Butterfly Beach
A hidden little bay north of Palolem, reachable only by boat or on foot. Dolphin watching in the early morning can include a stop on shore, making it the classic half-day trip from Palolem.
Butterfly Beach is a small bay enclosed by jungle cliffs. There is no road access. The sand is short and steep, and it gets its name from the butterflies often seen in the nearby trees. Next to it is an even smaller beach called Honeymoon Beach. The classic way to visit is to find a boatman on Palolem Beach and book a combined “dolphins and Butterfly Beach” trip. Set off at 7 to 8 a.m. and first look for Indian humpback dolphins outside the bay, then land for about an hour of swimming and snorkeling. The whole trip takes 2 to 3 hours and costs about ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 per boat, which you must negotiate in person. You can also hike about 1 hour down a forest path from the Agonda direction. If the water inside the bay is deep and the waves are strong, do not venture far. There are no facilities on shore, so bring your own drinking water and sunscreen. At high tide the beach becomes very narrow.
Opening hours
Open all day (most boat departures in the morning)
Nearby sights
- Canacona Island
- Palolem Beach
- Agonda Beach
- Patnem Beach
- Cola Beach (Khola)
- Talpona Beach
- Galgibaga Beach
- Shree Mallikarjun Temple