Days in Varkala flows, one morning you’re gliding through mangrove forest tunnels in a kayak, the next you’re spotting rare birds in Polachira Ela. Weekends might mean backwater lake swimming in the calmness of Paravoor Kayal or drifting in country boat rides with your family. Whether it’s Golden Island caves or village reflections on water, Varkala’s beauty isn’t loud but reveals slowly, like tide and wide.
Anyway, let’s see some more activities and unique things to see in Varkala:
Adventure Activities in Varkala
Water sports near Varkala Beach are a way to shake the soul. Here’s all that you can try:
- Start by racing across the waves on a jet ski (₹ 649+), salty spray in your face and cliffs rising behind you.
- Or bounce along on a banana boat (₹ 499+), laughter and shrieks mixing with sea breeze.
- For birds-eye fun, go parasailing (₹ 1,000+), coast sprawling beneath your chute.
- Shift gear into calm by kayaking through mangrove canals and Kappil Lake (₹ 499– ₹ 1,049), paddle under green tunnels, spotting kingfishers and egrets.
- Or power-boat through backwaters (₹ 399+), ripping through lagoons until you laugh. It is one of the unique things to do in Varkala.
Swim at Kappil Lake, where clear, waist-deep water meets the sea. Locals rave about safe shallow depths, which makes lake swimming popular here.
What to Do Near Varkala Beach (Beyond Water Activities)
- Start by picking the narrow cliff‑top path and join the dusk Cliff Walk, ocean on one side, chai stalls on the other, sky burning orange.
- Or take a long walk or jump in an auto to Janardanaswamy Temple to soak in stillness, incense, and an 800‑year‑old pulse.
- Spend time at the Ayurvedic retreats in Varkala. The Adishakti Yogashala Retreat welcomes with its tranquil beauty. It unfolds near the Varkala beach, where towering cliffs and quiet shores create a dramatic site. You can also find some Ayurvedic bookshops with unusual old oils and genuine chats (not tourist fluff) near the beach.
- Take a morning boat ride to Ponnumthuruthu (9km out) and listen to cawing herons and flocks, and spot kingfishers anytime from sunrise to sunset.
Places to Eat in Varkala
- Stroll to Abba Restaurant on the cliff from 7 AM, dig into Swedish‑baked bread, calamari, and schnitzel with sunset views.
- Head to Avocado Vegan Café on Resort Road from 8 AM, sip a chia‑pudding bowl and watermelon juice in a peaceful garden setting.
- Climb up to Ayur Sea View Vegetarian, rooftop by the sea from 8 AM, ladle organic veggie curries and fresh shakes.
- Walk near the station to Brahmas Veg Palace, open from breakfast, indulge in Kerala-style thali, appam–puttu in a no-frills space.
- Breeze into Sree Prasadam on the town cliff from breakfast until afternoon dosa and thali, hearty South Indian fare, pocket-friendly.
- Slide into Little Tibet near the railway station for masala chai, crispy momos, and Tibetan rolls with sea‑cliff views.
- Stroll to Rattorias on North Black Beach from lunch onward, lively sushi, burgers, Tia Maria cocktails in breezy beachfront café.
- Head to Trattorias on North Cliff for dinner. Try wood-fired pizza, butter‑garlic prawns, Thai curries, sushi, and cocktails at sunset.
That’s how Varkala unfolds: Through incense smoke, backwater ripples, late breakfasts, and orange horizons that never hurry.