Marari
A fishing village beach between Kochi and the backwaters
Marari is what many travellers imagine a Kerala beach to be. The sand runs unbroken for kilometres, backed by coconut palms and the small houses of fishing families, and in the early morning the beach fills with crews hauling wooden and fibreglass boats ashore and selling the catch on the sand. There are no bars, no beach shacks in rows and no hawkers. The tourism that exists is spread thinly through the groves.
Its position makes it the natural last stop on our southern loop. Fort Kochi is about 1.5 hours north and Kochi airport about 2 hours, while Alappuzha's houseboat jetties are 30 minutes south and Kumarakom an hour across the Thanneermukkom barrage. Guests can finish a houseboat night in the morning and be in a beach villa by lunch, then fly out after two or three days of doing very little.
There is quiet interest close by too. Inland, villages make coir rope from coconut husk, and the lanes are perfect for slow cycle rides past ponds, temples and churches. A few kilometres north, the Portuguese-founded church at Arthunkal draws pilgrims for its January feast. From November to March the sea is usually calm enough for swimming close to shore; from June to September it is rough and swimming is unsafe.
Highlights
What Marari does best
From about 6 am, fishing crews bring their boats in through the surf and haul them up the beach. The catch of sardine, mackerel and prawns is auctioned on the spot. Watch quietly from a respectful distance with a guide who can explain.
Unlike Kovalam or Varkala, Marari has no promenade of shops and cafes. The beach is long, clean and almost empty in the afternoon, with fishing boats drawn up under the palms and only a handful of resorts set back from the sand.
Alappuzha district is the centre of Kerala's coir industry. In village homes, women still spin coconut fibre into yarn on simple wheels and weave mats. A visit shows a craft that has supported the coast for generations.
Flat, shaded lanes run inland from the beach past ponds, paddy, small temples and churches. An early morning ride of 10–15 km with a guide is the best way to see village life around Mararikulam.
St. Andrew's Basilica at Arthunkal, about 10 km north, was founded by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. Its feast of St. Sebastian in January draws large crowds of pilgrims of all faiths.
Alappuzha's jetties are 30 minutes away and Kumarakom about an hour, so a houseboat night and a beach stay fit together with almost no driving.
Experiences
Four hours to plan around
Getting there
How to reach Marari
Cochin International Airport (COK) is about 80 km north, 2–2.25 h by car. Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) is about 170 km and 4 h.
Mararikulam has a small station on the Ernakulam–Alappuzha line with local trains. Alappuzha station, 15 km south, and Ernakulam Junction, about 50 km north, have more services.
Fort Kochi is ≈ 50 km · 1.5 h, Alappuzha ≈ 15 km · 30 min, Kumarakom ≈ 30 km · 1 h via the Thanneermukkom barrage and Varkala ≈ 130 km · 3.25 h. The coastal highway is busy, but the last few kilometres to the beach are quiet lanes.
Where to stay
Rooms we book
Marari Beach, run by CGH Earth, is the reason most guests come: thatched villas, some with private pools, set among coconut palms behind the beach, with an organic farm, an Ayurveda centre and a pool. It is informal, green and very quiet. A few smaller villa resorts and boutique homestays lie along the same stretch of coast. We book garden pool villas for honeymooners and the larger family villas for groups.
A CGH Earth beach resort in coconut groves behind Marari beach, with thatched villas modelled on fishermen's cottages, some with private pools, an organic farm, an …
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Five things to know
- Swim only between November and March, close to shore and where your resort advises; the currents are strong.
- Ask before photographing fishermen and the fish auction, and stay clear of boats being hauled.
- Wear modest clothing when you leave the resort; Mararikulam is a traditional village.
- Cycle early, before 9 am, when the lanes are shaded and cool.
- Plan a houseboat night just before Marari to finish your trip with beach days and a short airport drive.
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Marari
Is Marari beach good for swimming?
Between November and March the sea is usually calm enough for swimming close to shore, and the beach is clean and quiet. There are no lifeguards on most of the beach, so swim only where your resort advises and never alone. From June to September, the monsoon makes the sea rough and swimming unsafe.
How many nights should I stay at Marari?
Two to four nights. Two nights is enough to rest after a busy itinerary; three or four suit guests who want beach days, Ayurveda treatments, a cycle ride and a coir village visit. Marari works best as the final stop before flying home from Kochi.
Marari or Kovalam: which beach is better?
Marari is quieter, more rural and closer to Kochi and the backwaters. Kovalam is more developed, with cliffs, rocky headlands and a lively beach strip, and better for Ayurveda retreats and Thiruvananthapuram. For a calm luxury beach at the end of a backwaters trip, we prefer Marari.
Where should I stay at Marari?
Marari Beach, run by CGH Earth, is our first choice: thatched villas, some with private pools, set in coconut groves behind the beach, with an organic farm and Ayurveda centre. A few smaller villa resorts along the coast suit guests who want more privacy and a smaller property.
How far is Marari from Kochi airport?
About 80 km, roughly 2 to 2.25 hours by car via Kochi city or the coastal highway. Fort Kochi is about 50 km and 1.5 hours. If your flight leaves early, we leave Marari before dawn to avoid traffic. We plan the timing around your flight.
Is Marari good for families?
Yes, in the dry season. The beach is wide and quiet, the resorts have pools and gardens, and activities such as cycling, coir village visits and dawn fishing landings suit children. Keep children close in the sea, as currents can be strong.
Is there nightlife at Marari?
No. Marari is a quiet fishing village with no bar strip or clubs, which is its appeal. Evenings are for dinner at your resort, a walk on the beach and an early night. If you want cafes and evening life, Fort Kochi or Varkala suit you better.
What is the best time to visit Marari?
November to March is best, with dry, sunny days of 30–32 °C, calm seas and pleasant evenings. December and January are busiest. April and May are hot and humid, and from June to September the monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas, though resorts stay open.
Can we combine Marari with a houseboat?
Yes, easily. Alappuzha's houseboat jetties are 30 minutes away. A common plan is a houseboat from Kumarakom or Alappuzha for one night, landing at about 9 am and driving to Marari for two or three nights of rest before flying home from Kochi.
Journeys
Routes that stop in Marari
Nearby
Pair it with
Houseboats, Kuttanad paddy and the snake-boat races
Five centuries of spice traders on one small peninsula
Lake resorts and bird life on the shore of Vembanad
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. Begin