Morjim Beach

Morjim in North Goa is a beach with a lot of character and charisma. It’s a fabulous beach for resting and relaxation too as it remains serene and quiet. You won’t find any large hotels or resorts here. The best places to stay are the luxury villas for rent. There are plenty of palm trees and only a few beach shacks with their sun beds and umbrellas. In the south, the beach meets the Chapora River and in the north there is a Cross that marks the end of this beach. The northern section of the beach is rocky. There is a turtle nesting site in the southern section, where the river meets the Arabian Sea. The endangered Olive Ridley Turtles come here to lay their eggs. It is a protected site. Most hotels, resorts, villas, and beach shacks are in the northern areas, away from the protected areas.

Morjim Beach is 28.2 kilometers from Panaji and 51 km from Dabolim Airport. The new Mopa airport is closer — it is only 27.9 kilometers away. Baga Beach is 15.3 kilometers away. Baga is crowded as there are plenty of hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops, and water sports activities. Head to Morjim if you want to escape the crowds and enjoy scenic nature views. Go to a beach shack, grab a sun bed, order food and drinks, and you can relax for many hours. Get a massage. You can play beach volleyball and swim in the sea anytime you want. Swimming is completely safe here as there are no undercurrents.

Morjim beach runs for 3 kilometers. It ends at the confluence of the Chapora River and the Arabian Sea. Walking up to this point is always a thrilling experience. You will be able to see the Chapora Fort on the other side of the river. Boat tours are organized from the river side. There are several islands you can visit like the Rogue Island, River Island, and the Sentinel Island, which has a small mangrove forest. You can even visit the Chapora Fort on the other side of the river.

Morjim is named after goddess Morzai. According to a legend, the goddess arrived here riding on a peacock (mohor in local language, which eventually became Mhor-Jim, and then Morjim), but others believe the goddess was fished out from the sea by local fishermen.

It is often referred to as “Little Russia” as the beach is a favorite with many Russian tourists. Many stay back for a long time and you will even find many of them running cafes and restaurants. In recent years, some Russians have even started a taxi service.

Morjim Gallery

Luxury villa with direct access to the beach. 5* star service. Prime location of North Goa.
Villa for rent from 19 000 Rs. per night

Quick Facts About Morjim

1. Morjim is 28.2 kilometers from Panaji, 52 kilometers from Vasco da Gama via the NH 66, 27.9 kilometers from the Mopa airport, and 51 kilometers from the Dabolim international airport.
2. Morjim is quieter and more peaceful. It is one of the most tranquil North Goa beaches. There are many foreigners here, mostly Russians.
3. It is close to the most popular beaches of North Goa – Baga, Cabdolim, Calangute, Anjuna.
4. There is water sport on the beach – boat rides, water scooters, kayaking, dinghy sailing, and kite surfing, which is particularly popular here. Most water sport is at the north, as the southern end is a protected area.
5. There are beach parties and clubs, mostly at the northern side of the beach. There is a thriving nightlife here.

1. Morjim Beach is famous for the endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. The northern end of the beach is a nesting ground of the turtles.
2. Chapora River is a birders paradise. There are many birds to see here – kingfisher, cuckoo, sandpipers, bay-backed shrike, sand plover, and others. Cruise on the beautiful Chapora River, and take pictures.
3. Chance to see dolphins. Short term and half day cruises on the Chapora River.
4. Visit Chapora Fort at the confluence of the river and the sea. Just beyond the fort is the famous Vagator Beach. Get amazing views of the shoreline, the sea and river from the top of the fort. There is a church inside.
5. Visit the Siolim Fish Market. Here you will find red and white snapper, lobsters, mackerel, tuna, kingfish, mussels, tiger prawns, squids, and much more.

Best Time Of The Year To Visit Morjim Beach

November to February is the best time to visit the Morjim beach. The weather will be more pleasant then with little rain, so you can spend more time on the beach. The beach shacks will be all open, and there will be parties. You can also rent a car or bike and visit some of the other beaches in the north and even plan a trip to the Chapora Fort without worrying about rain or heat. The summer is hot and humid, and the monsoon months are very wet. Most of the shacks will also be closed.

Weather

The summer months (March to early June) are hot. The temperature ranges between 32° and 36°C. Evenings are pleasant, but the humidity will be high, so you are likely to sweat. Avoid direct sunlight exposure between 11 AM and 3 PM. The monsoon (middle of June to early September) is not as hot, but there is a lot of rain. July and August are the wettest months. On some days there can be thundershowers too. Expect high waves and choppy sea.

Weather in Morjim
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high, °C	31,6	31,5	32,0	33,0	33,0	30,3	28,9	28,8	29,5	31,6	32,8	32,4	31,3
Average low, °C	19,6	20,5	23,2	25,6	26,3	24,7	24,1	24,0	23,8	23,8	22,3	20,6	23,2
Average precipitation mm	0,2	0,1	1,2	11,8	112,7	868,2	994,8	512,7	251,9	124,8	30,9	16,7	2926

The winter (November to February) will be much more pleasant. It will be a lot cooler, the humidity will be low, and there is almost no rain. The sun won’t beat down, so you don’t have to worry about exposing your skin to UV radiation. A nice and pleasant wind blows in from the sea.

How To Reach Morjim

By Air — The Dabolim international airport is 51 kms from Morjim. Taxis are available for rent at the airport counter. Many flights connect the airport with Europe and the Indian cities throughout the day. The new Mopa airport is only 27.9 kilometers away.

By Rail — The Vasco da Gama railhead is 52 kms from Morjim.

By Road — Panaji is 28.2 kms from Morjim.

Origin of the Name

Morjim beach gets its name from the goddess Morzai. The local fishermen or Morjey, fished out the goddess from the sea. However, others believe she arrived on the back on a Mhor or peacock, which gave the goddess its name Mhor-Jim. The locals then constructed a temple for the goddess. The temple walls have beautiful Kaavi art. There is a second temple of the goddess at Morjim, which is also close.

Russians at Morjim

Morjim is Goa’s “Little Russia”. Many Russians want to escape the cold weather and welcome the warmth of Goa and Morjim’s laid-back vibe. Goa is also cheaper. Sometimes, the husbands return to work after a few months, while the wives stay back in Morjim.

Many shacks and restaurants have sign boards and menus in Russian. There are at least 10 beach shacks and restaurants in Morjim that are run by the Russians. A few hotels too are managed by them. They mostly cater to Russian guests. There is even a kindergarten run by a Russian where the visitors send their children to. Life is peaceful here as there is no conflict between the Russians and the locals. You will also find many Nepalese people working in Morjim.

Top 8 Reasons For Visiting Morjim

1. The Beach – A fantastic beach if you prefer peace and solitude. There are fewer people at Morjim even at the peak tourist season, so you will have less noise, less activity all around you, and more privacy. The 3 kilometer sandy beach is a delight. Lots of foreign tourists, mostly Russians. There are swaying palm trees all around. Fishing boats and nets on the beach. Just walk up and see the day’s catch. Camel rides are available on the beach. There are beach shacks too, mostly at the northern end, as the southern part is protected.
2. Olive Ridley Turtles – See these endangered turtles at the southern part of the beach as they swim up to lay their eggs. The nesting grounds are covered in nets to protect the babies. But you can watch the eggs from outside the nets and see the babies as they are born and begin their crawl to the sea.
3. Chapora River Cruises – This will be a very relaxing and enjoyable trip, especially if you love nature. Choose from 1-hour, 2-hour, a half-day, and even an overnight houseboat cruise on the calm and quiet Chapora. There are sunset cruises as well.
4. Siolim Fish Market – Very close to the beach, just after the bridge. In the market, you will find a lot of fish, if you are planning to cook during your Goa vacation. Choose from tuna, mackerel, tiger prawns, lobster, white and red snapper, mussels, kingfish, squid, and more. Siolim is a beautiful village with a lot of greenery. So you can spend some time here, even outside the fish market, and perhaps visit a few chapels and old temples nearby.
5. Bird Watching – The sea coast and the adjoining Chapora River is heaven for bird enthusiasts. There are many avian species to be seen here including kingfisher, cuckoo, sandpipers, bay-backed shrike, and sand plover, among others.
6. Chapora Fort – This is an old fort on the other side of the river, but is very close to the Morjim beach. For those who like Hindi movies, this is the “Dil Chahta Hai” fort, as a section of the movie was filmed here. You will get an amazing view of the shoreline, the sea and river from the top of the fort. There is a church inside. Visit the fort in late afternoon and watch a gorgeous sunset from here.
7. Surfing – You can learn surfing at the Octopus Surf School. They have very good instructors who offer surf lessons throughout the day. Lessons are also offered for the beginners. If you are experienced, then you can just take a board from them. Morjim has very nice waves that are perfect for mild surfing.
8. Beach Walking – Morjim is the start of a long sandy stretch that goes all the way to Arambol. The beach is more than 10 kilometers long. Along the way, you will pass through Ashwem and Mandrem. Best, try walking early in the morning or during sunset. Avoid the mid-day heat.

Olive Ridley Turtles

Morjim is one of the three beaches in Goa, which are major nesting grounds of the Olive Ridley sea turtles, an endangered species. The other beaches in Goa where you can see these turtles are Galgibaga and Agonda. At Morjim, the nesting site is at the northern end of the beach, close to where the Chapora River meets the sea. It is just beyond the Coco Resort, and the Paradise Beach Resort. This section of the beach is also sometimes referred to as the “Tortoise Beach”.

Turtle nesting at Morjim used to be in the month of September, but over the years, this has got delayed. Now, most of these turtles arrive in January, and the nesting season continues till late March and early April. Some scientists and environmentalists believe that this is because of climate change.

Party By The Beach

Morjim beach is not your typical party destination unlike some other places in North Goa. For parties, go to the Marbela Beach Resort, which is on the beach. They have big DJ performances every month. You can also go to Living Room, which is also on the beachfront. Rock Water is away from the beach area, but there are parties here as well. At the The Rice Mill, there are jazz nights every week during the high season. It used to be a rice mill once, and thus the name. Or, you can go to Solaris, which is at Ashwem, but is close to Morjim.

Chapora River Cruises

Chapora is a beautiful river in North Goa that flows west and empties itself into the Arabian Sea. Chapora is one of the widest rivers of Goa. It becomes wider as it meets the sea. There are many cruising options here, from short 1-hour cruises to overnight houseboat cruises. The cruise will start from Morjim Jetty and take you to many islands on the river, such as Eagle’s Island, Arabo Island, and the Colvale Island. You can also see the Shantadurga Temple at Dhargalim.

Lunch or snacks are served on the boat, depending on the duration of your cruise. Soft drinks and beer is also served. You can enjoy cruise or kayaking on the river. You can even mix the two. For example, Konkan Explorers offers a 3-hour program where you kayak for an hour and then cruise on a luxury boat for the remaining time. Thalassa, a Greek restaurant, is on the opposite side of Chapora River.

• Eagle’s is a beautiful wooded island, while Arabo has its name from the Arab boats that used to come here once.
• There is a palace with stunning octagonal towers to see here.
• There is also a mangrove area where you can see many birds and crocodiles in low tide just after Arabo.
• Colvale is a lush island with tropical vegetation. Many cruises serve lunch here. You can swim in the pleasant conditions.
• After lunch, visit a small village with ethnic colored houses.
• There is Seagulls Island as well where you can see plenty of birds.

Top 5 Best Restaurants

1. La Plage – At the northern end of the beach, La Plage serves continental and French food, and also seafood, including mackerel, sardines, and more. You will have breath taking views of the sea and sunset from here. Try the fried calamari with coconut sauce, lemongrass & papaya relish.
2. Jardin d’Ulysse – Located close to the Chapora River, it offers Italian, European, Indian, and seafood. Gluten free and vegan food is served as well. Very nice ambience, especially in the evenings.
3. Divine Gypsies – This is a great place for barbecues and a drink. The menu includes Indian, Asian, international and seafood. Owned by two brothers, they have kept the prices affordable.
4. Hakuna Matata – This laid-back open-air café is open between October and May. There is a chill-out zone with comfortable pillows and a bar area with views of the sea. Food includes Russian, French, Italian, and Indian preparations. Try their King prawns in butter garlic sauce.
5. Marbela Beach Restaurant – Located between Morjim and Ashwem beach, this sea-front restaurant is for the fine dining experience. Sit comfortably on the cushy, white sofas and enjoy the yummy food while listening to the lounge music.

Hotels

There are plenty of staying options in Morjim, including hotels, resorts, cottages, and guest houses. Most of the hotels are on the road that runs parallel to the sea, with a few of them located along the river, offering views of the Chapora. You will find both budget and premium properties in Morjim. However, there are no 5-star properties here. The most famous places to stay are:

1. Sur La Mer Boutique Hotel,
2. Morjim Club Beach Resort,
3. Pirache Village,
4. Rainbow Hotel,
5. Montego Bay Beach Village,
6. Marbela Beach Resort.

Villas

There are many good villas to rent in Morjim as well for your Goa vacation. The best villas here are The Riverlands villa, Villa Montain View, Boutique House, Villa Maia Lagoon, Villa Arabella, and the Villa Aria. Some of them are modern luxurious properties, while others are premium apartments or old colonial structures that have been wonderfully refurbished.

Ultra-luxury 5-bedroom villa with private pool. Complete privacy. Maximum comfort.

From 44 000 Rs. per night

Beautiful wooden 3 bedroom villa in Morjim with private swimming pool.

Starts from 20 000 Rs. per night

Large 4 bedroom villa. Close to all «happening spots» still in a quiet area.

Starts from 12 000 Rs. per night

* The price depends on the location, the season, and the duration of your stay. Properties with sea views cost more.

Our luxury properties offer modern amenities and facilities. You will have more space here, compared to the cramped hotel rooms. Plus, there is the garden area with greenery where you can have an outdoor picnic or a barbecue. Many villas have a private swimming pool. The entire property will be yours for the duration of your stay, so you will have more privacy. A villa is always cheaper if you are a large group.

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