Why Choose
Loanatravel ?
The Pan-African vision of LOANATRAVEL’s founders led us to choose a name closely tied to the shared cultural identity of the various countries covered by our activities. That’s how we arrived at LOANATRAVEL, a name composed of: LOANA, meaning “supreme god,” and TRAVEL, meaning “to travel” in English. By juxtaposing these two words, we restore the spiritual and historical bridge connecting Africa with its diaspora, offering travelers the opportunity to discover the continent in all its authenticity.
OUR HASHTAG AND OUR FORMULA…
Our hashtag is #gulfofguineaexperts: We focus exclusively on this part of West Africa, with experienced Spanish-speaking local guides. Our goal is to show you the most authentic and profound aspects of countries like Benin, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria, through both personalized and group trips.
Our formula is passion + knowledge + personalization = quality: Specialization leads to quality when combined with love for the work we do and the experience we have gained over the years. We focus on this specific region of Africa to be true experts and offer unique experiences.
LOANA TRAVEL is a travel agency specialized in West Africa. In fact, we are likely the only agency in the world with Spanish-speaking local guides exclusively focused on the Gulf of Guinea. With our headquarters in Cotonou (Benin) and a contact point in Spain, we offer our clients a unique advantage: the benefits of being a local agency with in-depth knowledge of the region, combined with the speed and ease of communication that comes from knowing there is someone in their home country they can turn to.
The combination of experience, swift problem-solving, deep regional knowledge, high-quality service through specialization, personalized itineraries, and a genuine passion for this part of Africa makes LOANA TRAVEL a truly unique agency.
LOANA TRAVEL offers pre-designed travel itineraries, but our expertise and medium-sized structure allow us to quickly adapt to our clients’ needs. In most cases, we provide customized routes tailored to travelers’ interests and requirements.
We offer fully personalized trips based on individual preferences, group size, chosen destinations, and desired duration. Always with Spanish-speaking local guides, experienced drivers, and a personalized service. Because every journey is unique, and each traveler seeks something different.
Our deep knowledge of the region and our passion for the Gulf of Guinea allow us to go beyond typical tourist routes when the occasion calls for it, offering travelers unique experiences. They will witness and take part in genuine events created by and for locals.
What we offer is authentic, not staged for visitors, ensuring a truly immersive experience. Unexpected celebrations, rituals, festivals, and ceremonies—everything is discovered on-site, thanks to the skills of our guides and their dedication to going the extra mile.
Our Strengths
For us, every journey is the fulfillment of a dream. As such, it cannot be realized without embracing the traveler’s desires. That’s why we focus on tailor-made trips that place the traveler at the heart of the experience. The client dreams of the journey, and our experts make it happen. To best satisfy our clients, we organize trips for small groups (a maximum of 5 travelers) because our philosophy is to create meaningful moments of cultural exchange with a personalized interaction.
However, LOANATRAVEL has the necessary logistics to accommodate larger groups. For example, a group of six or seven friends or a family traveling together. All our itineraries are crafted from the original ideas of our specialists, with the sole aim of providing travelers with genuine moments of joy at highly competitive prices.
To create unique travel experiences, the LOANATRAVEL team offers moments of escape alongside small ethnic groups that are often unknown to the world. These are rare and intimate encounters that allow travelers to connect with exceptional communities, the kind that are increasingly scarce today.
It is the result of the continuous research carried out by our team of guides in each of the destinations we offer to our travelers. Surprising our clients with the originality and authenticity of our journeys remains the very essence of LOANATRAVEL.
Our Bucolic Tours
To create unique travel experiences, the LOANATRAVEL team offers moments of escape alongside small ethnic groups that are often unknown to the world. These are extraordinary moments of intimacy, allowing travelers to connect with exceptional communities—rare treasures in today’s world.
It is the result of the continuous research conducted by our team of guides in each of the destinations we offer to our travelers. Surprising our clients with the originality and authenticity of our journeys remains the core mission of LOANATRAVEL.
Bucolic Tour with Authentic Ethnic Groups
The experts at LOANATRAVEL have explored the most remote regions of each destination to highlight the ethnological uniqueness that may interest travelers. Daily immersion programs with extraordinary men and women who strive to preserve the way of life inherited from their ancestors are designed to delight our travelers.
Spending time with communities, sharing their daily lives, and understanding their worldview provide travelers with the originality and authenticity they seek when choosing to trust us.
Africa’s cultural life has long been the subject of much speculation, leading some travelers to wonder whether a culturally authentic Africa still exists. LOANATRAVEL has addressed this concern by organizing themed trips that adhere to principles of originality and authenticity. LOANATRAVEL gives a voice to real cultural figures and historians who have witnessed Africa’s cultural evolution, as well as to talented visual artists.
We accompany our travelers to cultural evenings and exhibitions organized by virtuosos of African art. Meeting a Vodoun pantheon chief, witnessing a purification or scarification ritual, observing a **Bokonon** (diviner) in his daily life with his patients—these are experiences that make our travelers truly privileged.
One of Africa’s defining characteristics is its ethnic and cultural diversity. At LOANATRAVEL, our mission has always been to uncover and showcase the unique aspects of each ethnic group in our destinations for our clients. This in-depth research adds a distinctive originality and authenticity to our programs, making us true experts in the field.
A One-Day Horseback Riding Excursion
Horses have always been associated with significant events that have shaped the lives of certain communities in Africa. With this in mind, the LOANATRAVEL team offers horse-loving travelers the opportunity to explore unexpected horizons on horseback.
We dedicate one full day of the stay exclusively to a horseback riding excursion. To make this possible, we have established partnerships with certified equestrian centers across the region. The goal is not only to create unforgettable moments of gathering, camaraderie, and interaction but also to surprise travelers with the rich and diverse ecosystems of the area. Experiencing it on horseback makes the adventure even more enjoyable and captivating.
LOANA BEACH Holidays in Ghana
One of Ghana’s most beautiful attractions is undoubtedly its sun-kissed beaches, which remain largely undiscovered by travelers. LOANATRAVEL offers you the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of these beaches for a dream vacation, far from the hustle and bustle often found in other beach destinations.
Water activities such as diving, organized fishing, and birdwatching hikes make your stay a perfect moment of relaxation and disconnection.
The Foulani, commonly known as Fulani, are one of the last nomadic peoples in West Africa. The uniqueness of their way of life, the distinct color of their skin marked by tattoos and scarifications, and many other defining traits have fueled various speculations about their origins.
They are a people in constant movement, always searching for pasture for their livestock. LOANATRAVEL offers its travelers the opportunity to meet these extraordinary and atypical communities.
- La Guelede (masked dance in Benin, UNESCO heritage)
- The Dipo Festival (Initiation Festival in Ghana)
- Circumcision among the YOM (northern Benin)
- The KOMIAN purification festival in Ghana
- EWALA among the KABIYE in northern Togo
- The annual Vodoun worship festival in Benin