Grand-Popo - Grand-Popo

Grand-Popo is a city of Southern Benin.

To know

Grand-Popo is largely made up of a long sandy beach, coconut trees, and pretty waterfront hotels.

The city is a center for voodoo and home to the cultural center afro-Finnish.

Background

The city developed around the slave trade, but coastal erosion has destroyed most of the old city over the years.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

The nearest airports are those of Cotonou is Lome. From there you can take a taxi for about 1,200 CFA.

By car

The town of Grand-Popo is entirely crossed by the RNIE 1, the interstate highway that connects Cotonou to Lome. About 90 km from Cotonou.

To the Grand Marché of Cotonou it is easy to find taxis to reach Grand-Popo. The price must be negotiated in advance. If you don't want to share the taxi with other people, you can always hire the entire taxi; generally the fare for one person must be multiplied by six, ie the maximum number of passengers that can be accommodated in a vehicle. A taxi will be able to drop you off anywhere along the way; if you ask to be dropped off at the main intersection you can easily pick one up zémidjan for your hotel. For the Auberge or Villa Karo it costs around 200/250 CFA. If you stay at Awale Plage, Bel Azul or Etoile de Mer which are on the highway, the taxi can get there directly.

How to get around

Walking is a good alternative as most of the restaurants and hotels are located on a stretch of the main road.

The best way to see the sites (other than the beach) is to involve a tour guide. However cheap it is, it is good to avoid the guys who can approach us along the way. The government doesn't have a guide authorization system yet, but hotels usually always work with the same guides and can recommend someone reliable. Also ask them about prices. There are two circuits depending on how much time you have available and how much you want to spend. The first takes care of the neighboring sites and uses a pirogue to navigate the river. It usually costs around 10,000 CFA / pax, although discounts can be arranged for larger groups. The second, longer-range circuit heads to where the Mono River meets the ocean (for which a speedboat is required). This costs more, generally starting at 40,000 CFA.

By taxi

The Grand Popo has very little traffic. You can take one zémidjan (usually drivers wear a green shirt and a baseball cap, but not always) easily al carrefour, but sometimes you will have to wait a while to find one on the side of the road.

On boat

To reach some of the tourist sites, you will need a pirogue or a speedboat, which will be provided by a tour guide.

What see

• Beach. Grand-Popo has a beautiful beach. Be careful while swimming, as the ocean current is very strong. On all the beaches of Grand-Popo, you swim at your own risk. 
• Hounkounnou village. 
• Gbècon. 
• Hève. 
• Allongo. 
• Avlo. 
• Bouche du Roy. Where the Mono River meets the Atlantic Ocean. 
• Ile du sel. Traditional manufacture of salt. 
• Mangroves. 
• Pêche de gambas. Traditional shrimp fishing. 
• Villa Karo. Culture center afro-Finnish and residence for artists. Its task is to build a bridge between artists and cultural figures allowing those natives of one country to visit the other to encourage cultural exchange. The non-profit organization was created in 2000 by writer Juha Vakkuri and the villa's name Karo comes from her late son Karo. In 2001 a small museum was opened (Karo Museum), where art and objects related to the culture ofWest Africa and to the animist religion. The museum's collection reflects both the influences of European culture in Africa, the understanding of African Europeans and the reflections of African culture in Europe. A new Musée Karo museum opened in 2015 in the former village bank. 

Events and parties

What to do

Those who want to do something can explore the lagoon with a pirogue, dive into the mangrove forest and learn about the fishing technique of the locals.

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Each hotel has a restaurant that serves a mix of dishes Europeans is Africans.

Moderate prices

• Chez Desir. 500 CFA. Local dishes: fish, rice, pate, etc. It is also a good place to have a beer. 
• Chez Dewali. Potato is needed (fufu) and sauce (usually with goat or fish). 
• Street vendors. Dishes 100/200 CFA. Most vendors serve a combination of fish, rice, beans, salsa, and hard boiled eggs. Some also have pate (white cornmeal paste) and salsa. 

Average prices

• Gloire de Dieu (On RNIE 1 in front of the police headquarters). From 700 CFA. Local dishes: rice, fish, meat, akasa and sauce. 

High prices

• Ibis Bel. Main course 1,200 / 2,500 CFA. They are right at the main intersection and there is usually a fair number of people having something to eat or drink. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• Lion Bar (On the road there is a small sign that reads Lion Bar, but often there is a bright green car also painted with the famous rasta parked in front), ☎ 229 95 42 05 17. Rooms from 5,000 CFA, camping 2500 CFA. It has a restaurant with one or two dining options each night and a bar. Very relaxed atmosphere; the owner is a rasta and the whole place is decorated with paintings and quotes from famous rastas and reggae musicians. One of the most popular choices by the Peace Corps volunteers United States of America. 
• Motel Coin des Amis, ☎ 229 95 96 36 56. Rooms from 6,000 to 10,000 CFA, camping 1,000 CFA. It also has a small restaurant. -
• Motel Blue Night (Located on RNIE 1, opposite the beach), ☎ 229 95 86 78 29. Room 6,000 CFA. It also has a restaurant and a bar. 

Average prices

• Maison Blanche hotels, ☎ 229 22 43 04 83. Rooms of 10,000 CFA, camping 3,000 CFA. There are only two rooms; but they are great. Restaurant and bar both overlooking the beach. 
• Saveurs d'Afrique. Rooms of 13,000 CFA, camping 1,000 CFA. Attached restaurant overlooking the ocean. For the moment there are only two rooms but they are well furnished and on the beach. 

High prices

• Auberge de Grand-Popo, ☎ 229 22 43 00 47. 14,000 rooms, 20,500 CFA bungalows. Air-conditioned, choose ocean or garden views. The Auberge also has a restaurant / bar overlooking the ocean and a swimming pool. 
• Awale Plage (Located on RNIE 1), ☎ 229 22 43 01 17, 229 95 50 29 15. Rooms 14,000 / 22,000 CFA; bungalow 20,000 / 28,000 CFA. Awale also has a restaurant and two bars, one on the beach and a swimming pool. 
• Etoile de Mer (Located on RNIE 1, at the main intersection), ☎ 229 22 43 04 43. Room CFA 14,500, apartment CFA 25,000. The restaurant serves breakfast only. 
• Farafina, ☎ 229 95 96 09 04, 229 95 95 38 32. 15,000 CFA rooms. It also has a restaurant. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Grand-Popo
• Commons contains images or other files on Grand-Popo

Draft : the article respects the standard template contains useful information for a tourist and gives brief information on the tourist destination. Header and footer are correctly filled out.