Running southward from Dakar toward the Sine-Saloum Delta, the Petite Cote (Small Coast) is now the hub of Senegal's tourist industry, thanks to its succession of sandy swimming beaches and the many hotels and resorts that line them. The main tourist focus there is the small town of Saly Portudal, which is serviced by dozens of beach hotels and also has plenty of restaurants, cafes, salons and boutiques.
Immediately to its south, Mbour is a large fishing town whose beach, lined with colorful pirogues, hosts a wonderful daily fish market, and La Somone to the north is the site of a vast lagoon studded with flamingoes, terns and other marine birds. Another interesting place in the area is the offbeat coastal town of Popenguine, which is predominantly Catholic and hosts a Catholic pilgrimage each spring to honor the Virgin Mary.
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