Fort Aguada was built by the Portuguese, in 1612, around the mouth of the river Mandovi river. The beaches of North Goa extend from Fort Aguada in an almost uninterrupted 30 km sandy stretch to the border of Maharashtra. It has a has a church, a lighthouse and the Aguada jail which lies towards the east of the fort. Below the fort lies the Sinquerem beach. For the sports lovers, Goan Banana and the Taj Holiday Village operate water sports including para sailing and jet skies at the southern end of Sinquerem beach.

Towards the northern Goa, on the shores of the Arabian Sea, Calangute is situated 16 kms from Panaji. Once a strictly hippy haunt, today it is one of the most popular leasure resorts of Goa.

There are several hotels and guest houses stretch almost without a break from Calangute to Baga. Shops sell Tibetan, Kashmiri and Gujarati trinkets and handicrafts. Interesting pieces of costume jewellery and Rajasthani & Karnatikan textiles are other items worth shopping for. But the most extraordinary experience is the delicious Goan cuisine.