If you’re looking for a spooky destination to visit on your next vacation, you might want to consider the Island of the Dolls, or Isla de las Muñecas, in Mexico. This is not your typical island paradise, but rather a macabre collection of hundreds of dolls hanging from trees, fences, and buildings. Some of them are missing limbs, eyes, or heads, and others are covered in dirt, cobwebs, or mold. They stare at you with their lifeless eyes, as if they have a dark secret to tell.
The island is located in the Xochimilco canals, about 17 miles south of Mexico City. It was once the home of a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera, who moved there in the 1950s after abandoning his wife and family. According to legend, he found the body of a drowned girl in the canal near his island, and felt haunted by her spirit. He also found a doll floating in the water, which he believed belonged to the girl. He hung the doll on a tree as a way of honoring her memory and appeasing her soul.
But that was not enough for Don Julian. He became obsessed with collecting more dolls, and spent the next 50 years scavenging them from trash bins, flea markets, and wherever he could find them. He hung them all over his island, creating a bizarre and eerie atmosphere. He believed that the dolls were possessed by the spirits of dead girls, and that they would protect him from evil. He also claimed that he could hear them whispering to him at night.
Don Julian lived a solitary life on the island, with only his nephew Anastasio as his occasional visitor. He welcomed tourists who came to see his doll collection, and even charged them a small fee for taking photos. He told them stories about the paranormal phenomena he experienced on the island, such as seeing orbs of light, hearing voices, and feeling cold spots.
In 2001, Don Julian met a tragic fate that added to the mystery of the island. He was found dead in the same spot where he had found the drowned girl decades earlier. Some say that he died of a heart attack, while others believe that he was killed by one of the dolls or by the girl’s vengeful spirit. His nephew Anastasio inherited the island and continued to run it as a tourist attraction. He also kept adding more dolls to the collection, following his uncle’s footsteps.
Today, the Island of the Dolls is one of the most popular and creepy attractions in Mexico. It has been featured in several documentaries, TV shows, and movies, such as Ghost Adventures, Destination Truth, and Annabelle Comes Home. Many visitors claim to have witnessed paranormal activity on the island, such as seeing the dolls move their heads or limbs, hearing them giggle or cry, or feeling them touch them. Some even say that they have seen the ghost of Don Julian or the drowned girl roaming around.
If you’re brave enough to visit this haunted island, you can take a boat ride from Embarcadero Cuemanco or Embarcadero Fernando Celada in Xochimilco. The trip takes about two hours each way, and costs around 1500 pesos (about 75 USD) for a private boat or 40 pesos (about 2 USD) for a shared one. You can also hire a guide who will tell you more about the history and legends of the island. Once you get there, you can explore the island on foot and see the dolls up close. But be careful not to touch them or disrespect them, as they might not like it.
The Island of the Dolls is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely a unique and unforgettable experience for those who love horror and adventure. It is a place where reality and fantasy blur together, and where you can feel the presence of something beyond this world. Are you ready to face your fears and meet the dolls?
