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Goa Heritage Tour: Colonial Architecture & Culture
5.0
61 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
- Lunch
- English Speaking Guide
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- English Speaking Guide
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
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
(61 Ratings)
5 stars
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Cgarcia0623
Jun 9, 2025
Excellent tour guide! - Mario was amazing and really added to our experience exploring Goa! He’s knowledgeable and passionate about the area, and he took great care of us!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matthew_boyf
Jun 3, 2025
Best Tour of Goa! - This tour was wonderful! Mario was so full of knowledge starting from the history of Goa’s founding to the detailed history of all of the places we visited. He did a great job of telling the story of Goa in such a way that kept you intrigued to find out what would be next on the tour. We were able to see a variety of places and had great first hand experiences with the things that make up Goa. I would give Mario and his crew 10 stars if I could!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tfrank2006
Jun 3, 2025
Would highly recommend - Mario was a fantastic tour guide! He showed us the amazing sights of Goa and gave us the experience of a lifetime. Would highly recommend! Thank you Mario!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S1837qhalexw
May 19, 2025
Highly recommended - Mario provides a truly excellent service. Very communicative, organised and helpful. We were a group of 7 and did the "Glimpses of Goa" tour and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Mario is incredibly knowledgeable and his love of Goa shines through. Save yourself the hassle and stress of trying to sightsee on your own and let Mario handle it all - including refreshments, wet towels and wonderfully comfortable transport. Thank you Mario!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
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