Galgibag beach, in the far south of Goa is a dream come true for anyone searching for solitude, seclusion and an absolutely stunning beach! The long sweep of golden sand is often completely empty, apart from the occasional fisherman or children from the local village chasing crabs.

Galjibag is a breeding site for the the protected Olive Ridley turtles (leading to its better known name of Turtle Beach) which explains why the beach is so deserted and almost untouched by development. If you are in Goa in January and February you may be lucky enough to see the turtles nesting and hatching. Visitors are only requested not to touch or disturb the turtles so that the conservation program can continue its successful work.

The north side of the beach is still a completely protected turtle zone, but there are a handful of simple shacks at the south end of the beach serving sensational fresh seafood. From oysters collected that day from the river estuary, to the catch of the day simply grilled or served Goan style with coconut and spices - great with a chilled beer!

Until recently, resorts were totally restricted, so staying in Galjibag was not possible unless you took a basic room in the village. However, whilst big developments are still barred, a few small sensitive accommodation options are opening up, to allow visitors to extend their day trip to a longer laid back vacation. From a handful of beach huts attached to the shacks at the south of the beach to some traditional Goan houses that have been delightfully restored and fitted out to make comfortable Goa holiday homes. As accommodation is still in short supply, however, it is best to pre-book your stay.

Gajibag is only a 20-minute drive from Patnem beach and Chaudi town, which offer a wide range of accommodation, activities, bars and shops. But “Turtle Beach’ seems a world away: a place to just relax and relish the peaceful setting and pristine natural beach. Enjoy an afternoon lounging in a hammock or take a stroll to the far south end of the beach, where the river estuary creates a natural lagoon for safe swimming. The long rolling waves travelling up the beach can be strong but are great for body boarding early in the season (borrow a board from a beach shack), and then pick up to create one of the only surfable breaks in Goa in March and April.