Transportation in Goa

Motorbikes

For the independent medical tourism traveler, motorbike rentals are the best way to get around and soak in the local ambience at your own pace.  Make sure to keep your license and insurance papers with you, and wear a helmet at all times – local cops prey on foreigners as their primary source of “revenue.”  If you have an International Driving License get it endorsed at the local Directorate of Transport.  For yet another motorbike experience, hire a black and yellow motorbike cab.  Drivers, known locally as pilots, will drop you off at your location for a fair price, and these taxis are perfect for a quick jaunt to the beach or a trip into town from one of the resorts. Be sure to ask for the price upfront.  Haggling is sometimes possible. 

Buses

State and privately owned local buses can take you to all the major beaches, and unlike many other bus systems in India, these transports are often empty throughout much of the day.  If you’re heading directly to one of the beaches, catching one that’ll get you there is easy – all beaches in Goa are named after the villages that they wind along which is why the names change just a few kilometers upwards. 

Tourist Taxis

These are privately owned indigenous Maruti vans with white background number plates.  Fares are negotiated beforehand, but if you’re not sure what the fares ought to be, ask a traffic cop – he’s the one in the white shirt and navy blue pants.  Tourist taxis can be found outside major sights and hotels, so finding one shouldn’t be a problem. 

Cabs

India’s ubiquitous black and yellow cabs are present in Goa too, identified by the meter fixed at the driver’s side.  Most meters are faulty – ask to see the fare chart which is compulsorily carried by all cab drivers. 

Ferries