Isla de las Muñecas, or the Island of the Dolls, is one of the most unusual spots in Xochimilco, near Mexico City. It’s filled with old, weathered dolls hanging from trees – left there by the island’s caretaker to appease the spirit of a young girl who drowned nearby.

Over time, the island became a haunting collection of hundreds of dolls. Some are missing eyes or limbs, and others are covered in mold or spiders. Locals say the dolls move on their own, whisper in the night, and carry a strange energy that lingers.

The legend and eerie setting turned Isla de las Muñecas into a popular destination. It’s accessible by boat from Xochimilco’s canals and draws curious travelers, ghost hunters, and the simply brave. Whether you believe the tales or not, it’s a place that stays with you.

Why is the Island of the Dolls famous?

There are hundreds of dolls on the island, many missing eyes, limbs, or heads. They sway silently in the trees, giving the island an eerie atmosphere. Stories of hauntings and whispers are common, and the legends have only grown over time.

Many locals believe the area is haunted by spirits or nahuales – shapeshifting beings from Mexican folklore. Visitors report feeling watched or hearing faint voices among the trees. The dolls themselves are said to absorb the island’s strange energy.

Julian Santana Barrera, the island’s former caretaker, was the first to hang broken dolls in the trees. He believed this protected him from the spirit of a young girl who drowned in the canals nearby, and he kept adding more for nearly 50 years.

Julian Santana: the man behind the myth

The legend of the Island of the Dolls began in the 1950s when Julian Santana started hanging dolls he found in the canals and trash piles. He claimed it was to protect himself from supernatural forces, especially the spirit of a drowned girl.

Julian once lived in Barrio de la Asunción, where he sold vegetables and drank pulque. But after turning deeply religious, he was driven from the area. He then moved into the isolated chinampa, where he began to hear and see strange things.

The first doll and the legend begins

According to local myth, the girl had drowned near the island, tangled in water lilies. Julian found a doll floating in the water shortly after. He believed it belonged to the girl and hung it in a tree as a tribute – and as protection.

Soon, more dolls followed. Julian claimed to hear voices, whispers, and footsteps at night. Out of fear, he began collecting every discarded doll he could find and hung them up, hoping to calm the girl’s ghost and keep her spirit at peace.

Julian’s shack, deep within the island, became a shrine of sorts. Over time, the trees and paths filled with dolls, each more decayed and disturbing than the last. Some were missing parts; others were intact but weather-worn and blank-eyed.

In 1987, eco-tourists stumbled across the island and spread word of its existence. Its fame grew after being featured in the 1943 film “Maria Candelaria”, directed by Emilio Fernández and starring Dolores del Río and Pedro Armendáriz.

Julian died in 2001. Strangely, his body was found in the exact spot where he claimed to have found the drowned girl’s body decades before. Since his death, the dolls have multiplied, many added by visitors seeking protection or answers.

Whispers in the night: tourist encounters

Locals today call the island “enchanted” rather than haunted. But many tourists report eerie encounters, from whispers in the wind to dolls turning their heads or opening their eyes unexpectedly. Whatever you believe, it’s unforgettable.

Start your trip at Embarcadero Cuemanco, the most direct access point for visiting the island. From here, you’ll board a trajinera – a colorful flat-bottom boat – and begin your haunting ride through Xochimilco’s lush canals.

The ride from downtown Mexico City takes about 40 minutes by car. If you’re using the metro, allow about an hour. The closest metro station is Olivar del Conde on Line 12. From there, take a taxi or colectivo to the Cuemanco docks.

Where is the Island of the Dolls?

The island is located roughly 1.5 hours from Cuemanco by boat, and it’s only accessible by trajinera. While most rowers will take you, some avoid it due to lingering superstitions. Expect to pay extra for the longer route.

The tour passes through the Ecological Zone, the Ajolote Museum, the Apatlaco Canal, Teshuilo Lagoon, and La Llorona Island. The route is beautiful but grows eerier as you approach the dolls, surrounded by silence and lilies.

Dead Dolls Island, Mexico City

Once there, you’ll find hundreds – possibly thousands – of dolls hanging from the trees and buildings. Some are nearly whole; others are just heads, arms, or fragments. It’s part graveyard, part museum, and fully unsettling.

The island has a small museum with clippings and personal artifacts from Julian’s time. His room remains preserved with the first doll he ever hung, plus Agustinita, the doll he believed had special power. Many leave offerings here.