13 Haunted Places in Mexico Sure to Give You the Creeps
Some ghost stories are so eerie they send shivers down the spines of even the bravest souls.
As someone who’s been living in Mexico since 2018, and has a penchant for dark tourism, I can tell you first-hand that Mexico is a treasure trove for people interested in paranormal activity, ghost stories, UFOs, and haunted houses.
Amidst the lively atmosphere and bustling streets lined with tourists and locals, there are several places said to be haunted by restless spirits, Mexican demons, and worse!
Ready to explore 13 haunted places in Mexico that promise to give you goosebumps? Then let’s dive in for a spine-tingling adventure like no other!
1. Island of the Dolls, Mexico City
Near the canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City, this island is covered with dolls hanging from trees — and yes, it’s as creepy as it sounds.
While the decaying dolls are creepy themselves, this haunted island also has a dark and mysterious past that dates back to the 1950s.
The story goes that a resident of the area named Julián Santana Barrera found the corpse of a young girl who had drowned, and hung a baby doll in a tree as a memorial to her.
He claimed her spirit haunted him after that. To appease the spirit and protect himself, he collected other dolls and hung them around the island. It is said there are now about 1,000 dolls here.
In a strange twist of fate, Julián died in 2001 of a heart attack — in the same spot where he found the girl’s body.
Today, his dolls remain hanging at La Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls AKA Island of the Dead Dolls), and it’s a popular site for dark tourism in Mexico.
There are even tours you can take to go there, like this popular Island of Dolls Tour in Xochimilco.
2. Mummy Museum, Guanajuato City
The Museo de las Momias (Mummy Museum in Guanajuato City, AKA House of Mummies) has the world’s largest collection of natural, intact mummies — with about 100 on display.
The story behind the museum dates back to the late 1800s when a deadly plague swept through Guanajuato state.
Sadly, the plague claimed many lives, resulting in an extensive amount of burials that had to be performed in a short period of time.
A few decades later, Guanajuato’s government imposed a “burial tax,” and started making the living family members pay a tax on their buried loved ones.
Since many relatives couldn’t afford to pay for it, the corpses were exhumed, and they turned out to be mummified from being in the mineral-rich soil from the area.
While there aren’t any explicitly supernatural or gore-filled exhibits, the nature of the museum may disturb some.
3. Misnebalam Ghost Town, Yucatan Peninsula
Misnébalam Hacienda is located in the small town of Misnébalam, which means “cat tail” or “jaguar tail” in the Mayan language.
About 45 minutes from the city of Mérida by car, it is one of the only ghost towns in Mexico, and this abandoned village is also the only ghost town in Yucatán.
This unique estate, once a fully functional hacienda, was built in the early 20th century and inhabited for nearly 100 years before being deserted in about 2010.
Misnébalam was once a bustling site for the production of henequén (rope made from the agave plant).
At its peak, more than 150 people, mostly workers and their families, resided in and around the estate.
Locals say Misnébalam was abandoned due to paranormal occurrences, but a decline in demand for henequén and a water shortage in the area were the likely culprits.
Today, it is said two ghosts haunt Misnébalam: Julián, a 9-year-old boy who took his own life at the hacienda, and the ghost of a priest or monk whose story is unknown.
I visited Misnébalam Hacienda to find out for myself, but didn’t see or hear any ghosts; just other curious tourists!
Locals say the area has also been used by various religious cults, evident from runes spray painted on the walls and remnants of candles and other ritual instruments.
4. Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara
The Hospicio Cabañas building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mexico’s second-largest city of Guadalajara.
It has served as an asylum, military barracks, and orphanage — so amidst its stunning architecture and famous murals, the cabañas (cabins) tell tales of horror and tragedy.
The most chilling legend involves a large wall clock that would stop ticking whenever a child died in the orphanage. Talk about sadness and scare!
5. Posada del Sol, Mexico City
Once a grand project by businessman Fernando Saldaña Galván, Posada del Sol now stands abandoned — though it’s one of the best sites in Mexico City for dark tourists and urban exploration.
Due to several mishaps it was never completed, and he took his life in the hotel’s courtyard in 1945 under the weight of insurmountable debts.
According to legend, he cursed the property before he did, and bid it to never be inhabited. Allegedly, the ghost of Saldaña still haunts the lonely building.
Further adding to the eerie atmosphere is the story of a young girl’s spirit believed to wander the underground chambers.
Those who have dared to enter often leave candies at an altar to show respect and ward off her curse.
6. Tasqueña Metro Station, Mexico City
Part of Mexico’s extensive public transport network, the Tasqueña Station (sometimes spelled Taxqueña Station) is reputedly the spookiest on the Mexico City Metro route.
Mexico City locals (known as Chilangos in Mexican slang) believe the ghost of a man who died from a severe assault now protects solo travelers from harm.
Unlike other haunted spots, the spirit here is considered friendly — but would you dare to meet this kind spirit?!
7. Colegio Salvatierra, Santa Rosalía
Located in Santa Rosalía, which is one of the Mexico pueblos magicos (magic towns) on the Baja Peninsula, this primary school is said to be filled with the sounds of children who died there.
According to stories, the ghost of a young boy who tragically choked on a marble haunts the girls’ bathroom.
Students of the school have reported hearing the sound of marbles and the boy’s laughter echoing through the halls.
8. Casa de los Tubos, Monterrey
Known as the House of the Tubes, the details of this legend vary depending on the source.
In most stories, the project was started by a father who’s daughter was confined to a wheelchair. He wanted to build a house where she could move around freely.
When construction started, strange events began to occur like bricklayers complaining of eerie sounds and missing tools.
During a party to improve the workers’ morale, one man inexplicably fell from the top of the house to his death, and shortly after, a second fell to his death from a window.
Eventually, the father brought his daughter to the house to see the progress — and she too ended up falling and dying. Soon after, he abandoned the project.
It is said the ghost of this 11-year-old girl haunts the premises. Passersby have reported seeing her spirit in a window at this unique Mexico landmark.
9. Panteón de Belén, Guadalajara
In the heart of Guadalajara lies the Belén Cemetery. It is known for hosting a diverse range of spooky entities, particularly a vampire.
Local legends say that vigilantes killed a vampire here by driving a stake through his heart (of course). After his death, they buried the vampire in this cemetery.
Months later, the stone slabs that marked the vampire’s burial spot cracked open, and the stake in his heart grew into a tree.
Today, locals believe that if the tree dies, this zombie vampire monster will return to terrorize the city. In fact, authorities built a metal gate around the Vampire Tree to keep it safe.
One of the top attractions in Guadalajara, visitors can explore the Museo Panteón de Belén (Belén Cemetery Museum), on both day tours and night tours.
10. Mapimi Silent Zone, Durango
Often called the Bermuda Triangle in Mexico, this desert area in the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve is known for its mysterious phenomena.
Radio signals and compasses reportedly fail here, and there are tales of meteorite impacts and extraterrestrial activities.
Some visitors claim to have seen a blonde woman (though some say it’s a man) vanish into thin air after asking for water.
There have also been numerous reports of UFOlogical phenomena in the area, including UFO crafts flying overhead and alien-like creatures roaming the land.
11. House of Laments, Guanajuato
There are many legends, most of them quite dark, in the town of Guanajuato City Mexico — which is also known as one of the most beautiful towns in Mexico.
The house is infamous for the grisly murders committed by Tadeo Mejía, a Mexican serial killer who sought to contact his deceased wife. Mejía performed human sacrifices in a bid to speak with her.
Today, the Casa de los Lamentos house is a museum where visitors report hearing mysterious sounds and seeing apparitions.
Besides this, some other places to visit in Guanajuato City that appeal to dark tourists include:
- Callejón del Beso (The Alley of the Kiss)
- Casa de la tía Aura (House of Aunt Aura)
- Casa de las Brujas (House of the Witches)
- Calle del Truco (Street of Tricks)
12. Templo Mayor Ruins, Mexico City
Centuries ago, the Templo Mayor Aztec Temple was the central temple complex of the mighty Aztec Empire.
After the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan (what’s now called Mexico City), it was buried, and the Mexico City Zocalo (Town Square) was built right on top of it.
It has since been excavated and is now one of the top places to visit in Centro Historico (Historic Center), which is in Downtown Mexico City.
During the Aztec time, there were numerous temples here to various gods like Huitzilopochtli (Aztec Sun God) and Tlaloc (Aztec Rain God) — and it’s said about 4,000 human sacrifices were performed here.
Visitors to this museum report strange sensations, sightings of shadowy figures, and the sounds of cries and voices.
13. Claudia Mijangos House, Querétaro
Known as the Hyena of Queretaro, this house is linked to the tragic story of Claudia Mijangos.
Mijangos stabbed her three children to death while they slept in the early hours of April 24, 1989, stating she was possessed by a diabolical entity that made her do it.
She essentially plead insanity, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
At the time, that was the maximum penalty for this type of crime in Mexico — and Mijangos was released in 2019 after serving her sentence.
To this day, locals claim to hear screams and see apparitions of the three young children who tragically perished in the house at the hands of their mother.