Arambol Beach

Goa's northernmost beach, known as Arombol or Harmal, is rugged and lovely. You enter through a hippie colony where young foreigners live in small huts. The best stretch of beach is a 20-minute walk

to the right, beyond the ragged food and drink shacks. Here, the scenery is spectacular: a freshwater pond nestles at the base of the hillside 50 yards from the crashing surf below, and the ocean foams around dark rocks rising offshore. The sea is rougher here than at other beaches—still good for swimming but a bit more fun for surf-seekers. To avoid crowds in season, walk past the pond and you'll find quieter tide-dependent inlets and rock ledges.