A home away from home
by V212p on
Cancio's house is a beautiful and peaceful abode surrounded by nature. More than the house though, it is the people that occupy it who really make this place a really uniques stay. Roberto and Raquel are warm and considerate hosts who are generous in all ways. They allowed us into their home and made us feel at home throughout our stay. I cannot recommend this place enough, I hope everyone gets to experience Goa by staying at this peaceful house.
Adorable adorable adorable
by Japnadhillon on
An idyllic Goan village,a warm and affectionate family and fresh water from a 500 year old well.Fascinated.We all have our reasons to go to Goa. Cansio's house will be a reason for me. Charming! Love!
A warm and friendly Goan home away from home!
by trapezista7 on
I'm so glad I discovered Cancio's house when I was researching where to stay on my solo trip to Goa. I'm not really into the touristy beach scene and I wanted a more quiet, relaxing and authentic Goan experience. I couldn't have picked a more perfect spot! As soon as I arrived, I felt immediately welcomed into Roberto and Raquel's family and experiencing life in their 500 year old Portuguese home. From delicious breakfasts with fresh breads from the bakery and Raquel's amazing homemade jams (I especially loved the green grape); to sitting around having an afternoon cup of tea and chatting with the whole family and hearing their stories about the house, their ancestors and life in Goa; to sitting down together for dinner (Raquel is an AMAZING cook - I'm a vegetarian and she definitely made sure I never went hungry); to playing cards with the boys, you really feel like you're part of the family! It was wonderful to learn about the Goan way of life and see things as a local. I really enjoyed getting to know the whole family, Roberto is so full of energy and has a wonderful sense of humour, Raquel is a strong, independent and inspirational woman, and the boys are such characters - smart, sweet and bubbling with energy. I also really enjoyed spending time speaking with Roberto's mother Maria about her life story and learning more about their family. Roberto and Raquel really put their heart and soul into their home - it's fascinating to hear about all the work they've done on their house and gardens, and as a eco-conscious and ethical traveller it's nice to know that my money is going directly into helping them maintain and preserve their homestead and heritage in an eco-friendly way. The environmental aspect was also really important to me - they use their own well water for drinking (SO refreshing) and solar panels for heating. Both Roberto and Raquel were extremely helpful with itinerary suggestions, such as visiting the Mapusa Market and Morjim beach, and helping arrange transportation. I even got to accompany Roberto for a trip into Mapusa and Panaji on his bike - so much fun! I also borrowed one of their mountain bikes one day to bike all around Aldona and Corjuem. Even accompanying the family to the local St. Thomas church for Sunday mass was a lovely cultural experience. I also had plenty of quiet relaxation time. It was so refreshing to just sit out on the guesthouse porch, taking in the lush green garden view, listening to birds chirping and appreciating the serene quiet. The guesthouse itself is spacious and cozy and very clean, with a huge comfortable bed and antique furniture. It was a little oasis to come back to every day after exploring! The warm hospitality I received from the time I booked my room until I got home was outstanding. Roberto took the time to make to sure that my flight was on time so my airport pickup would be ready and also made sure that I got to my next destination safely. As a solo female traveller, this was very much appreciated. I can't speak highly enough about my homestay experience at Cancio's - I left with a very full heart (and stomach!) I cannot wait to visit again in the future and bring my husband with me. If you want a true heartwarming local Goan homestay experience, you must stay here!
A perfect abode to rejuvenate your senses and your Mind
by Varun S on
We wanted to visit somewhere for our anniversary, so after a lot of contemplation we had decided to go to our all time favourite destination, that is Goa. So, my wife had researched some places to explore in Goa, and she came up with this beautiful place in Aldona named Cancio's House. Cancio's House is much more beautiful than the pictures given in the website, and let me tell you what makes it much more beautiful is the hospitality of the hosts Roberto and Raquel, and their three beautiful children. They are such warm people who had made our anniversary feel at home, the surprise of a brownie cake for our anniversary stole our hearts. Roberto is a very enthusiastic and a person who likes to share stories, whereas Raquel is a sensitive woman who cooks amazing Goan dishes (all lot of things she had made which we had eaten) and she bakes delicious cakes and tarts. Fun fact is that Raquel and Roberto are a good team for a perfect bakery, one bakes and the other designs. The ambiance of the house and the hustle bustle of the kids gives you the feel of a home in Goa. My wife loved this place ; for her it is a perfect place for writing and reading, as she reminds me of the quote of William Wordsworth, "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings".
This is your home in Goa!
by travelbuginside on
It is not easy to find a place in Goa that is away from the noise, crowd, or hyped touristy location. I wanted to see Goa the way a Goan sees it. In that sense, Cancio's House was the best choice, without really giving up on visiting regular Goan attractions as well.
It was ideal in more ways than we could ask for. The moment you enter the house, you could see its grandness, beauty, and warm embrace. We had booked both the rooms, which were similar in size and shape, and exquisite too. The place was calm, clean, pretty, and comfortable. But what made our stay memorable is the hospitality we experienced there from the host family. Roberto is extremely approachable, kind, and helpful. He arranged for our airport pick-up, drop-off as per each of our flight/train timings. He suggested just the right place for us to hang out in Baga with amazing live music. Raquel was friendly and inspirational as a woman. We loved talking to her during our time together at breakfast, and dinner which we once had requested them to make for us. I would highly recommend trying their food at least once to experience the authentic homemade local cuisines and desserts. We were vegetarian, and she made sure that we could still enjoy local cuisines, many many of them. She even made an eggless dessert, which was very kind of her, and of course very delicious. We ate until our hearts were full. We even loved chatting with their children, who are adorable, responsible, and fun.
Overall, it was exactly what I was looking for during my trip. A cultural experience. Sure, we did some sightseeing as well. We saw the fort, waterfall, and went to the Morjim Beach where we stayed until the Sun was set. It was clean, less crowded and had good food joints. We also went to a local market in Mapusa which was easily accessible via bus. Roberto helped us with our itinerary as well, so it made everything easy for us. I loved the mornings there.
Cancio's house has a lush garden and the birds' songs fill the sky, which I woke up to every morning. You could always go into the kitchen and have a cup of coffee made to add to your serene morning experience. I cannot wait to tell my friends and family about the place and Roberto and Raquel's genuine hospitality. I will surely be going back.
PS - Roberto's mom is also a very interesting woman herself, and it was incredible to hear her talk about her life and her parents' life during WW-I. It suggested how historic the house is, and it made me appreciate it even more.
So, if you want to unwind, see the other side of Goa, and feel like having a home away from home, this is your place.
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There are two rooms, and both are similar in every way. They are clean, large, pretty, and comfortable with attached bathroom. 
There are only two rooms in the extension to the main house. 