The Island of the Dolls

The Island of the Dolls

Xochimilco, Mexico ​

For those that love to haunt haunted places, scarier spot to visit than the Isla de las Muñecas, or Island of the Dolls, in the most famous chinampa - a type floating garden built by the Aztecs - of the canals of Xochimilco, just in the outskirts of Ciudad de Mexico.

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​Would you go to a haunted island?

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In southern Mexico City (Mexico D.F.), a gritty working-class neighborhood gives way to the famous canals of Xochimilco, the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by the Aztecs. Colorful gondola-like boats take visitors on cruises while food vendors, artisans and mariachi bands float past. The atmosphere is festive, especially on weekends. Tourists can also visit the eerie, purportedly haunted Island of the Dolls.

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Xochimilco, Mexico

Multiple Choice

The Island of the dolls is located in ____.

• Chiapas

• Oaxaca

• Mexico D.F.

• Guadalajara

The little island is the home of thousands and thousands of dolls, reportedly brought there to appease the tragic cries of a child’s spirit. The Island of the Dolls was previously owned by a local man, Julián Santana Barrera, before his mysterious death in 2001.

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​La isla de las muñecas

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The story goes that over 50 years ago Santana Barrera saw a little girl and her sisters swimming along the bank of the river when the strong current carried one of them away. Julián dived in after her, but couldn’t reach her in time; the little girl drowned before he could save her. Reportedly Julián blamed himself for her death and was overcome with grief for the rest of his life.

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​La isla de las muñecas

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Multiple Choice

The Island of the dolls was owned by a man named ___.

• Anastacio

• Santana

• Santa Ana

• Rómulo

He found the girl's toy doll floating nearby and hung it in the tree; versions of the legend vary as to his reasoning, some saying it was a sign of respect for the dead girl, others say it was to protect himself from her and appease her spirit, others yet claiming it to protect the girls' spirit from other demons in the water.

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​Why dolls?

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Afterward, Santana Barrera started to collect even more dolls, to the point that people traded dolls with him for the produce of the island, and he hung them almost compulsively for the rest of his life. Eventually, the entire island was populated with abandoned and broken dolls.

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​More dolls

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Multiple Choice

Why did Santana start hanging dolls all over his property?

• To protect himself from the girl's spirit

• He loved dolls

• To keep the memory of the girl alive

• To protect Santana from demons

According to some, Anastacio could hear footsteps, crying, and wails near his home - despite the fact he was a recluse, whose house was deep into the woods, without any neighbors for miles and miles. His family claims he procured the dolls “as if moved by an unseen force”, and many speculated that Santana Barrera himself could be possessed by the spirit of the little girl.

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​Haunted island

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In 2001, Julián himself died mysteriously on his isolated island. His nephew, Anastasio Velasco, found Santana Barrera’s body floating in the water one day when he was helping his uncle plant pumpkins. It was reportedly in the exact same spot the little girl had drowned 50 years before. 😳

Anastasio claims that at night it’s possible to hear both the girls crying and his uncles’ cane thumping on the ground!

​There are other versions

​Is this true?

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If you ever have the chance to visit Xochimilco, remember to visit this place! ​

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​Would you visit the island of the dolls at night?

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