If you have ever wandered around a flea market before you will know how tempting they can be. With stalls piled high with all kinds of goods you can be sure you won’t leave without being tempted by something.

And you can have this very experience when you visit Goa. There is a flea market which is very well known and is called the Anjuna Flea Market. If you are anywhere nearby you should definitely make the time to go and take a look.

The market takes place on a Wednesday so be sure to plan your holiday carefully around this day of the week. The good news is that you don’t just have the flea market to look forward to here – you also have a huge beach to explore and relax on once you are all shopped out!

The market itself has been going since the Sixties, and it has grown into a focal point for the area. You won’t have to ask for directions to reach it on the right day – it is quite sizeable and fairly easy to spot. The great thing about the market is that it is infused with Indian promise in every area. The goods are made in India and this is definitely a great place to come for all those authentic Indian souvenirs you will want to take home with you.

It can be a good idea to simply wander around the stalls first of all, taking note of what you see and what types of goods are available. You can then go back and actually buy the selected items you like the most. Be prepared to carry a lot – there are some truly delightful objects for sale here and you might spend more than you think. Bring a bag with you to pop everything in as you buy it.

You can spend the entire day browsing if you wish as it opens at around nine in the morning and stays there until the sun finally goes down. This is undoubtedly one of the best venues in Goa for those who love shopping.

Regardless of where you think you might be going, both places are actually the same. You will see Mapusa on a map but the locals always call it Mapsa, so be warned if you ask for directions to watch out for this.

But what about the town itself – is it worth a visit if you are in Goa on holiday?

Well the answer has to be yes because it offers a lot to see and do. This is sightseeing at its best because you can see the locals going about their daily business. Don’t expect a huge town because you will be disappointed – it might be the third biggest that Goa has to offer but that doesn’t mean it is huge.

You shouldn’t expect a thriving town either because it isn’t focused on the tourist trade like some other places are. In fact it could be said to be rather on the quiet side for most of the week.

But don’t let this put you off. In fact if you want to see more of Mapusa – or Mapsa if you want to fit in a little more – head there on a Friday and get involved with the market. This is a great event that takes place on a weekly basis, and you can buy all kinds of delicacies here along with tasty morsels of all kinds that Goa is particularly known for.

There are also other items you can buy here though, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to wander around all the stalls. You can get some real bargains here no matter what you might like to buy. If you are after some authentic souvenirs of Goa to take back home with you, you’ll certainly be in luck.

The great thing about the market stalls is that they are far from being neat and tidy. Look down at the floor as you wander along as well, because you’ll see plenty of wares spread out all over the place. Why not check them out and buy as much as you can while you are there? Mapusa certainly has plenty to offer in every sense of the term.

It somehow doesn’t sound too likely, and in fact this water park hasn’t been around for too long all told. But the Blue Whale Water Park is definitely there to be visited, so let’s see what else we can find out about it.

For starters it is important to recognise this is the only water park you have at your disposal in Goa. So if you want to grab a ride or two in the water park this is your only option.

You’ll find the Blue Whale Water Park on the western side of Goa, ironically not too far from the sea. Vagator Beach is a short distance north of the park while Baga Beach is even closer but to the south. The water park is slightly inland, and you’ll find it next to the Royal Goan Beach Club.

The park itself looks to be built on a hill, which seems unlikely for a water park. But in actual fact it adds a certain attraction to it because you will see it is built in tiers. So if you are at the top you can see right down to the foot of the park to see where the various slides and rides go to.

There are no fewer than four pools here to swim in, which makes it a delightful place to go. Make no mistake the Blue Whale Water Park is nowhere near as big as some of the other parks you will find in various locations around the world. But when it is the only one available you will certainly want to make the best of it.

You can also find lots of areas to relax in when you aren’t splashing around in the water or trying out one of the slides. This is good news if you want to relax and take in the sun as well as having some fun. The place is perhaps best for children to enjoy, as there are slides and pools to dip into for the whole day. And you don’t have to pay for the under twos to get in either, which will certainly save you money.

You only need to see one picture of Paliem Lake in Goa to actually want to go there. And if you are planning on taking a trip out to Goa in the near future, what better opportunity could there be to do just that?

This lake also has its own beach, which is beautifully sandy and welcoming. It also has a stunning view of the lake beyond it. If you look across from the beach you will also see plenty of lush green vegetation and trees, stretching away from you and virtually begging you to follow and explore. But you will want to stay on the beach itself to appreciate the quiet and the beauty of Paliem Lake.

The lake itself is a freshwater lake, and some people who are in the nearby area do not even know this beach and lake are there. You may catch a glimpse of the lake itself from a distance away, but you will not see the beach unless you are fairly close to the area.

Many people go swimming in the lake and with such incredible surroundings hugging you as you enjoy them, it is no wonder they do. This has to be one of the world’s loveliest places to take a dip, and with a nice pleasant beach to relax on afterwards you will certainly want to make the most of it. It will feel a little strange to open your eyes when sunbathing to realise that you are not lying by the sea though!

You can also see the village of Paliem nearby if you can drag yourself away from the lake and the beach for long enough. Wadhcolomb Hill towers above this little oasis inland from the sea, and it is no surprise that you may find yourself without crowds to worry about while you are there. Some people come back day after day to experience this little slice of paradise, but however many times you revisit Paliem Lake and beach you will be glad you at least saw it once. Why deny yourself the opportunity to see such a beauty?

Wherever you head to for your holidays, it is good to visit the capital of that country if you can. It tells you a lot about what the country is like in a way that visiting out of town areas does not. And if you happen to be going on a beach based holiday, a visit to the capital city can give you a break from sunning yourself for a day too.

In the case of Goa the capital you need to head for is Panaji. The meaning of the word Panaji is ‘land that never floods’. The city is well spread out and is dotted with hotels and other forms of accommodation right across its mass. Panaji is located on the Mandovi River, so you can expect some nice views across this and indeed some wonderfully attractive buildings to look at as well.

Many people actually stay in Panaji when they come to Goa on holiday. It certainly has plenty to offer for those looking for a more vibrant and lively holiday than a beach based trip abroad. There is a beach here though if you should come to miss them – try the Miramar Beach for size, which is just three kilometres away from the main city centre itself.

One of the main sights that people come here to see is Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, which was first opened in around 1540. With a history stretching back over four hundred and fifty years, this incredible white building can be reached by climbing the steps in front of it. Its lofty position makes it look even more impressive than it is anyway.

Even though Panaji is the capital of Goa it is not particularly dynamic, hurried or fast moving. This makes it something of a delight for tourists who want to see what it has to offer without being carried along in the city crowds. If you are visiting Goa, or you are looking for somewhere different to stay, consider using Panaji as the hub for your holiday. With the Miramar Beach not far away, you can really have the best of both worlds.

All of Goa has some sensational experiences and attractions to show you. But in northern Goa you will find the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, and if you decide to visit there (any day but a Thursday) you will be delighted and enchanted by an experience many tourists opt for during their stay.

The sanctuary itself is located in Usgao, and it boasts many different animals worth seeing. It is also not far to the north west of the Mollem National Park, which also provides plenty to enjoy on a day out. It is the earlier and later months of the year that offer the best opportunity to see something new here. For example if you travel to Goa later in the year you should visit between October and December to see the best of the sanctuary. The first three months of the year are equally as good in this respect, so if you want to visit you should plan your holiday accordingly.

You will see many mammals and reptiles during your visit to the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary – some of which you may have seen before. But you will also have the chance to see some more unusual specimens that may be new to you. How about the barking deer for example? Or perhaps the Malabar giant squirrels are worth watching out for? One thing is for certain – you will definitely be educated in ways you never imagined by seeing what goes on in the sanctuary. This is a haven for many animals that may not have had a good life elsewhere.

You can also look forward to experiencing what is essentially an eco-system all of its own in the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. There are many experiences to be had here, and you will definitely want to add this destination to your list of things to do should you end up going to Goa on a family holiday.

Make no mistake though; you may struggle to cover the whole area in a day. Since it covers around eight square kilometres it will soon become apparent that a two day visit will show you much more than one day ever could.

Many seaside destinations have their preferred beaches, and Goa is no exception to this. If you research what people think of the beaches in Goa, you’ll find one name cropping up over and over again. That name is Vagator Beach.

So what makes Vagator Beach worth visiting?

For starters it is not the kind of area which caters heavily to tourists. You will be well looked after here, for sure, but you shouldn’t expect purpose built shopping centres and other such built up offerings. But that is one of the reasons why Vagator Beach is so popular.

It also has a particular sight that may make you look twice when you head down to the beach. This rocky area has a face waiting to greet you, a face by the water’s edge which seems smiling and peaceful. No one seems to know who carved the face out of the rock which sits there, but it certainly provides a good talking point and many a tourist has taken a photo of it to take back home with them.

While the beach does have rocky areas don’t let this put you off paying a visit. It also has plenty of sandy stretches to lie back and relax on, making it a wonderful beach to visit for a lazy day in Goa. There is also a shack nearby that serves food and drink throughout the day, so when lunch time arrives you won’t have to travel far for a bite to eat. And there is certainly no better place to tuck into your choice of replenishment than on Vagator Beach itself.

You will actually see when you arrive that the beach is split into two main sections. One is bigger than the other and this is why it is now known as Big Vagator Beach and Little Vagator Beach. Common sense will tell you which is which! But they both have something to offer the eager tourist, so be sure you take a closer look at both of them during your holiday in Goa.

As beaches go, Vagator Beach is one of the best ones you could choose.