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Private Eco-Tour: Crocodile Watching With Heritage Trail
1 day
Private
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Goa might be known for its beaches, but it’s also home to tons of wildlife and a handful of spice plantations. Experience the best of this state on your private eco-tour with crocodile-watching and a spice plantation visit.
Your driver will collect you from your hotel, where you’ll travel by an air-conditioned vehicle to Cumbarjua Canal. Your guide and lifeguard will travel with you on the ferry for a 3-hour (approx.) crocodile-spotting cruise on the canal. Learn from your guide why this is the only place in Goa where crocodiles live at peace with the local fishing community. Have your camera ready, since your guide will point out these giant animals on land and water. Enjoy complimentary fresh fruit and drinks on board as you explore the estuary.
Return to your private vehicle at the end of the cruise and travel for about 30 minutes to the city of Ponda, where you’ll visit the Tropical Spice Plantation. The 45-minute tour showcases Goa’s rich farming traditions and your guide will explain how locally cultivated spices are used for traditional cuisine and medicinal purposes. Learn how locals farm betel leaves by scaling their towering trunks and see cashew or coconut feni being fermented.
Finally, sample the spices you learned about on your tour during a traditional Goan buffet of vegetarian, meat, and fish-based dishes. Enjoy prawn curry and savory chicken xacuti at the plantation before heading to the next stop at Old Goa.
Head toward the famous Basilica of Bom Jesus, which houses the mummified body of the patron saint of Goa, St. Francis Xavier. The Basilica was constructed in 1605 and is famous for housing the tomb and mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The body of the saint is still preserved after more than 400 years, surprising for many scientists.
Then visit the Se cathedral, which took more than 62 years to complete, commissioned in 1631. Explore the church dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Finally, finish up the day with transportation back to your hotel.
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Your driver will collect you from your hotel, where you’ll travel by an air-conditioned vehicle to Cumbarjua Canal. Your guide and lifeguard will travel with you on the ferry for a 3-hour (approx.) crocodile-spotting cruise on the canal. Learn from your guide why this is the only place in Goa where crocodiles live at peace with the local fishing community. Have your camera ready, since your guide will point out these giant animals on land and water. Enjoy complimentary fresh fruit and drinks on board as you explore the estuary.
Return to your private vehicle at the end of the cruise and travel for about 30 minutes to the city of Ponda, where you’ll visit the Tropical Spice Plantation. The 45-minute tour showcases Goa’s rich farming traditions and your guide will explain how locally cultivated spices are used for traditional cuisine and medicinal purposes. Learn how locals farm betel leaves by scaling their towering trunks and see cashew or coconut feni being fermented.
Finally, sample the spices you learned about on your tour during a traditional Goan buffet of vegetarian, meat, and fish-based dishes. Enjoy prawn curry and savory chicken xacuti at the plantation before heading to the next stop at Old Goa.
Head toward the famous Basilica of Bom Jesus, which houses the mummified body of the patron saint of Goa, St. Francis Xavier. The Basilica was constructed in 1605 and is famous for housing the tomb and mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The body of the saint is still preserved after more than 400 years, surprising for many scientists.
Then visit the Se cathedral, which took more than 62 years to complete, commissioned in 1631. Explore the church dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Finally, finish up the day with transportation back to your hotel.
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- English-speaking guide
- Private air-conditioned transport to/from site locations
- Spice plantation tour
- Crocodile-spotting boat
- Refreshments during crocodile spotting
- Goan lunch at the local plantation, not including drinks
- Water bottle on board the vehicle
- Entry/Admission - Sahakari Spice Farm
Not included
- Gratuities
- Drinks (available for purchase)
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please note that lunch will not be served until mid- to late-afternoon. Complimentary refreshments are available on board the crocodile-sightseeing boat. You’re welcome to bring a packed lunch if you’d like to eat prior to the buffet lunch.
- We do not guarantee of crocodile spotting, however we try our best to showcase.
- Tours will not be conducted from Park Hyatt, Haathi Mahal, Ramada Caravela, Club Mahindra, RGBC Royal palms & Emerald palms or any other resort which have been affected by Taxi union problem.
- Only Ex. Panaji / Calangute / Candolim / Baga , Supplement cost will be applicable for pickup beyond the above set pickup point
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Original
85%
Tourism
80%
Cultural
45%
Adrenaline
25%
Reviews
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Don't believe the photo or the description! We had a great day and the guide looked after us very well, however the elephant 'bathing' and '15-20 minute ride' really let the day down as neither are as described on the website. The website description of the bathing was what mainly attracted both my wife and daughter to make the booking but what is described and pictured as an experience in scrubbing their back, legs and even behind the ears in what looks like a river or lake actually consisted of sitting on the elephant's back in a concrete, dry, pool whilst the elephant drew water from a 'well' and sprayed it over us - yes this was an enjoyable experience but not the one we expected. Then we went for our ride. Described as a 15-20 minute once-in-a-lifetime opportunity exploring the outskirts of the plantation actually consisted of 4-5 minutes around the car park. Had the description on the website been accurate we would not have booked this trip at the price listed, we had other trips we could have booked but this appeared to satisfy several items on our waitlist - the website needs to be changed to honestly describe what is delivered and reduce the price accordingly.