Apart from the fishing village of Arambol, which attracts
a trickle of backpackers seeking a rustic alternative to
the resorts south of the river Chapora, the beautiful Pernem
coastline of long sandy beaches, lagoons and coconut plantations
has few settlements equipped to cope with visitors. However,
the picturesque, if bumpy, journey north from Arambol to
Terekol fort, on the Maharashtrian border, provides ample
incentive to spend a day away from the beach.
How to Get There
Boat:
Heading to Pernem from Anjuna, Vagator, or Chapora, one
has to travel a few kilometres inland to pick up the Main
Calangute Road, as it runs north over a low ridge of laterite
hills, to the river crossing at Siolim. Boatmen sometimes
paddle tourists over the estuary from Chapora too, although
their dugouts are unstable when laden with passengers and
they can't carry motorbikes. The two car ferries that chug
back and forth across the river from the ramp at Siolim
remain the only dependable link and one of the high points
of the journey north. Once across the river, head straight
on until one reaches a fork in the road, where a sign to
"Harmal/Terekol" marks the quick route to Arambol.
Places to Stay
The nearest accommodation area from Pernem is Arambol,
where tourist resorts are available at reasonable rates.
For better accommodation options one can check out the hotels
at the nearby cities of Mapusa, Vasco and Panjim.
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