Private Tour
Glimpses Of Goa: Churches,Temple and Spice Plantation
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Join me on this tour as we explore Goa for its cultural history the once famous entrepot for traders and merchants. The dominant Portuguese rule for 450 years in Goa has left behind beautiful colonial architecture of monuments, buildings and houses that have survived till date to reveal their stories. As we journey through the past and present of Goa on this tour be intrigued and mesmerised by the factual stories and anecdotes I share of my homeland Goa with you.
Experience a Goan marketplace where local merchants sell their indigenous produce. Encounter Goa's mysterious past riddled with local lore as you visit the Church at Old Goa and Hindu Temple that have a deep and a profound rich history. End the trip with a visit to a local spice plantation and relish a real authentic Goan meal made from locally sourced ingredients.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
A Strict Decorum of dress code to be followed at the Churches and Temples. No shorts, sleeveless Tops, mini skirts, No strapless or fine strap dresses or short dresses or Sleeveless T-shirts or No T-shirts or Blouse tops above midriff are to be worn at these places of worship.
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.
If you are to be picked up from the Mormugao Harbour . The guide will be standing at the exit point after Immigration Check, with a Viator Placard having your name on it.
No Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic Beverages will be served with the lunch at the Plantation. All Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic beverages are to be purchased on direct payment.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Fontainhas
Walk through the Old Quarter to see the Old Goan Houses and the Colonial Style Architecture
Tropical Spice Plantation
Visit Of Spice plantation To See And Learn Some Of The Medicinal Values Of Each Spice And Herb Grown On The Plantation.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Lunch is Provided At The Plantation
English Speaking Guide
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
No Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic Beverages will be served with the lunch. All Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic beverages are to be purchased on direct payment.
Pickup points
Marmagao Vasco Da Gama
Dabolim Airport
India
Options
Glimpses Of Goa: Churches,Temple and Spice Plantation
Pickup included
Reviews
64 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent tour of the Goa region
vkothari916,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mario was very informative and managed to cover many of the highlights of Goa in one day. He also was flexible in accommodating the tour to meet our interests (shopping) and dinner plans. Highly recommend this private tour to anyone visiting the area.
Mr. Mario, Deu Borem Korum
Luigi S,,Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mr. Mario is definitely the best tour guide we have had in all our experiences anywhere in the world so far. Super knowledgeable, kind, and always available to accommodate last-minute requests. Qualities that any traveler looks for, whether the trip is for relaxation or adventure. The main strengths of his service are: Experience: Mario has been doing this job for 25 years now— and you can feel it! Even the smallest details are planned in advance rather than randomly arranged and later rationalized. There’s a huge difference, especially when it comes to services. Safe immersion: He wants to introduce you to the local environment while still keeping all necessary precautions. Lunch was fantastic, with delicious local cuisine—an absolute must-try. He truly cares about food quality. 5-star hygiene and service: Throughout the tour he constantly checked whether we were comfortable and if we needed water. During two points of the long route (right after the sweatiest parts) he provided us with sterilized towels soaked in cool, pleasantly scented water. All that after providing sanitazing gel. Wow! Warm personality and expertise: All the explanations he gave were delivered with passion and attention to detail. Being a tourist quite interested in history, I usually ask more questions than average. Despite this, he answered everything with enthusiasm and politeness. The one time he didn’t know the answer, he never tried to make something up or justify himself. He simply said, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out and let you know.” Great respect for this gentleman—with a capital G. Flexibility: Besides everything related to the tour, he allowed us to start a bit later since we had arrived in Goa the night before. He let us stop three times to buy what we needed and protected us in every situation to avoid typical tourist surcharges. Very much appreciated. I won’t go into detail about the activities, as they are described much better (and were fully respected throughout the tour) on his website or on those of third-party travel operators who resell his services. Specifically, we chose the package including the visit to the churches and Old Goa + a guided tour of a spice plantation (with local Goan lunch included). Thank you again, Mr. Mario — see you soon to continue our South Indian adventures.
Amazing tour
370divnav,,Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I cannot compliment Mr. Mario enough for the Glimpses of Goa tour. We spent the most wonderful day learning about Goan culture and heritage. The history of the Portuguese presence in the area, along with the architecture and Christian churches, was fascinating, as was the visit to the spice plantation. We enjoyed a great traditional lunch and learned a lot about spice cultivation, their properties, and some interesting tips on how to use them. The plantation is located in the middle of the forest, giving you the feeling of being in the Indian jungle. I also wanted to buy some typical Indian jewellery, and he kindly took us to a place where we found very fine pieces that suited our budget perfectly. Mr. Mario thought of every small detail. Since the day was very hot, he provided us with chilled water and cool towels for refreshment throughout the tour. It was definitely one of the best tours we’ve ever had, and we are looking forward to taking another tour with him the next time we visit Goa.
History, Heart, and Hospitality – Our Old Goa Experience
GoPlaces67827574205,,Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the absolute pleasure of exploring Old Goa with Mario. His deep knowledge of Goa's history, culture, and architecture brought each site to life in a way that was both engaging and informative. We visited some truly stunning places – from the iconic Basilica of Bom Jesus and Latin Quarters to some lesser known hidden gems that we would never have discovered on our own. Mario didn’t just show us around; he shared stories, local insights, and even some interesting trivia that made the whole experience memorable. What stood out most was his passion for Goa’s heritage and extremely warm and friendly nature. I highly recommend booking a tour with Mario. It’s an experience you won’t forget!
Excellent tour guide!
cgarcia0623,,Jun 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mario was amazing and really added to our experience exploring Goa! He’s knowledgeable and passionate about the area, and he took great care of us!
Best Tour of Goa!
Matthew Boyf,,Jun 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was wonderful! Mario was so full of knowledge starting from the history of Goa’s founding to the detailed history of all of the places we visited. He did a great job of telling the story of Goa in such a way that kept you intrigued to find out what would be next on the tour. We were able to see a variety of places and had great first hand experiences with the things that make up Goa. I would give Mario and his crew 10 stars if I could!
Would highly recommend
TFrank2006,,Jun 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mario was a fantastic tour guide! He showed us the amazing sights of Goa and gave us the experience of a lifetime. Would highly recommend! Thank you Mario!
Highly recommended
S1837QHalexw,,May 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mario provides a truly excellent service. Very communicative, organised and helpful. We were a group of 7 and did the "Glimpses of Goa" tour and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Mario is incredibly knowledgeable and his love of Goa shines through. Save yourself the hassle and stress of trying to sightsee on your own and let Mario handle it all - including refreshments, wet towels and wonderfully comfortable transport. Thank you Mario!
For sure, the amazing Goa tour guide you need to get!
alberto eme,,Apr 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The first time I hired Mario's services was back in 2019 during a short trip to Goa. Now, in this trip in April 2025, I've hired Mario's tour guide services again and why? Just because my experience back in 2019 was great and because this time I was not travelling alone and I was with my partner and I wanted that she had a very good experience and knowledge about Goa that only someone like Mario can provide. If you want a very professional, full of knowledge about Goa, its culture, history and religion; someone amazingly friendly, educated and polite, with a timely and organised service... just, please, do yourself a favor and contact Mário and hire his services. Since the first moment I've contacted Mário by email, all our preparation by email worked swiftly and well and, as soon as you meet him when he picks you up for the first time and you see his genuine smile, you just feel like "Yes! This will be a very good time in Goa.". And that's was it. Mário is like that friend of your friend that is there to guide you and make the best of your trip to Goa. Don't hesitate to hire Mário's services. You'll get one of the best local guides like I've had in my trips.
Wonderful day with Mario
louiseayre,,Mar 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a fabulous day we had with Mario and John on the glimpses of Goa tour . Right from our initial enquiry we felt that we were in good hands . Having never been before Mario helped us to choose the tours that would suit our interest in learning a bit more about Goa . He is such a lovely , interesting guy whose knowledge is incredible . The day flew by and unlike a lot of tours we thoroughly enjoyed every single stop . John was a great driver with a comfortable roomy car and we felt very safe . Mario genuinely cares that his guests enjoy their time on the tour and we really couldn’t have asked for a better day . We would highly recommend exotic Goan experiences . Thank you Mario !
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