Sur La Mer
north Goa
Sur La Mer is in the up-and-coming but still quite “village” district of Pernem, the northernmost in Goa, bordering Maharashtra, separated from the more established Bardez district by the Siolim River. The Morjim-Asvem-Mandrem beach stretch has some of the finest beaches in the state before turning into Arambol, the famous backpacker town to the north.
Sur La Mer itself is accessed by a dirt track just off the main road that runs parallel to the beach, as Asvem becomes Mandrem, and is almost level with the restaurant La Plage.
How to get there:
Airport transfer / taxis can be arranged. If you’re flying into Goa or arriving by train then taxi is really the only way to go.
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 Sur La Mer the nearest station however is Pernem.
By car:
If you’re driving from Mumbai follow the NH17 until you enter the state and then head towards Asvem via Arambol.
Distances & travel times:
airport: 55km / 1 ½ hours
railway stations:
Pernem: 18km / 30 mins
Madgaon (Margao): 65km / 1hr 50mins
When to go:
The season runs from October through to April but the action doesn’t really start around the Pernem area until December.
The cooler months are October, November and December. April can be extremely hot and humid.
Getting around:
It’s easy to walk around the local area, and down to the beach, but scooter, car hire or a local taxi is the smart option for anything more than a short journey. The hotel can call a local taxi for you, agree a price before you get in and don’t expect a meter to be used.