Ozran Beach is perhaps trippy and hippy North Goa’s best kept secret. While Vagator over the years, has become one of the party and tourist hotspots, Ozran Beach still continues to be the secluded bit of paradise. Now whether you're staying at one of the hostels or boutique hotels in Vagator or visiting the area for a meal, this travel guide to Ozran Beach will have you and your gang sorted.
Eat, Stay, Shop: Here's How To Make The Most Of Your Time At Ozran Beach, Vagator
Where To Stay Near Ozran Beach
While at the beach itself there are not many stay options, the surrounding area has enough hotels, BnBs and hostels to fit every kind of budget.
If you’re looking to spend your holiday in the lap of luxury, there’s W Hotel with its utterly Instagrammable rockpool, which is a world of its own. Comparatively cheaper, but with a great view and not as mainstream, is Aria Beach Resort — perched on the cliff - this resort will house you in luxury while also offering you some great views of the beach below and the forests around. Similarly, if you’re keen on stay that’s comes with beach access and a great in-house restaurant and a pool, you can check into Antares.
Budget accommodation around the Ozran Beach are aplenty as well — Casa Vagator is one of our favourites simply because it has some of the best combination of rooms, views and food and drinks. The Grand Leony Resort is both stunning and economical, and just a stone’s throw away from the beach.
Given the area is so popular with backpackers and budget travellers numerous hostels have sprung up in the area — Jungle By Hostel Crowd, Dreams Hostel and Green Rover are some great options. You’re likely to have a lovely stay, while meeting travellers from many other parts of the world and indulging in some of the hippie adventures that Goa is so well known for.
Where To Eat At/Around Ozran Beach
This is a particularly difficult one since the options are so many. Great food is absolutely uncompromisable here — start with an Antares, and move on to Titlie, a culinary bar with some of the most gorgeous sunset views. Alcove Bar and Restaurant is another great option for some delectable Goan food. Beach House, at the Aria Beach Resort, is the perfect place for sundowners and seafood. Perched on the hillside, it serves some great cocktails and comes with stunning views. Tin Tin is where we head for our fill of comfort food and Don Rob’s is where we call it a day over a few drinks with friends.
For beach bums like us, beach shacks are aplenty here — Fishtail, Boomshankar and Kumar’s are old-time favourites.
What To Do On Ozran Beach
If we could tell you in one word — it’d be ‘explore’. Why the Ozran beach is our favourite is because it’s separated into several parts, thanks to the huge rocks which come down along the side of the cliffs and meet the ocean. So if you were in one part of the beach, particularly at high tide you’d not know the other parts existed. So go figure.
Once you’re done exploring, there’s still plenty to do at the Ozran beach — the beach is definitely one of the prettiest this side of Goa, the landscape broken by several cliffs and rocks. During winters, you’re likely to spot some of the most gorgeous sunsets here. If you want to go take a dip, but have forgotten your swimwear, several small shops line the beach and will sell you everything from swimwear to surfboards.
Go for a swim, but be careful of the rocks — there are designated swimming areas so check with the lifeguards. Further down the beach there is also the legendary Shiva’s face carved out on the rocks, finding which is an expedition in itself — so like we started, when at the Ozran Beach — ‘go explore’!
If you're the partying type, Larive & Chronicle are common choices. Alternatively, check out HillTop for its legendary late-night trance parties and if you come during season time, between Oct and March, they host the hugely loved Goa Collective Bazaar flea market every Friday evening.