The Door of No Return
The Door of No Return stands on the beach at Ouidah, at the end of the Route des Esclaves. This is the road enslaved Africans were marched along before being forced onto ships bound for the Americas. The arch was built as a memorial, and standing in front of it, facing the sea, is something you do not forget.
Where it is
Ouidah is on the coast, west of Cotonou. Plan for about an hour by road. The route itself starts in town, near the old slave auction square, and runs a few kilometres down to the beach.
How to visit
Go in the morning, before the heat. Hiring a local guide in Ouidah is worth it: they walk you through each stop on the route and the history behind it. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
Make a day of it
Pair it with the Python Temple and the Ouidah History Museum in town, then eat by the beach before heading back to Cotonou.
