A short walk over the southern headland from Palolem brings you to Patnem, a half-kilometre stretch of beach that is altogether quieter than its larger neighbour. The crowd skews towards long-stay yoga and Ayurveda visitors; there are fewer bars, calmer evenings, and the same line of beach huts in season.
Patnem is the better choice if you want to swim early in clean water and read a book all afternoon. The sea is generally a touch rougher than Palolem because the bay is less enclosed, but it remains safe for confident swimmers from November to April.