The Island of the Dolls

Dolls seen from the lake

In the mid-20th century, Barrera began to collect dolls and hang them around the small island. The island gained notoriety in 1943 when Mexican director Emilio Fernández used it as the location of the film María Candelaria.[1]

After Barrera's death in 2001, his family opened the island to the public as a tourist attraction. In addition to the hundreds of dolls,[2] the grounds host three huts, and a small museum with articles from local newspapers about both the island and the previous owner. In the one-room hut Barrera slept in, the first doll Barrera collected is displayed, as well as Agustina, his favorite doll.[3][4][5]

The Island of the Dolls is accessible to the public by gondola-like boats referred to as trajineras.[6] Most rowers are willing to transport people to the island, but there are those who refuse out of superstition.[7] The journey often includes a tour of the Ecological Area, Ajolote Museum, Apatlaco Canal, Teshuilo Lagoon and Llorona Island.[8]

^ "La "Isla de las Muñecas" causa terror en Xochimilco México". Rincón Abstracto. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on Sep 19, 2021. ^ Nicolás, Araceli (2023-05-16). "Una muñeca de Tim Burton y otra marcada por Lady Gaga ahuyentan espíritus en la Isla de las Muñecas". Uno TV (in Mexican Spanish). Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03. ^ Froelich, Paula (2021-10-30). "Real story behind 'haunted' Island of the Dolls in Mexico". Retrieved 2023-09-17. ^ "Some Of The World's Most Outrageous Tourist Attractions". Oddee. 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03. ^ "Isla De Las Muñecas: Øya med de hviskende dukkene". www.abcnyheter.no (in Norwegian). 2020-02-20. Archived from the original on 2023-08-20. Retrieved 2023-07-03. ^ "Visit Isla de las Munecas – Isla de las Muñecas". Archived from the original on 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2023-07-04. ^ "Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls) in Mexico". Island of the Dolls. Archived from the original on Feb 15, 2023. ^ "Los canales de Xochimilco". Piso de Exhibición. February 2009. Archived from the original on Nov 25, 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.