There is a belief that Goa is one long beach, whereas the reality is that Goa has seven rivers, so what with that and the towns and roads, Goa is in reality several beaches on its 125 km coastline.

The beaches in fact cover 83km of the coastline, and almost wherever you go, you can choose your water sports, shop, eat remarkable food, and drink exotic cocktails and beers, all at an amazingly cheap price.

Somewhere there is a beach for you, just waiting on you to arrive and explore, and your options are summarized below:

The Aguada Bay is between two promontories the Cabo and Aguada. Parts of the bay are known as Caranzalem and Sinquerim Bay. Here you will find 40 lovely beaches, nearly all are very clean and unpolluted, but not necessarily safe for swimming. The most torist would be the Calanguta, Baga, Anjuna strip in The Bardesh subdivision which is north of Panaji.

Go north for the untouched unspoiled beaches, these are found in the Pernem subdivision and the names to watch for are Keri Beach, Arambol[Harmal], Mandrem which has two little beaches Lemos and Asvem, and Morji. Up here you won't get so much hassle, although the accommodation tends to be in thatched huts.

The previously discussed Bardesh subdivision is bordered by the Chapora River, and this is where you will find the following beaches. The Chapora, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim and an inner rocky beach called Quegdevelim, which is worth visiting for shell collecting.

The Tiswadi subdivision off the Mandovi estuary there are small tranquil beaches here worth trying.

Other beaches worth mentioning are Caranzalem, marvel, Dona Paula, Bambolim and Siridao, they are close to Mormuga harbour and the Mormugao sub division where you will find truly excellent beaches with names like Bogmalo, Cola, Issorcim, Pale, Velsao, and Cansaulim. Seafood is particularly good in this area, but be warned the Vasco da Gama beaches of Cumberthi and Baina are very polluted.

You will find in the Salcete subdivision Goa's widest and cleanest and widest beaches, so look out for names like Gaudalim, Colva, Benaulim, Mobor, Varca, Carmona, and Cavelossim, although it is now the home to far too many new hotels.

If you travel further south you will find more primitive beaches again, probably most suited to young adventurers, who don't mind camping. They are in the sub division of Canacona, which is where Goa ends, and here you will find the Palolem, Colamba, Talpona, and Galgibaga beaches.

There are so many beaches Goa you can't possibly visit them all, but you can give it your best shot.