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Goa Heritage Tour: Colonial Architecture & Culture
5.0
57 Ratings
Panaji
Embark on a Goa Experiential Tour and discover the enchanting blend of ancient churches, spice plantations, and Hindu temples. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Goa.
Embark on a Goa Experiential Tour and discover the enchanting blend of ancient churches, spice plantations, and Hindu temples. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Goa.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Fontainhas - Walk through the Old Quarter to see the Old Goan Houses and the Colonial Style Architecture
- Tropical Spice Plantation - Visit Of Spice plantation To See And Learn Some Of The Medicinal Values Of Each Spice And Herb Grown On The Plantation.
- Old Goa - Visit Of Basilica De Bom Jesus Church And Sé Cathedral World Heritage Monuments Under UNESCO
- Sancoale - Visit of a Hindu Temple
- Fontainhas - Walk through the Old Quarter to see the Old Goan Houses and the Colonial Style Architecture
- Tropical Spice Plantation - Visit Of Spice plantation To See And Learn Some Of The Medicinal Values Of Each Spice And Herb Grown On The Plantation.
- Old Goa - Visit Of Basilica De Bom Jesus Church And Sé Cathedral World Heritage Monuments Under UNESCO
- Sancoale - Visit of a Hindu Temple
What's Included
- Bottled water included
- Lunch provided
- English-speaking guide available
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- All fees and taxes covered
- Bottled water included
- Lunch provided
- English-speaking guide available
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- All fees and taxes covered
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information
Join this tour to explore Goa’s rich cultural history, once a renowned hub for traders and merchants. The Portuguese ruled Goa for 450 years, leaving behind stunning colonial architecture in monuments, buildings, and houses that still stand today, each with its own story to tell. As the tour delves into Goa’s past and present, be captivated by the…
Join this tour to explore Goa’s rich cultural history, once a renowned hub for traders and merchants. The Portuguese ruled Goa for 450 years, leaving behind stunning colonial architecture in monuments, buildings, and houses that still stand today, each with its own story to tell. As the tour delves into Goa’s past and present, be captivated by the fascinating stories and anecdotes shared about this beautiful homeland.
Discover a vibrant Goan marketplace where local merchants offer their unique produce. Uncover Goa’s enigmatic past, filled with local legends, as you visit the Church at Old Goa and a Hindu Temple, both steeped in profound history. Conclude the journey with a visit to a local spice plantation and savor an authentic Goan meal crafted from locally sourced ingredients.
- A Strict Decorum of dress code to be followed at the Churches and Temples. No shorts, sleeveless Tops, mini skirts, No strapless or fine strap dresses or short dresses or Sleeveless T-shirts or No T-shirts or Blouse tops above midriff are to be worn at these places of worship.
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.
- If you are to be picked up from the Mormugao Harbour . The guide will be standing at the exit point after Immigration Check, with a Viator Placard having your name on it.
- No Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic Beverages will be served with the lunch at the Plantation. All Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic beverages are to be purchased on direct payment.
Location
Panaji
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(57 Ratings)
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Alberto_eme
Apr 14, 2025
For sure, the amazing Goa tour guide you need to get! - The first time I hired Mario's services was back in 2019 during a short trip to Goa.
Now, in this trip in April 2025, I've hired Mario's tour guide services again and why?
Just because my experience back in 2019 was great and because this time I was not travelling alone and I was with my partner and I wanted that she had a very good experience and knowledge about Goa that only someone like Mario can provide.
If you want a very professional, full of knowledge about Goa, its culture, history and religion; someone amazingly friendly, educated and polite, with a timely and organised service... just, please, do yourself a favor and contact Mário and hire his services. Since the first moment I've contacted Mário by email, all our preparation by email worked swiftly and well and, as soon as you meet him when he picks you up for the first time and you see his genuine smile, you just feel like "Yes! This will be a very good time in Goa.". And that's was it.
Mário is like that friend of your friend that is there to guide you and make the best of your trip to Goa. Don't hesitate to hire Mário's services. You'll get one of the best local guides like I've had in my trips.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Louiseayre
Mar 21, 2025
Wonderful day with Mario - What a fabulous day we had with Mario and John on the glimpses of Goa tour . Right from our initial enquiry we felt that we were in good hands . Having never been before Mario helped us to choose the tours that would suit our interest in learning a bit more about Goa . He is such a lovely , interesting guy whose knowledge is incredible . The day flew by and unlike a lot of tours we thoroughly enjoyed every single stop . John was a great driver with a comfortable roomy car and we felt very safe . Mario genuinely cares that his guests enjoy their time on the tour and we really couldn’t have asked for a better day . We would highly recommend exotic Goan experiences . Thank you Mario !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ratohe
Mar 13, 2025
Mario an excellent guide! - Last year I visited Goa and made 3 tours with Mario. This year I came back and did 2 more tours. I think this phrase reflects everything! Discovering Goa through Mario’s eyes is a beautiful experience. From history to culture, from gastronomy to markets, Mario accompanies us in an excellent way! It is with him that we know the present and past reality!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindacowan_e
Feb 21, 2025
One of our best tour experiences! - Had the best tour in Goa yesterday with Mario from Exotic Goan Excursions. He truly is one of the best tour guides we’ve ever had. He will email you after booking your tour and ask you for any specific needs, what you like to drink etc. The car was comfortable, very clean and roomy with excellent A/C. His driver is super safe. He’ll have cold water/ soda for you and ice cold scented washcloths for you- it’s HOT in Goa! He is constantly anticipating your needs and watching the time so you have the opportunity to see everything. He meets you right outside the immigration area and on the way to the first stops gives you an in-depth history of Goa. He took us to a Hindu Temple first and gave us a very in-depth education on the Hindu religion and Temple practices. From there we visited the current capital, Panjim with its colorful colonial homes, cute streets and a wonderful bakery. We heard-so many stories and learned so much. Saw the city fruit and vegetable, flower and fish markets. From there we went to Old Goa and visited St Katherine’s Church and the Basilica that houses St Francis Xavier’s, the Patron Saint of Goa, bones. Had a delicious Indian lunch, then toured the spice plantation and spice market. Mario explained everything in depth and made the day fly by. He even goes through immigration with you at the port then his driver takes you all the way up to the ship. He left us with a little gift as well. Mario is a structural engineer by schooling but has a passion for history and has been doing tours for a very long time. He knows everyone it seems and it makes everything go very smoothly. He speaks perfect English and is so knowledgeable and kind. Do yourself a huge favor and book him - you will be so happy you did!!!
Review provided by Viator
Linda
Feb 21, 2025
One of the Best Tour experience ever! - Had the best tour in Goa yesterday with Mario from Exotic Goan Excursion. He truly is one of the best tour guides we’ve ever had. He will email you after booking your tour and ask you for any specific needs, what you like to drink etc. The car was comfortable, very clean and roomy with excellent A/C. He’ll have cold water/ soda for you and ice cold scented washcloths for you- it’s HOT in Goa! He is constantly anticipating your needs and watching the time so you have the opportunity to see everything. He meets you right outside the immigration area and on the way to the first stops gives you an in-depth history of Goa. He took us to a Hindu Temple first and gave us a very in-depth education on the Hindu religion and Temple practices. From there we visited the current capital, Panjim with its colorful colonial homes, cute streets and a wonderful bakery. We heard-so many stories and learned so much. Saw the city fruit and vegetable, flower and fish markets. From there we went to Old Goa and visited St Katherine’s Church and the Basilica that houses St Francis Xavier’s, the Patron Saint of Goa, bones. Had a delicious Indian lunch, then toured the spice plantation and spice market. Mario explained everything in depth and made the day fly by. He even goes through immigration with you at the port then his driver takes you all the way up to the ship. He left us with a little gift as well. Mario is a structural engineer by schooling but has a passion for history and has been doing tours for a very long time. He knows everyone it seems and it makes everything go very smoothly. He speaks perfect English and is so knowledgeable and kind. Do yourself a huge favor and book him!!!! You won’t regret it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexandra7457
Feb 13, 2025
Great time in Goa with Mario - We recently spent two incredible days with guide Mario and driver Salim, and I can't recommend them enough. Mario went above and beyond, providing cold towels, bottles of water, and sodas, ensuring our comfort throughout the journey.
Our days began very early with a bird tour. Despite the bird sanctuary being closed for renovations, Mario arranged a private boat tour, allowing me to add several new birds to my "Life List." After breakfast at the hotel, we picked up my husband and headed to a Hindu temple, where Mario educated us on the history and stories of Hinduism, providing deep insights and fascinating anecdotes.
Our exploration continued as we visited the Basilica and Cathedral, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was enlightening to learn about how cashew nuts grow during our visit. We then enjoyed a delightful snack and wandered through an old neighborhood, where we had the chance to try a delicious local sweet.
To cap off our adventure, we visited a private collection of old items, which gave us a wonderful sense of the rich history of Goa.
Mario's meticulous planning and Salim's attentive driving made our experience truly exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment of our tour and highly recommend their services to anyone looking to explore Goa.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Don_d_walker
Jan 30, 2025
Tour of Goa - We enjoyed a great tour of Goa with Mario and would recommend him without any reservation for anyone interested in
visiting this part of India. Mario invested a great deal of attention to planning our trip and took all of our requests into consideration. He is extremely knowledgeable about the area and enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with visitors. He is also great with kids. Our daughter was not in a great mood on the day of our tour, and Mario was very patient, encouraging, and engaging with her. If you are looking for a guide who is knowledgeable about Goa and will go above and beyond in making sure you have a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience, Mario is a great choice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onastar
Jan 8, 2025
Exceptional - Mario is exceptional. His years of experience and high levels of knowledge are evident throughout the day. He left no question unanswered as he guided us expertly through a glimpse of the political, cultural and religious history of Goa. We got to visit historic churches and temples with detailed and interesting information along the way.Â
The spice plantation gave us a great insight into the cultivation, harvest , dietary and medical uses of many plants. The plantation also served us with the most delicious meal that was beyond our expectations.
Our comfort was considered throughout the day and water and cold towels were offered frequently.
We finished the day with a swim at the beach and the door to door service was great.
Communication was prompt and informative and we would not hesitate to reccomend Mario to help you enjoy a wonderful day in Goa.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S7433vascott
Dec 24, 2024
Excellent - Mario was very knowledgeable and was able to answer any questions we had. He could not have been more accommodating for our mixed group and our various requirements and nothing was too much trouble for him. I would recommend this tour to anyone looking to get a glimpse of Goa!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sriuythar
Nov 28, 2024
Highly recommend - We went on the tour of northern Goa with Mario and had a fantastic time! We felt like he really captured the essence of Goa during our tour. He is very detailed oriented and you feel that you are in good hands. He thinks of everything to make you feel comfortable. We had such lovely conversations with him and would definitely recommend his tours without hesitation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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