Coco Shambhala
north Goa
Coco Shambhala is in the sleepy fishing and farming village of Nerul, on the coast road between Panaji and Candolim/Calangute.
Surrounded by paddy fields, the villas are very close to Coco beach on the mouth of the Nerul river, and the famous north Goa beach stretch is only a short ride away.
How to get there:
Coco organise a pick-up and drop from the airport or train stations. However you arrive in Goa, you’ll have to get to Coco by private car or taxi in the end.
By air:
Goa airport aka Dabolim is very well served all year round by domestic flights (Indigo/GoAir, Jet, Air India, SpiceJet), as well as international charter flights during the holiday season.
By train:
Goa’s main station is Madgaon (in Margao) and is well-served by trains coming south from Mumbai and north from Kerala. For Coco Shambhala however, alight further north at Thivim if possible.
Distances & travel times:
airport: 36km / 50 mins
railway stations:
Thivim: 25km / 35 mins
Madgaon station: 45km / 1 hr
When to go:
Aside from a short closure at the start of May and September, Coco is open all year round. October to April is the holiday season in Goa and the best time to visit. December and January are the peak months and October to December is the coolest period.
Although the monsoon can be a delightful time and very relaxing, much of Goa (especially restaurants) shuts down during this time, so be prepared for the drawbacks that presents – no shacks on the beach, no swimming (unless you’re reckless) and so on.
Getting around:
Coco provides a complimentary car and driver, so getting around is easy. You can also hire scooters if desired.
Walking and cycling around Nerul, especially along the coast road to the newly restored Reis Magos Fort, is a pleasure.