1. Divar Island: Local Goan Village Tour with Traditional Lunch
Go on a tour of Divar Island and discover the mix of paddy fields, ancient temples, pretty churches, Indo-Portuguese houses, and winding roads that speak to the region's complex history. As you disembark the ferry, meet locals sitting with their fishing rods cast in the Mandovi River and learn about the methods they use to snare a catch. Then follow your local guide into the village, appreciating the rainbow of colorful houses lining the streets. Learn how the Portuguese occupation of the area shaped the village for centuries to come. Check out the 16th century St. Mathias Church, the quaint Our Lady of Candelaria Chapel, and the ancient Saptakoteshwar Temple. Stop into a traditional Goan bakery to see how the local bread is baked and snag a few recipes from the chef. After touring the village, fill up on a delicious lunch in a traditional Portuguese house. At the end of the tour, head up into the island hills and stop for a magnificent view of the Old Churches of Goa and the river below before taking a ferry back to the mainland.