Ivory Coast, in West Africa, thrives on cocoa—the world’s top producer—with Abidjan as its economic hub, a “little Manhattan” of skyscrapers and lagoons. Yamoussoukro, the official capital, boasts the massive Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. French colonial echoes linger in its coffee and music, like coupé-décalé, while political stability fuels growth. Its rainforests and beaches hint at untapped beauty.