘Freak beach’, together with Kathmandu and it’s freak street, Anjuna was the freak capitol of the world in the 60’s and 70’s. Starting in the late 1960’s with early hippies like ‘Eight finger Eddie’ and his little tribe of Goan hippies, Anjuna remained a major hippie hang-out well into the 1980’s, and to this day, the south part of the beach is a stronghold for the remaining group of ‘original freaks’.

In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Anjuna together with it’s neighbour Vagator played host to the ‘Goan trance’ scene and it’s spectacular outdoor rave parties. Now days, the Goan authorities have implemented very strict rules regulating parties and noise levels, all across the state, and it seems like the days of the outdoor mega-parties are over, however, exceptions are made, usually around the bigger holidays. If you’re going to Goa to party, Anjuna beach will still be one of your best options.

Places to stay, eat & drink in Anjuna

There are many places to stay, eat & drink in Anjuna, often the good places to stay will also be good places to eat & drink, and vice versa. Listed below are some of the more popular places.

(in no particular order)

Spazio Leisure Resort

Palacete Rodrigues

Hacienda De Goa Resort

Anjuna palms Guesthouse

Evershine guesthouse

The Tamarind

Hotel Laguna Anjuna

Hotel Bougainvillea

The Orange House

Martha's Brk.fst Home

Casa Anjuna

Don Joao

Yogamagic

Red cab inn

Shore Bar

Villa Anjuna

Curlie's

German Bakery

Getting around

Getting around in Goa is easy. Goa is a small state with relatively short distances, transportation is easy to find and inexpensive. The following options are the most common. Rent a scooter or motorbike, hire a car with driver for the day, or go by local bus.

Places near Anjuna

Beaches & Town

Vagator

Mapusa

Morjim

Panaji

Ashvem

Calangute

Mandrem

Arambol

Source: about goa