Villa Morjim, Goa | A Portuguese Heritage Villa Review

Goa — one of the most popular holiday destinations in India is on the bucket list of any traveler visiting the country for the first time or returning forever. Famed for its blissful beaches, wild nightlife, fresh seafood, vibrant markets and a lot of sunshine, Goa is a beachside jewel for any kind of holiday seekers. A decade ago while I was studying in India, I went to Goa a couple of times during college days. I had already explored all the typical touristy stuff that Goa has to offer. Therefore, during my recent visit, I wanted to explore the old-world charm and authentic culture of Goa. I decided to stay at Villa Morjim — a Portuguese architecture villa in the fishing village of Morjim. It’s truly one of the most magnificent private villas in Goa and can sleep around 12 people. There is a caretaker, a cook and a watchman available 7-days a week to ensure that your stay is comfortable and safe.

How to reach Villa Morjim?

Villa Morjim is over 1.5 hours of drive from Goa International Airport. You can either hire a taxi or rent a car and self-drive. If you want to save money, there’re shuttle buses also available that departs from outside the airport premises and will drop you at Calangute. You can either take a cab or rent a bike/scooty from Calangute.

One of the best ways to reach Villa Morjim is to rent a car from the airport. It cost me 1500 INR/day or around 21 USD/day. You need to have a valid driving license and government ID proof/passport to rent a vehicle in Goa.

About the property

Villa Morjim — A luxury heritage property is nestled in the fishing village of Morjim on the banks of the Chapora River in Goa. The property is owned by Countrywide Projects Pvt. Ltd. and bought in 2001-2002. The villa was built on the ruins of an existing structure in 2005 to mimic a 200-year-old Portuguese Estate. Villa Morjim has been designed in a manner that transports you back in time.

My first impression

Splendid architecture, quaint heritage vibe, tranquility meets serenity!

A warm welcome

As I stepped inside this splendid Portuguese villa, I was fascinated by its architecture and decor. It gave a glimpse of the old world charm of Goa with extensive attention to details of everything around. A young gentleman greeted me with a lovely smile. His name was Santosh and was the caretaker of the Villa Morjim. Santosh offered me a mint welcome drink that felt quite refreshing. My room was ready and he asked about my breakfast preferences.

The entrance and the ground floor area

Surrounded by lush greenery, this 7000 sq. ft villa has 5 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms on the first and second floors. The ground floor of the villa encompasses a living area, dining room and a large country-style kitchen with island cooking. There’s a large patio outside facing towards manicured garden and the river.

From the Manglorian roof tiles to the decorative columns, from the wooden rafters to art pieces, the impression of architectural details was phenomenal. The interiors of the villa had handcrafted furniture with state-of-the-art technology and contemporary design.

Let the below pictures speak for themselves!

The rooms at Villa Morjim

All five rooms at Villa Morjim — Sala Del Sol, Suite Panorámica, Azul, Amarela and Jardin have different decor and unique personalities. The plush rooms at Villa Morjim scream vacation. You can either book an entire villa or any room as per your requirement.

Sala Del Sol Room

Sala Del Sol is a showstopper room of Villa Morjim. Every corner of the room is an ultimate treat to eyes. I didn’t stay here, but I was fortunate enough to explore all its corners as there was no guest during the day I arrived. It was my perfect excuse to take plenty of pictures as how can you ignore such a picturesque room!

From its gorgeous handmade flooring to art pieces to the view from the balcony, this is one of the most Instagrammable rooms I’ve ever seen!

One of the main highlights of Sala Del Sol is a private mosaic terrace overlooking the garden and the Chapora River.  It’s a perfect spot to take some Instagram-worthy pictures!

Our Suite Panorámica

Our Suite Panorámica was located on the 2nd floor of the villa and had a panoramic view of the garden and the Chapora River.  As soon as I entered, I was blown away by the decor of the suite. It was spacious and tastefully furnished and blended perfectly with the elegant Portuguese décor theme. There was a bed covered by a mosquito net. The suite had a lot of natural lighting from all the corners setting a positive aura. There were plenty of plug points available in the suite.

I was also impressed by the blue wooden door that was popping over the neutral walls. How could a girl obsessed with colorful #instadoors miss a chance of getting captured in front of it! 😉

The soft lighting of the suite at night definitely sets your zen mode on. It felt so soothing returning to my comfy bed after such a long day. I’ve to admit that I slept like a baby on all the days during my stay.

Now let me show you a glimpse of our large en-suite bathroom with a tub. The swanky fittings rendered a contemporary touch to the Portuguese décor theme and nicely complemented the overall grandeur of the suite.

The blue color-popping out over neutral walls were aesthetically pleasing to eyes. I almost took 10 minutes sitting inside the empty tub just to soak the decor around!

The view from Suite Panorámica

If you’ve been regular to Ana’s World, you know how much I’m a sucker of the view from my hotel’s room. Villa Morjim gets full points as the below picture speaks for itself!

Sunita’s Kitchen

Sunita’s Kitchen is an in-house restaurant at this villa. Sunita is a cook and a lady behind all the actions inside the kitchen. Whether you want to taste the authentic Goan food or North/South Indian food, you name it and you’ll be served hand-crafted and freshly prepared from her kitchen.

The breakfast is complimentary for all the guests. You need to tell your preference in advance.

The lunch and dinner aren’t complimentary but you should definitely try Sunita’s home-cooked food which is healthy and incredibly delicious. I literally had a feast enjoying her non-greasy food cooked in less oil. Some of my favorite food from Sunita’s Kitchen were Dal Tadka (a lentil soup served with spices and herbs), Sol Kadhi (a pink-colored appetizer drink made from the kokum fruit and coconut milk) and the Bharwa Shimla Mirch (bell peppers stuffed with potatoes and spices).

I’m allergic to seafood but do try Sunita’s signature Goan Fish Curry during your stay!

Plenty of lounging areas

The villa has plenty of lounging areas where you can sit with a book, relax and enjoy the serenity around.

There’s a common room on the first floor of the villa which will attract all the bookworms. There’re shelves with light reads, best-selling novels and storybooks. Dig out as per your interest and enjoy your evening.

One of my favorite lounging areas in the villa was sitting on the patio overlooking the moon and enjoying a drink after a long day!

Activities

The guest can book canoe tours to evening boat safaris upstream through the mangroves, the Chapora waterfront has a lot to offer. For Ayurvedic massages, an on-call therapist is available. There’s also a grill available in the garden.

Attractions in the vicinity

i) Morjim Beach

Morjim Beach is 350 meters from Villa Morjim and a walk of 5 minutes. If you dream of a secluded beach in Goa, Morjim Beach would be an ultimate dream. There’re only a few shacks operating in the season that serves cocktails, seafood, local Goan cuisine and Indian delights.

Famed for protecting last refuges of the highly endangered Olive Ridley turtle, Morjim Beach is also a popular destination for nature lovers and conservation enthusiasts.

ii) Fort Chapora

Located around 3 miles from Villa Morjim, the ruins of Fort Chapora are located on a hill that has a breathtaking view of the beach, coconut grooves, the estuary and  Chapora village.  Fort Chapora is famous for a popular Bollywood movie ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ whose title track has been shot here. Visit early if you want to take some beautiful shots as the place is buzzing with the crowd during the day.

You can also visit Chapora and Vagator Beaches which are accessible and home to several restaurants that serve cuisines from across the world.

iii) Anjuna Beach

Anjuna Beach is located around 6 miles from the Villa Morjim known for its feathery coconut groves as a backdrop and a long stretch of sand. The beach is popular among the locals as well as tourists for its buzzing energy.

Some other splendid beaches that you can explore in North Goa while staying at the Villa Morjim are Aswem beach (1 mile), Arambol Beach (10 miles), Baga Beach (10 miles).

The Verdict

Blessed with a delightful touch of Portuguese architecture, I felt that Villa Morjim is truly a hidden gem to experience Goan culture. From its homemade food to a comfortable stay to incredible hospitality, I had a wonderful time staying at Villa Morjim. Although there are many mosquitoes in Goa, the staff creates a natural smoke in the evenings between 6 and 7 and supplements it with incense sticks to make your evenings comfortable. There’s also no pool available on the property but the beach is only a few minutes away. I’d highly recommend Villa Morjim to anyone who is looking for a secluded getaway and wants to experience the authentic Goan culture.  Staying in Villa Morjim would be an ultimate choice if you’re looking for a home away from home in Goa.

Many thanks to Santosh and Sunita for making my stay amazing!

Perfect for: family getaway, couple getaway, girlfriends/friends getaway or family events.

Want to book Villa Morjim, you can book the property directly by submitting 
your query to Countrywideresorts@gmail.com with a booking code 
#anasmorjim and get a special discounted rate for your ultimate stay!

Do share your experience if you’ve stayed at Villa Morjim in the comments below? If not, what do you think about this heritage property?

Till then, Happy Wandering!
Ana

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Disclaimer: My stay has been hosted by Villa Morjim but all the views are 100% my own. For more information on my disclosure policy, click here.

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