Private Portuguese Heritage Tour: Se Cathedral, Basilica of Bom Jesus and Dona Paula Beach in Goa
Description
Discover Goa’s historical Portuguese influences on this private half-day tour. Learn about Goa’s colonial history as you visit some of the region’s most Portuguese-influenced sites including the Se Cathedral and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica of Bom Jesus. Then, visit Fontainhas, the heavily Portuguese-influenced Latin Quarter in the city of Panaji, before marveling at fantastic views of the Arabian Sea from one of Goa’s hidden gems, the Dona Paula Jetty. After your tour, you can choose to enjoy a traditional Goan and Portuguese lunch at the popular O’Coquerio restaurant.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide at your Goa hotel and travel in private, air-conditioned comfort to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, Basilica of Born Jesus. Walk across the marble floor that’s inlaid with precious stones and visit the remains of Catholic missionary St Francis Xavier. Learn about this man’s life from your guide, as well as from the detailed paintings that decorate the interior. Head upstairs to a gallery of surrealist paintings from Dom Martin, a Goan painter.
Travel by foot to Se Cathedral, known by locals as Se Cathedral of Santa Catarina. This gothic-style Portuguese architecture houses one of the largest bells in Goa and is dedicated to a saint who was martyred in the 4th century for her Christian devotion
Wander the Latin Quarter, known as Fontainhas and experience the sights, sounds and flavors of Portuguese influence first hand as you explore the streets.
Make a stop at St Sebastian Chapel, where statues of historic figures like Abade Faria, a Roman Catholic monk, are displayed.
Next, travel in comfort to Dona Paula Jetty, a peaceful bay where epic views of Mormugao Harbor and the Arabian Sea make for the perfect photo op. Take in the natural wonder of the scene that’s unique to this out of the way treasure before heading to a tiny market on the waterway.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up and Drop off location for this tour Panaji / Calangute / Candolim / Baga. Supplement cost will be applicable for pickup beyond the above set pickup pointturns to original departure point
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A small amount of walking is involved; comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- No strict dress code is enforced to enter places of worship. However, please be advised to dress accordingly; short shorts or sleeveless tops are not recommended
- Lunch costs including drinks usually range between USD $2 and USD $15
Reviews(21)
Very enriching family trip organised by Gets holidays . Grateful to Azhar and Nikhil to have proposed a custom holiday package for three days and three nights. The family really enjoyed the Goan culture and ways and of life.
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback with us. We’re delighted to hear that you and your family had such an enriching trip and enjoyed experiencing the vibrant Goan culture and way of life. We truly appreciate your kind words for our team. It is rewarding for them to know that the three days and three nights in Goa were memorable for your family. Thank you for choosing Gets Holidays for your family vacation. We look forward to welcoming you again and creating many more memorable journeys together.
We had a very pleasant time at this half day tour of Goa's main highlights, and our guide Mahesh and driver Dilip were very accommodating and understanding, especially with my elderly parents who were with us on the tour. Having an air-conditioned car in the heat of the day was a blessing, and highly recommended if you do not wish to do a tour entirely on foot (i.e., a walking tour). Our favourite stop of the tour was at Fontainhas, which was an absolute oasis in the middle of the bustling city of Panaji. I recommend this tour if you want to learn about the history of Goa and landmarks of cultural significance.
This tour was a fraud, not by the Portuguese operator Pinto Lopes Viagens, but by the internal Guides. Never in any trip have we had guides so weak. The guide who accompanied us never gave information about where we were, when we were doing it or were incorrect or read previously on the mobile phone. The guide of Goa, did not know the hours, thought that they were closing at 18h but they had the indication of 17h (the hours were in an old table!!), so we did not enter 3 CHURCHES (example Basilica of Good Jesus), the cathedral went in and out. In Diu of the 4 churches programmed, 3 were in restoration, the Fortress of Panikotha we only saw it from land, we were in the Forte de Diu, we came to the truck and asked the guide and the city where it is "here" we had to put pressure to take us to the city.
Dyanadeep was a great guide. Shared a lot of knowledge of the Portuguese history of Goa, plus a lot of current plans for improvement. Enjoyed the walk through the Latin Quarter. Our driver, Ramesh, was excellent navigating his way through the Goan traffic.
Our expectations have been superseded by the actual heritage that is available in Goa. It attracts also lots of Indian youth
Hello Karina, Thank you so much for your valuable feedback and kind words. We appreciate you taking the time out to share your thoughts with us. This in turn helps us to stay motivated. Hope to see you soon again. Thank you once again for choosing us as your travel partner. Best wishes!!!
It was a perfect day, where our guide was good and very informative on the history of goa. Specifically the how the Portuguese have influenced thus area
Dear Karina, Glad to know you a had a lovely time visiting Goa, India's smallest yet so happening state. Thank you for sharing your experience. We hope you try our other tours as well in future.
Nice historical tour with all key Portuguese objects in Goa yo be seen - old Goa, Panjin and Dona Paula viewpoint. About 4 hours
Dear Alexander, Thank you for sharing your lovely experience at Goa. We are glad you had a good time taking the historical tour. Hope you try our other tours as well in future.
Nice tour, quite relaxing and comfortable (about 4 hours max, but it’s fine). Expect to see three main churches in old Goa (Se, St.Anton and Franciscan monastery), magnificent Immaculate Conception church in Panjin (was closed at moment due to anti-COVID measures), walk along old Portuguese quarter of Fontaines and see views from Dona Paula point.
Dear Alex, Thank you so much for your valuable feedback and kind words. We appreciate you taking the time out to share your thoughts with us. This in turn helps us to stay motivated. Hope to see you soon again. Thank you once again for choosing us as your travel partner. Best wishes!!!
A wonderful tour focusing on the Portuguese heritage of Goa. Mr Sachin, our guide, was knowledgeable, informative and personable. Mr Santos’s, our driver, took great care of us on the road and his vehicle clean and cool. A must do tour if interested in Portuguese influence on Goa.
Dear Edward, Thank you so much for your valuable feedback and kind words. We appreciate you taking the time out to share your thoughts with us. This in turn helps us to stay motivated. Hope to see you soon again. Thank you once again for choosing us as your travel partner. Best wishes!!!
The guide was very kind and knowledgeable and showed us highlights of Goa and even made a few stops for us to get personal items.
Dear Donna, Thank you so much for your valuable feedback and kind words. We appreciate you taking the time out to share your thoughts with us. This in turn helps us to stay motivated. Hope to see you soon again. Thank you once again for choosing us as your travel partner. Best wishes!!!
