Island of the Dolls

La Isla De Las Muñecas, also known as the Island of the Dolls. It is located in the channels of Xochimilco, south of the Estadio Azteca soccer stadium, Mexico City, Mexico. One of the main attractions of the channels of the chinampa of the Laguna de Teshuilo. Don Julian Santana Barrera, the former owner of this island, placed dolls in various styles and colours. He believed that hanging dolls warded off the spirit of a drowned girl years before. He died in 2001 from a heart attack. Sources claim that he was near the spot where the girl drowned.

Island of the dolls

Isla de las Muñecas

Don Julian Santana Barrera originally owned the island of the dolls. It is filled with Mexican dolls suspended from trees and buildings that are covered in cobwebs and insects. This place was named in the 1950s when its owner began hanging the dolls for protection against evil spirits. Santana lived next to the Barrio de la Asuncion Adventures Island. He used to drink pulque after that, selling his vegetables. Then, due to superstitions, he began to preach the Bible and was expelled from that sector.

Ghost adventures island of the Dolls — Legend has it that a young girl was drowned in the canal. Her body was later found on the banks of the Santampa chinampas. Santana started to experience strange situations, and he placed dolls he found in the trash or in Cuemanco's canals with the hope that he would scare the soul of a little girl. She would cry out, "I want my doll!" Santana also found a doll that was floating around near the girl. He assumed it belonged to the deceased girl and hung it on the tree as a sign of respect. When the owner of the property died, he was at the exact spot where the girl died.

Island of Dolls

Doll Island — Eco-tourists saved the island in 1987 and covered it with water lilies. The chinampa has been a popular tourist destination ever since, especially after Santana's death.

Island of the DnDzolls movie — After Emilio Fernández, a Mexican filmmaker, filmed María Candelaria in the area. Dolores del Rio, Pedro Armendariz, and Dolores del Rio were the protagonists. Numerous international and local media outlets have featured articles about the Isla de las Munecas, including The Huffington Post, Travel Channel, and Island ABC News.

Island of the dolls' original doll — The muñecas (muneca meaning 'doll') can still be found on the island of dolls, which can be reached by boat. It was featured on both the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures and Amazon Prime's Lore. BuzzFeed Unsolved also featured the island doll. Shane Madej stated that he believes in the legends surrounding the island of Isdolls'la de las muñecas Xochimilco. (Island of the Dolls Wiki)

First photo credit: Esparta Palma

Doll island

Photo credit: Kevin

Embarcadero Cuemanco is approximately an hour from the island of the Dolls, Mexico. The only access is by Trajinera. Most rowers will take you to the island of Dolores, Mexico, but some refuse due to superstitions. The journey takes approximately an hour. The package includes a tour through the Ecological Area and the Ajolote Museum. There are also the Apatlaco canal, the Teshuilo Lagoon, and Llorona Island.

Doll forest — This forest of dolls contains hundreds of dolls and a small museum that includes articles from local newspapers. The store is surrounded by three rooms, one of which appears to have been used for sleeping. This room contains Santana's first doll and Agustinita, his favourite doll.

Visitors place offerings around the doll to receive miracles and blessings. Others change their clothes and keep them as a form of worship at Isla de la Luna, Mexico (Mexico island).