Plan your trip to Ivory Coast

In western Africa, off the Gulf of Guinea between Ghana and Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) gained independence from France in 1960. While much of the early history of the area is unknown, French missionaries first visited in 1637. The territory became an official French colony in 1893 and close relations continued even after independence.

Relative to the region, Cote d’Ivoire was politically stable from independence until the first coup in 1999. Other coup attempts and unrest have occurred since; the Ouagadougou Political Agreement signed in March 2007 has improved the still unsteady political situation. While European tourists used to visit the beachside villages in droves, the conflict has left many beaches empty and residents hoping for visitors to return.

For a developing country, the infrastructure is impressive: over 8,000 miles of paved road, good telecommunications and Internet access. While Yamoussoukro is the official capital, Abidjan is the largest city and main commercial center. Tourist facilities are good here, though limited elsewhere in the country.