Butterfly Beach is a small, steep-sided cove hidden behind the headland north of Palolem. There is no road; you go by boat, which is half the pleasure — the boatmen loop out past the rocks where dolphins feed and drop you on the sand for an hour or two.
There is nothing there — no shack, no shade to speak of at midday — so take water and go early or late. The hike in through the forest is possible but steep and easy to lose; the boat is the sensible choice.
Best time: Morning, before the sun is overhead and the day boats arrive.
