My overall verdict: If you are in North Goa and you can visit only one beach, it has to be Calangute beach.

Positives: Cleanliness, fun water activities, huge market selling a variety of trinkets, good eating options.

Negatives: A few pesky sellers, overcrowded, higher prices for water activities.

Calangute beach is crowded, probably at par with Baga. Morning and evenings attract huge crowds, buy you can slip a little away from the main area and find your own oasis. Candolim, which is an adjoining beach, is way less crowded.

Calangute beach is full of buzz, watersports, and people having fun and frolic. For the first time visitors, venturing into the sea is surely exhilirating but can also be a bit intimidating. However, when you see a number of people already jumping and playing in water, it gives you confidence to venture farther instead of just dipping your toes on the shore. And when you are standing waist deep into the sea and a roaring wave thrashes you, throwing you off-balance into the white surf, you realize what fun you have been missing just sitting there on the shore. And there are people around, throwing and catching balls, rings, and --what-the-heck-- water bottles. Such is the temptation, even the old aunties give in.

Don't go on the beach overdressed; you will feel being the odd one out. Moreover, getting wet in the sea will also fill unimaginable amounts of sand in every nook and corner and crevices of your clothes and body. So, dressing light (shorts and loose tshirt is more than enough) is always a good idea; you will accumulate much less sand.

The crowd is quite well behaved. I did not witness even a single brawl in 4-5 days. The boat operators can be a bit rude and harsh though. A moment you are playing in the water blissfully, and the next you could have these operators screaming at you to come out as it is their boat area. There is no demarcation of boat area or public area. May be the authorities can look into it.

For water activities, all along the approach road and on the beach, you will find operators selling these packages. Usually these packages cost Rs 1500 - 2500, with 5 water activities: parasailing, speed boat ride, banana boat ride, jetski, and bumper boat ride. Package deal is better as each activity done separately costs a ton more. Always, always negotiate. Negotiate like hell and be ready to walk away; there will be hundreds of others to offer you the same rides. Get an idea about how much they can bend and then go for it.

The lifeguards are constantly on the vigil. They constantly keep whistling to ask people to pull back if they try to venture too deep into the sea.

Considering the huge number of people visiting there, the beach is quite well maintained. An appeal to you too: carry your garbage and don't make the beach dirty.

Overall, I highly recommend Calangute beach.