Cotonou Car Tours: Top 5 Adventures Explored

Alright, so, you’re thinking about visiting Cotonou, Benin, very well, isn’t it? Very, very smart choice, like your intuition seems accurate. That city is kind of brimming with a mix of West African charm and, of course, some things that seem totally unexpected, basically, like you won’t assume what’s going on at the corner. If you truly want to experience Cotonou’s real flavor, what seems very immersive would, of course, be exploring the city with your own car, well not completely yours but more like the kind you rent to drive with a driver. The problem of course is finding trustworthy tour people. Let’s get started then!

Tour #1: Ganvie, very the Floating Village

First, now, you absolutely must get to Ganvie; honestly, it seems like something out of a movie, you know? It’s also sometimes named the “Venice of Africa,” Ganvie seems to be a lake village where life, apparently, goes on, but actually totally on water. Very far from the traffic noises and loud city atmosphere you will find an exciting and quite peculiar adventure.

Why this is a great option: Now this experience seems like the number one reason to go there. You can experience, arguably, how people, often, literally live, basically, on a lake. The stilt houses, actually, the markets that seem to be floating, and also everyday life occurring completely on water is like something that seems so distinctive. To get to Ganvie, naturally, you will want to start, clearly, with a car that seems really comfortable from Cotonou to the closest lake port, well a driver will be able to bring you safely in a nice condition of mind! Then, so, you’re set to cross the lake to Ganvie, pretty simple indeed!

Tour Specifics: The ride there is very short, less than half an hour and cost just a few dollars round trip for all your family, it would seem odd to not choose that experience since it will cost very little to visit. Very amazing.

Read our full review: Ganvie Floating Village Tour Full Review and Details
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Tour #2: Cotonou Central Market (Dantokpa Market), still a location that feels authentic

If you wish to sense the city’s vibe you should visit Dantokpa Market, actually it is also named Tokpa. Like, get prepared to be a bit stunned and thrilled. As a matter of fact that massive open-air market is somewhere that you’ll locate, pretty much, a bit of absolutely everything: local crafts, very materials with nice colors and a good appearance, different foods and also a huge selection of local herbs with medical benefits. It’s not for people who get anxious so quickly; still, you will sense that the true Cotonou is not a fiction here.

Why this tour rocks: The Market is something incredible where you’ll be absolutely immersed in local culture and you will assist many local people doing their business in a local manner. Prepare your camera that it’s safe and keep in mind your belongings that people can steal or attempt some larceny tricks. Your hired driver and guide will, still, actually assist to keep you not just safe, as a matter of fact, but he is very ready to support your bargaining capabilities, which could be rather helpful since you will probably be a tourist, which is usually an indicator of ‘extra money’ in this area.

What you should be careful of: Keep your belongings in close vicinity and bargain while doing all your market purchases.

Read our full review: Cotonou Central Market Tour Full Review and Details
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Tour #3: Ouidah, so, a Place very Historical and Religious

You should visit Ouidah and its so rich significance if you’re intrigued with the Beninese previous occurrences, you know, especially its spiritual history. You will easily find an interesting experience thanks to the Sacred Forest, which displays a large amount of local shrines and artwork; you will learn a large portion of data about the region’s Vodou traditions. It goes without saying, and if you ever are inquisitive and wish to discover the ‘Python Temple,’ feel free, so.

Reasons why you should prefer this choice: Now that’s not something available everywhere! Very visit a city where the prior is really palpable, well nearly… The Sacred Forest is arguably some unique experience where it might be discovered Vodou, it’s art and also a bit of that Beninese faith history. Very explore the Python Temple might be, in a way, a little daring – unless if snakes make your hearth beat strongly, of course. By the way, remember you should visit the Portuguese Slave Trade Memorial, because its occurrence is, well clearly, related to Ouidah’s painful experience.

Other facts to retain in your mind: Know that Ouidah, actually, lies very away from Cotonou (some hours of driving), in short, make preparations in order that your vehicle will be completely prepared and your chauffeur feels experienced driving throughout longer durations.

Read our full review: Ouidah Historical Tour Full Review and Details
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Tour #4: Porto-Novo, seemingly an exploration of the capital

So, now Cotonou is the biggest metropolis, yet Benin’s capital looks like Porto-Novo, you see. If you have enough curiosity that could lead to exploring, well just a little, different important locations of Benin, maybe the Presidential Palace, you should then simply consider Porto-Novo.

You should enjoy that opportunity mostly for: Very find many spots. A really different atmosphere than in Cotonou could potentially seem exciting, well literally. The ‘Grand Mosque’ along with the very colourful neighborhoods present numerous locations for photos that will seem like a memento for you from there. Now, very, the Musée d’Art Africain Contemporain looks quite well prepared.

Keep in your thoughts that: You, actually, may need one entire day if you’re also getting here by car and it’ll need a lot of focus, in that case take into consideration whether the potential destination seems interesting, arguably, based, as a matter of fact, on how well your plans must be going.

Read our full review: Porto-Novo City Tour Full Review and Details
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Tour #5: Route des Pêches, nearly a trip in some remote area with beaches

Then, if you actually choose one escape, basically, away from that city frenzy you’ll potentially sense like being in Cotonou, it seems pretty good to go to ‘Route des Pêches’ so to speak – which translates in English as “fishing path”. As a matter of fact that shore road extends close to Cotonou, also, offering scenic perspectives that, by the way, seems like peaceful sea coasts where there aren’t crowds. That way it will, arguably, seems a very wonderful site to go if you feel like relaxing while getting to meet the marine edge there close to the location you are visiting.

Here are some nice facts concerning that location: What’s nice with this place seems it will potentially seem nice as a day getaway to you. You are able to relax on just a little almost virgin sand beach after which it might have some tasty sea meals at those shacks that looks like being at the coastline. Moreover, of course, the natural view that happens when driving at that road seems like a superb experience, in particular in case you are quite sensitive, like your persona likes wonderful nature views.

Keep in mind this point: Well given that this seems distant away and those roads aren’t, clearly, quite well managed you ought to actually test how your ride looks like as that may potentially assist you getting one relaxed trip avoiding problems.

Read our full review: Route des Pêches Beach Tour Full Review and Details
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