Route des Pêches

The Route des Pêches runs along the strip of sand between the Atlantic and the lagoon from Cotonou towards Ouidah, past fishing villages where seine nets are hauled in by lines of men, coconut plantations and stretches of empty beach. Parts have been paved and developed while others remain sandy track. The surf on this coast is heavy with a strong undertow, so the beaches are for looking rather than swimming.

Highlights

• The fishing villages - seine nets hauled in by lines of men along the shore.
• The coconut plantations - the palm stands behind the beach.
• The empty beaches - long stretches with nothing built on them.
• The lagoon side - the water behind the sand strip the road runs along.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season. The rains from April make the unpaved sections difficult. Weekends bring visitors from Cotonou.

Practical notes

The undertow on this coast is severe and swimming is genuinely dangerous. Sections of the route are deep sand and need four-wheel drive. Development has changed stretches of it considerably.

Nearby

Cotonou is east, and Ouidah is west.