Dolphins at the Mandovi mouth, kayaks at Nerul
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins feed in the shallow water off the mouth of the Mandovi, and the calmest seas and best chances are in the early morning. We charter a private boat from Sinquerim or Nerul rather than joining the crowded shared trips, and run out past the Aguada headland and the old jail toward the river mouth.
Dolphin sightings are frequent but not guaranteed. Your boatman will stay a respectful distance and cut the engine when the animals surface, and the trip also gives fine views of the fort walls from the water. After about 90 minutes, we land at Nerul.
At Nerul, sit-on-top kayaks and a guide take you into the mangroves that line the Nerul river, a quiet world of egrets, kingfishers and fiddler crabs only a short way from the busy beaches. On a rising tide the channels are deep enough to paddle easily, and the route turns back well before the heat of the day.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Are dolphin trips in Goa ethical?
They can be, if boats keep their distance, avoid chasing the animals and limit numbers around a group. We charter private boats with operators who follow these rules and avoid the crowded shared trips where several boats close in on the same dolphins.
What are the chances of seeing dolphins off Aguada?
On calm mornings from October to April, sightings are frequent, but they are never guaranteed. The best odds are early, between 7 and 9 am, when the sea is flat and the dolphins are feeding near the river mouth.
Do you need experience to kayak at Nerul?
No. The Nerul river is sheltered, and we go on a rising tide with stable sit-on-top kayaks and a guide. Children from about eight can paddle in a double kayak with an adult. Life jackets are provided and worn at all times.
Also in Candolim, Sinquerim and Nerul
More hours to plan around
