Isla de las Muñecas, Small artificial island in Xochimilco, Mexico
Isla de las Muñecas is an artificial island in the Xochimilco canal system where hundreds of weathered dolls hang from trees and structures. The figures show different stages of decay, with faded colors, missing limbs, and sun-bleached faces forming an outdoor display unlike any other.
Don Julian Santana started hanging dolls on the island during the 1950s after finding a drowned girl in the canal. After he died in 2001, his family opened the island to the public, turning it into a destination for curious travelers.
The site draws visitors who bring their own dolls as offerings, continuing a practice rooted in folk beliefs about spirits and protection. This ongoing tradition means the collection grows year after year, as people leave personal items in gestures of remembrance or reverence.
Visitors reach the island through a several-hour boat journey from Embarcadero Cuemanco south of Mexico City. Weekdays tend to be quieter than weekends, when more groups travel through the canals.
Santana died in 2001 at the same spot in the canal where he had found the drowned girl decades before. His family still accepts dolls brought by visitors, and some say the figures shift positions overnight.
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