This monsoons, get out and enjoy some fun activities in the rain

Over the years, Goa has seen gradual rise in tourists who seek adventure and experiences beyond the shacks and beaches. Come Monsoons, Goa has an increasing number of such activities. However there are safety concerns and with the recent deaths at waterfalls, most of these areas are off limits now. There are a few other things you can still do though, Goa Times has a list of these:

For a state with a long history, Goa has around 51 forts! You can learn more of such interesting facts when you trek with history and cultural enthusiasts.Durgadas Parab from Eco-Trek, who conducts treks for all ages that focus on the history of Goa, says “We have guides who are historians or have knowledge about the places we go to. We also believe in helping the locals; so after the trek, we have a predetermined local home that cooks food for us and serve the trekkers. This benefits everyone, the locals earn and the trekkers get hot, tasty local food,” says Durgadas.

Monsoons bring out the interesting creatures and the best way to make people aware about the wild is to take them exploring. Mom and son duo – Tallulah and Vikram D'Silva of Travelling Dome –take locals, tourists and youngsters exploring and teaching them about different types of reptiles that can be spotted during this season. “We recently took a group to the Taleigao plateau, where we saw two Saw Scale Pit Vipers and spoke about the different types of venomous and non-venomous snakes. We also took them to hear the different types of frogs – the Ornate Narrow Mouthed Frog was one such amphibian,” says Tallulah.

While in rains, the mud around the sluice gates (manos/ bandh) at Chorao island gets softer and this has benefits to the skin, says Varun Hegde, of Soul Travelling, making splashing around a fun activity. “We get several inquiries about this activity from people. In fact, June has been the busiest month for us since the monsoons have started full-swing. People are now looking for unique experiences and Goa offers that,” adds Varun.

Few groups believe that Goa is best seen when you visit its villages, some take guests to villages far from the coast in Sanquelim, Valpoi and Rivona , where they get to experience the daily life in a Goan village. “We start by exploring the important points in the villages – monuments, caves, views of the hills, among other attractions, and then serve Goan traditional flavours though lunch buffets, so that guests can enjoy an authentic meal,” says Varun.

With the start of monsoons, the 4-wheel drives make their way to various spots for off-roading activities. Manjunath Dukle who loves off-roading says, “This activity needs a large space and safety is the most important aspect. We take groups of tourists and locals alike on such expeditions.”

With the rains, the Mhadei river gets spectacular, and people with adventurous spirits dive into the whitewater rafting experience. “We have been operating in Goa since 2012 and several tourists who come into Goa during monsoons participate in it. Many people look for such activities, some even from smaller towns, and a good number of Goans too," says John Pollard who runs the water rafting enterprise.
Rates of these activities:
Trekking – Rs 800-1300
Off Roading - on invite
Mud bath- Rs 1300
Reptile excursions – Rs. 300 - kids and senior citizens free
Exploring villages and hinterlands – Rs. 1000 - 2500