Coco Shambhala
near Bardez, Goa
Four beautiful, self-catering villas with spa pools, set in lush tropical grounds in the charming village of Nerul, a short stroll from quiet Coco beach
Opened in December 2008 and just a few miles from the popular
Candolim and Calungute beaches, this is a hidden slice of paradise.
English owner Giles Knapton put 4 years and his ‘heart and
soul’ into creating it - and it shows.
Reached by snaking paths through dense foliage around the shared,
curved swimming pool, the spacious, shabby chic villas
manage to be both luxurious yet homely. Paint-stripped furniture
and Goan antiques add a sense of history and the cool spa pools,
sounds of nature and fragrant breezes make your cares melt away.
Each villa has two lovingly-furnished bedrooms (1 double
and 1 double/twin), a self-catering kitchen, and an
open-to-the-air-and-rafters living room/verandah with plump
cushions. You even get just the right amount of gadgetry (iPod
docks, flatscreen TVs) - who could ask for more? The lush garden
canopy screens each villa into privacy so they're popular with
couples, but Coco Shambhala is particularly fun for group bookings
of 8-16.
Having moved out to live on-site in May 2010, owner Giles is
committed to helping the local community, so he’ll encourage
you to check out the area, chat with the friendly villagers and
enjoy Nerul’s restaurants in the evenings.
Reviewed by Cathy Teesdale
Last updated 10 April 2012
Highs
- A Garden of Eden feel, thanks to the rustling of jacaranda, palm, banana and hibiscus, scents of jasmine and honesuckle, and cooing and cawing of birds
- Elegant, unfussy design, and a homely feel
- Friendly helpful service, and each villa has a dedicated car and driver at your disposal 10 hours a day, included in the tariff
- Softly-sprinkling outdoor showers in Ashlesha and Rohini; large, colonnaded spa pools in Ashvini and Bharani
- Lovely breakfasts included, and for other meals you get the flexibility of self-catering or eating out; there are great restaurants close by
Lows
- Lots of tiny, biting ants in the grass by the pool
- Ashvini and Bharani’s indoor bathrooms feel a little musty and basic in comparison to the lovely open-air ones of Rohini and Ashlesha
- Danger of indelible ‘orange blotch’ caused by bat poo if you leaves clothes hanging outside after dark
- Pricey but you do get airport transfers and use of car and driver included in the rates
