Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Hidden deep in the canals of Xochimilco near Mexico City lies one of the world’s eeriest and most unsettling destinations—La Isla de las Muñecas, or The Island of the Dolls. Covered in hundreds of decaying, dirt-streaked dolls hanging from trees and nailed to wooden structures, the island looks straight out of a nightmare. And the story behind it is just as chilling.
Legend has it that in the 1950s, a man named Don Julián Santana Barrera moved to the island to live in solitude. Shortly after arriving, he discovered the body of a young girl who had drowned under mysterious circumstances in the nearby canal.
Days later, he found a doll floating in the water. Believing it belonged to the girl, Don Julián hung it from a tree as a mark of respect—and perhaps to ward off evil.
But that was just the beginning. He claimed to hear whispers, footsteps, and the wails of a child in the darkness. Convinced that the girl’s spirit haunted the island, he began collecting more and more dolls—rescuing them from trash heaps or trading with locals—and hanging them up as offerings to appease the restless soul.
The result? A forest of creepy, disfigured dolls with missing limbs, empty eyes, and cracked faces. Some visitors swear the dolls move, blink, or whisper when no one is watching. Others have captured strange videos—doll eyes twitching on their own, eerie giggles echoing in the wind, or shadows passing behind trees.
Strangely, Don Julián died in 2001—reportedly drowning in the same canal where the little girl had perished. Locals say it was the spirit finally taking him.
Today, the island has become a viral sensation, drawing thrill-seekers, paranormal investigators, and tourists alike. While some dismiss it as a macabre art installation, others believe the haunted legend is very much alive.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, one thing is certain: the Island of the Dolls isn’t just a creepy destination—it’s an unforgettable one.
