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When people think of Goa, beach life, great food and cheap alcohol come to mind. But for me the most important part of beach life is the adventure sports in North Goa. From jet skis and banana rides to parasailing, paragliding and bungee jumping, there is something here for every level of thrill seeker.
The cost of water sports in North Goa is now nearly the same across all the beaches, so any discount you get is down to your bargaining skills. Do bargain, especially if you are booking more than one activity. But be warned, there are scammers here as well, so stay on guard and agree on everything before you pay.
I have listed these as a countdown, starting with the easy fun rides and ending with the most thrilling one at No. 1. If you are still picking where to stay, also check my guide to the best beaches in North Goa.
11. Banana boat ride
Photo: PattayaPatrol, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Best for: groups and first-timers. Where: Calangute, Anjuna, Ashwem.
The banana boat is the classic Goa water ride. You sit in a line on a long inflatable banana while a speedboat pulls you across the waves, and everyone screams, laughs and holds on for dear life. It is the easiest of all the water sports in North Goa, so it is a great first activity if you have never done any.
My advice: never do this at Baga Beach. The queues there are long and the ride feels rushed. Calangute, Anjuna or Ashwem give you a much better experience.
You need a small group to fill the banana, unless you are willing to pay more for the full ride. Some operators will ask for extra money to tip you into the sea at the end. If you go for it, it is one hell of an experience.
But this part is not always done, so ask first instead of getting a surprise. Always wear the life jacket properly, and keep your phone and wallet on the shore.
10. Ringo ride and bumper ride
Photo: Ryan Karlstad, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Best for: people who want speed and spins. Where: most North Goa beaches, especially around Baga.
The ringo and bumper rides are big inflatable tubes or sofas towed by a speedboat. As the boat turns, the tube spins and bounces over the waves, and it can throw you around quite a lot. It is one of the most exhilarating short rides in Goa.
These rides are now available on nearly all the beaches of North Goa, especially the ones near Baga, so you will not have to search for them. Because they are so common, compare a couple of operators before you settle.
I guess it is not for everyone. If you have back or neck problems, or you do not like being bumped hard, skip it. Watch one ride from the shore first, see what it actually looks like and then book it.
Hold the handles tightly, keep your life jacket strapped, and tell the driver if you want it slower.
9. Speedboat ride
Photo: ozz13x, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Best for: groups. Where: the beach stretch from Baga to Aguada Fort.
A speedboat ride is pure fun. You zoom across the sea, hit the waves and feel the spray on your face, and on a clear day the views of the coastline are lovely. It is a good way to see the North Goa coast from the water.
This one is really for groups. It may be costly if you are going as a couple, since you usually pay for the boat. But you can often find other people at the spot willing to share the ride, or just come with your own group and split it.
You can do this activity anywhere on the beach patch from Baga to Aguada Fort. Many operators also club it with dolphin spotting or a trip towards Grand Island, so ask what the route includes.
Confirm how long the ride is before you pay, and sit towards the back if you do not like too many bumps.
8. Kayaking on the Chapora River
Photo: Chamila1974, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Best for: a calm, scenic adventure. Where: Baga River, Chapora River, Moira mangroves.
Not every adventure in Goa has to be loud and fast. Kayaking is slow, peaceful and close to nature, and you get to see a side of Goa that most beach tourists miss.
You can kayak at the Baga River, but I would suggest you book an evening kayaking trip on the Chapora River. Paddling as the sun goes down is one of the best experiences you can have in North Goa.
If you go more inland, there is kayaking at Moira, where you paddle through the mangroves. It is quiet, green and full of birds, and great if you like nature more than crowds.
Kayaking suits beginners too, as the guides show you the basics before you start. Carry water, wear sunscreen and a cap, and keep your phone in a waterproof pouch.
7. Jet ski
Photo: Backlit, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Best for: solo thrill seekers. Where: Vagator, Baga, Ashwem.
Riding a jet ski is one of the most popular adventure activities in Goa. You either drive it yourself with an instructor, or sit behind the instructor while he speeds across the water. Either way, the rush of speed over the waves is addictive.
The best places to do this are near Vagator, Baga Beach or Ashwem Beach. You can find jet skis on many other beaches too, so if you are not specifically planning for it, anywhere will be good enough. The places I mentioned just have a slightly better view.
Rides are short, so confirm the duration before you pay. Ask if you will be allowed to drive, and listen carefully to the instructor’s safety briefing.
Wear the life jacket, keep your hands on the handles, and do not try stunts on your own. The sea in North Goa can get choppy, especially in the afternoon.
6. Wakeboarding
Photo: Roy Egloff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Best for: people who can already swim and like a challenge. Where: ask the operators at the main beaches and backwaters.
Wakeboarding is a new, upcoming water sport in North Goa. You stand on a board strapped to your feet and get pulled behind a boat, riding the wake and trying to stay up. When it clicks, it feels like surfing at speed.
But being the open sea with big waves, North Goa is not the easiest place to learn. The rough water makes it harder to stay balanced, so expect to fall a lot in your first tries.
That is why it is better tried on calmer days, in the sheltered water of a bay or river, rather than on a windy afternoon. Ask the operator where they run it and how the conditions are that day.
It suits fit people who are comfortable in the water. Take the first session as a lesson, listen to the trainer, and do not push yourself if the sea looks rough.
5. Snorkelling and scuba diving at Grand Island
Photo: AshwiniShinde, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Best for: anyone curious about the underwater world. Where: boats from Baga to Aguada Fort and Coco Beach.
If you want to see fish and coral, snorkelling and scuba diving are the ones to try. The boats leave from the stretch between Baga and Aguada Fort and take you to Grand Island, where the activities happen.
Snorkelling is easy, you just float on the surface with a mask and look down. Scuba diving goes deeper with an instructor holding you, and you do not need any certificate for a beginner try-dive.
You can get a good package for everything if you are planning to go there. You may get the best bargain if you go to Coco Beach and book from there, and the packages even include lunch at reasonable rates. More on this in the Grand Island section below.
Do not dive if you have ear, heart or breathing problems. Listen to the briefing and tell the instructor if you panic underwater.
4. Parasailing at Baga and Calangute
Photo: Praveen from Bangalore, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Best for: everyone, even non-swimmers. Where: Baga, Calangute, Grand Island tour.
Parasailing is where you are strapped to a parachute that is tied by a rope to a boat. As the boat speeds up, you rise high above the sea and get a bird’s eye view of the coast. It is calm up there, and the views are amazing.
You will best experience this at Baga, Calangute or on the Grand Island tour. Most parasailing in North Goa now starts from a boat in the sea rather than from the sand.
Some operators will ask for extra money to dip you halfway into the water during the ride. It is a fun experience, but again, ask first and agree on the price.
It suits almost everyone, as you do not need to swim or have any skill. Wear the life jacket and harness properly, and keep your phone safe or in a strapped pouch.
3. Flyboarding
Photo: Eriksw, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Best for: the brave and the curious. Where: Baga, Calangute, Grand Island ferry trip.
This is one of the craziest activities you can do in Goa. You stand on a board connected by a hose to a jet ski, and the water pressure shoots you up into the air above the sea.
I have never done this myself because of my fear of water, but it looks like one hell of an adventure. The first time is a learning experience, since it takes a while to get the hang of it. But once you do, flyboarding is really fun.
You can do flyboarding at Baga, at Calangute, or as part of the Grand Island ferry trip. It suits people who are fit and comfortable in the water, since you will fall in a few times.
Wear the helmet and life jacket, follow the instructor’s signals, and do not try to go high in your first session.
2. Paragliding and paramotoring at Querim and Arambol
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
Best for: once-in-a-lifetime views. Where: Querim (Keri) Beach and Arambol Beach.
Both paragliding and paramotoring are best experienced at Querim Beach or Arambol Beach. Paragliding glides on the wind off the cliffs, and paramotoring uses a motor fan on the pilot’s back, so you fly over the coast and the sea with a trained pilot.
At Arambol, the take-off is near the Sweet Water Lake side, and you have to walk a fair bit to get there. Querim Beach is easier to reach. From what I saw at Keri Beach, paragliding was roughly around Rs. 2,000 and the gyrocopter ride was around Rs. 3,500 to 4,000, though prices change with season and operator.
Keri also has a full water sports setup, and when I checked, around Rs. 1,500 got you 5 water activities. That makes it a great spot to combine everything in one day.
Flights run only when the wind is right, so be flexible with your time. Always fly in tandem with a certified pilot, and you have to experience this once in your life.
1. Bungee jumping at Mayem Lake
Photo: Poni Abraham, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Best for: the ultimate thrill. Where: Mayem Lake, Bicholim.
What can be more thrilling than jumping from 180 feet towards a lake? This is the craziest activity in Goa, done inland at Mayem Lake in Bicholim, away from the beaches. That is why it is No. 1 on my list.
The safety measures look good here, and the gear also looks well maintained. You also get a certificate for the jump.
The age limit is 12 to 45 years, and the weight requirement is 40 to 110 kg. Make sure you do not have any medical issues, especially heart problems.
The cost goes a little above Rs. 4,000 plus GST, and you get two tries in that. If you do not jump, the money is gone, so make sure you actually want to do this before you pay.
Grand Island package deal
Other than paragliding, paramotoring and kayaking, you can do most water sports in North Goa through a Grand Island package. You can book it from Coco Beach or from a jetty on the way to Aguada Fort.
In this package, they take you to the island by ferry, you do the water sports, have lunch and then come back on the same ferry, all for a very cheap deal. If you are doing 3 or more activities anyway, it is worth going for the package.
It takes the entire day, so leave in the morning after breakfast and expect to be back by evening. Book it at least a day in advance so that you are told everything properly, including what is included.
Things to note before doing water sports in North Goa
- Bargain. Prices are nearly the same everywhere, so the discount depends on you, especially when you book many activities together.
- Beware of scammers. Agree on the price, the duration and what is included before you pay, and book from proper counters on the beach.
- Always wear the life jacket and any helmet or harness they give you, and listen to the safety briefing.
- Ask before any extras, like being dunked in the sea from the banana boat or parasail, so there are no surprises on the bill.
- Water sports stop in the monsoon when the sea is rough, so plan them for the tourist season.
- Keep your phone and valuables safe on the shore or in a waterproof pouch.
Along with water sports, there are many adventure treks in North Goa too. I have made a guide to the best treks in the area, so check it out to find your next adventure. And if you want help putting all of this into one plan, this is how I can help.
I plan the route. I don’t book the ferry, the stay, or the tickets. A custom plan is Rs. 200 per travel day. Fill the trip form, pay online, and I’ll send you the plan.
