5 homestays in Goa to book for your next trip

Goa is a year-round pleaser with its golden beaches, lush landscapes, and animated culture. Here are five homestays in Goa, offering the perfect blend of peaceful escapes and immersive local experiences.

Parijaat, Anjuna

Nine years ago, Kavita and Manoj Nair purchased a piece of land in Anjuna, which at the time was not a very busy neighbourhood. Five years later, they decided to build a holiday home where they could get away from their corporate lives in Mumbai. Tucked away in Anjuna, Parijaat is a quiet two-bedroom homestay where paddy fields and palm trees abound and peacocks are regular visitors. Named after the Parijaat flower, growing lush in the front lawn, the home is unlike the traditional Portuguese-style villas that have become synonymous with the term “homestay” in the state. The entrance leads you to an open-to-sky courtyard with the main house (where the family lives) to the right and a guest cottage to the left. The rooms blend an old world charm with modern amenities. Each has a king size bed, a writing desk, air conditioning and luxe bathroom amenities. The rooms open up to a garden that is lined with palm trees, a bird bath, a swimming pool and a vegetable garden, beyond which are paddy fields. teas and coffees and plenty of books, food at Parijaat Goa is as fresh as it gets. Vegetables come from the garden, and the ghee used in the kitchen comes from a local gaushala. Breakfast—served in the open-air dining area—is a hearty meal of fresh fruits, yoghurt with locally-sourced artisanal granola and farm fresh eggs as you like. From the food to the hosts and cosy interiors, Parijaat offers the calm of solitude as well as the warm feeling of community. -Insia Lacewalla
Doubles from Rs17,000 inclusive of breakfast. Instagram

Fishtail Creek, Moira

In the quaint, meandering streets of Moira, an intricately carved wooden signpost leads to Fishtail Creek, a homestay that gazes out to the backwaters. Nestled in the midst of this verdant paradise is a two-bedroom cottage that includes a communal living space and a well-appointed pantry stocked with a thoughtfully chosen variety of tea, coffee, and snacks. The bedrooms exude warmth and comfort, bathed in the gentle sunlight that filters through the forest canopy. Guests have the option to reserve a single room or book the entire cottage. For larger groups, two rooms in the main house in which the hosts Vivek and Alka Talwar reside are also available upon request. The outdoor space features a wood-fired pizza oven, a barbecue, and a wood-fired chulha, as well as a tiki-style bar by the water . The Talwars held leadership positions in sustainability with the Tata Group of Companies before they retired in Moira. Oliver, the labrador and beloved mascot of Fishtail Creek greets visitors warmly. Food is a mix of regional and international cuisines, with everything from Mangalorean fish to Thai curry on offer. Guests can also ride a boat or kayak along the riverbank. -Insia Lacewalla
Doubles from Rs5,000 inclusive of breakfast, kayaking, and cycling. Website

Dudhsagar Plantation, Karmane Village

This wilderness retreat with towering palms offers a respite for the soul in Goa. Father-son duo Ajit and Ashok Malkarnekar are your hosts here and want you to experience life amidst nature in its purest form. Abundant rivulets and streams run around this burgeoning Amazon-esque landscape with five rustic cottages. The cottages in the thick of shrubbery have the ethos of a traditional Goan village home, with a large expansive bedroom, Mediterranean-inspired stone beds, an inspiring study table, and windows to let the bird call and gentle breeze in. Dig into a simple breakfast of dosa-chutney, or eggs to order, and later in the day, sip on spiced feni shots or urak with chilli, a dash of lime and rock salt. Go on a tour of the plantation with the hosts and taste nutmeg, long pepper and more straight from the trees. The Dudhsagar river is a short jeep ride away but if you prefer staying at the property, you can enjoy a lazy dip at the plantation’s natural pool. -Suruchi Kapur Gomes
Doubles from Rs5,040. Website

Casa Galgibaga, Canacona

Far from the tourist crowds and streets dotted with pubs and bars, Galgibaga beach in South Goa is among the cleanest and most peaceful beaches in the state. Nestled in a quiet fishing village between the sea, two rivers and a hillock is Casa Galgibaga, a 76-year-old Goan family home. This is a spot that will take you back to a Goa of another time and one that locals remember fondly—of picturesque lanes surrounded by tall trees, clear mornings, afternoon siestas and the constant sound of the waves in the background. Casa Galgibaga is the ancestral home of its current owner Mavrick Cardoz. The property comprises the family home, along with two stone rooms, two beach cottages and two beach tents, all of which are open to guests. The main building has two bedrooms, each with mosaic-tiled bathrooms in vibrant colours. The stone rooms have been made with a local coloured stone, while the beach rooms have been designed in an Indo-Portuguese style with private sit-outs. The beach tents are simple, yet tastefully designed, and closest to the beach—perfect if you’re backpacking through the state. The house is stocked with breakfast staples and a French press for coffee nerds. The main house has a well-equipped kitchen that you can use to make yourself breakfast. While here, go for treks or jungle walks at the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 30 minutes away oropt for leisurely boat rides down the Galgibaga and Talpona rivers closeby. -Arundhati Ail
Doubles from Rs13,000. Instagram

Olaulim Backyards

A 30-minute drive from Panjim brings you to hosts Savio and Pirkko's home in the village of Olaulim, which is tucked away from the busy coastal town. A collection of five cottages that look like they sprung up naturally from the earth and foliage around, make up this idyll. While each cottage is different, they all come with bathrooms partly open to the sky, beds nestled in rough rock outcroppings, large windows and mod cons like air conditioning, tea and coffee makers and running hot water. There is a pool surrounded by hammocks and deck chairs, a café and bar, and a gorgeous water body called Manos right in front of the property. Savio (of Goan origin) and Pirkko (from Finland) are avid travellers who've settled away from the noise of tourists and have opened their backyard to travellers who are looking for something different. Most of the cuisine is Goan (fresh seafood and locally grown vegetables), and is cooked on a traditional wood-fire by local staff, who are accommodating about the personal tastes of their guests. During the monsoon, a nature walk to the nearby hilltop is a must; you will see fascinating flora and fauna on your entire route, but what steals the show is the view of dancing peacocks from the top. -Himani Srivastava
Doubles from Rs12,000 during peak season. Includes breakfast and all the in-house activities. Website