Wildflower Villas
Goa
Wildflower sits atop the Saipem Hills, looking down on the mangrove swamps of Nerul and across at distant Sinquerim. The property lies 2km inland from Candolim and south-east of Calangute; bear left after crossing the Mandovi bridge at Panjim.
How to get there:
Take a taxi from the airport or the station. Wildflower organises transfers.
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 Wildflower, try to alight at Thivim which is much closer than Madgaon.
By road: coming from the south, take a taxi towards Morjim, then head up the coastal road towards Ashvem.
Distances & travel times:
airport: 35km / 1 hr
railway stations:
Thivim: 25km / 45 mins
Madgaon station: 45km / 1 hr
When to go:
Goa is a seasonal tourist state, with the season running roughly from October to April and many hotels closed outside of those months. However, monsoon tourism is becoming an increasingly important fixture in the calendar and hotels that can open then surely will. Note that the rain will curtail what you can do – no swimming, no shacks or resorts on the beach, limited food and drink options – but you can still have a fantastic time.
The busiest and most popular months are always November to March, with the Christmas and New Year period the peak of pleasurable chaos, where prices skyrocket, beaches and roads are jam-packed, and the sound systems are bursting.
Getting around:
Walking anywhere from Wildflower isn’t really an option unless you fancy a hike!
Public transport is not a good option.
Ask for a taxi to be called. The right driver can act as a semi-guide, so ask if you need a little more than just driving.
Scooter or motorbike is perhaps the best way to explore Goa. Be aware that those upfront should wear a helmet and drive only tourist-licensed bikes. Goan roads often have unmarked speed breakers, so take it easy!