Friday, January 17, 2014

The Island of the Dolls

Just south of Mexico City but still inside that country's Federal District, lie a series of canals in a borough known as Xochimico. These canals are all that remain of what was once an extensive waterway connecting area settlements long before the arrival of the Spaniards. Further, the aqueducts now connect a maze of artificial islands known as chimampas, which collectively, serve as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a tourist attraction accessible to visitors only by trajinera, a gondola-like boat. Located in remote part of these waterways however, is a unique attraction that is not a regular feature of the trajinera tours. In fact, it is a place that many natives and visitors alike distance themselves from. Indeed, The Island of the Dolls (la Isla de las Muñecas) is often referred to as the creepiest place on Earth--and perhaps, with good reason!

Visits to the island are expensive and by special arrangement only. Still, for those undeterred by the extra cost and local stories of whispering dolls beckoning outsiders to the island, a trip there will be a most memorable experience. 


 The first thing one sees upon approach is that the marionettes are everywhere and the sight is often described as horrifying and unsettling as they can be seen hanging by the neck from tree branches and every visible structure in various stages of decay. Decapitated heads, bodies and limbs sway in the breeze while the eyes of many stare into the distance menacingly. Equally disconcerting is the morose tale that describes the tragic circumstances that brought the dolls to this remote and otherwise insignificant island in the first place.


 As the story goes, the chimampa was inhabited by only one man decades ago. His name was Don Julian Santana. One day, he found the body of a young girl floating in the canal. She had apparently drowned. While overcome with grief over her death, he spotted a doll floating in the canal. After retrieving it, he hung the marionette in a tree in an effort to both placate the spirit of the dead girl and to ward off any evil that might come to his island of residence as a result of her drowning. Not satisfied with the protection offered by just one doll, Santana began searching the canals for others, which he in turn, also hung from the trees. It is said that over time, his never ending quest for more dolls led him to various trash piles. Each new one found was hung somewhere on his tiny island. According to his family, which now runs the island, Don Julian Santana collected and displayed the dolls primarily because he wanted the spirit of the drowned girl to be happy as well as to ward off evil. Many of them had previously been rejected by their original owners, which lends an even more creepy ambiance to Don Julian's former residence.

Since that time, many visitors have also left dolls scattered around the Island and today, there is no where a visitor can walk without being followed by the dolls' icy stares. In 2011, one visitor named Debrah Eastwood visited La Isla de las Muñecas and described her experience this way:

"It was frightening and very surreal...

"...I don’t look at the images too often, but when I do, it still brings back goosebumps and the sick feeling I had in my gut. It is one of the most unusual places I have ever visited, and for that alone I am glad; but if I ever go back, I will make sure to bring a friend and freak them out too."







I don't know about all of  you, but The Island of the Dolls sounds like a place I'd like to visit.    









To the best of my knowledge, credit for the top photo goes to Debrah Eastwood. The bottom two were found at Google's Island of the Dolls Photo Collection.

For more information visit the Island Review's Island of the Dolls page.


You can also go here  or or here
for more photos and information.





11 comments:

  1. I'm not even going to check out those links, Nightwind. Dolls creep me out - that last picture is enough to give me nightmares for weeks. I think the Island of the Dolls is definitely not on the Bucket List for me - not that I was ever planning to go to Mexico anyway. Too hot! ;P

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  2. I suppose that we're opposites in that way. I really enjoy dolls and as with clowns, am fascinated with their potential for reflecting the dark side of things.

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  3. I would love to visit this island as well as Mexico DF! There's another location in DF called "el Chopo." It's like the Camden Market of Mexico. I have an appreciation for Latin American cultures. They really know how to live!

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    1. I'm glad we agree about the dolls. El Chopo sounds interesting too. Several years back I visited a large mercado in a city called Navojoa. It was a fascinating place and one I suspect was very similar to El Chopo.

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  4. I've always been really interested in the La Isla de las Muñecas. I wonder about the little girl, and about what went in the mind of Don Julian...

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  5. I wondered about the little girl too. As for Don Julian and what he was thinking, who knows? They do say that he wanted the spirit of the girl to be happy but hundreds of dolls? Sheesh! Maybe it became a hobby for him.

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  6. I love reading about the Island of the Dolls! It's completely fascinating, and creepy in the best possible way. I think the first creepy dolls I fell in love with were the nasty, sharp-toothed dolls in the movie 'Barbarella'. I remember seeing that movie on TV as a kid and the scene with the dolls gnashing their teeth and biting at Barbarella was both terrifying and utterly awesome! ;D

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    1. I don't remember the dolls from Barbarella, but if you really want to see some creepy dolls you might want to go to http:www.newagedolls.com/ . Browse through her galleries and enjoy.

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    2. Thank you for the link! This clown is fabulous:

      http://www.themorbiddollhouse.com/bruno-mini-red.html

      Very creepy Victorian carnival! Here's the doll scene from 'Barbarella' (in all its campy glory) if you're interested:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKFzYUe5_p4

      I'm going to put a link to your post and the clown on my Facebook page. :)

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    3. There's just something about clowns! They're supposed to be funny but can be quite scary. It seems I remember being frightened by one when I was small. Thanks for the link!

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