Known in the world as “horror tourism” or “dark tourism” -that which takes you to know destinations that include unusual experiences, visits to “haunted” places or sites known for their legends and myths around the subject-, in our country it is not yet installed as a trend. In fact, according to Cocha studies, less than 1% of users consult for this type of trip.
However, as there are as many tastes as destinations, most people who do want to experience this trend -preferably men and women between 25 and 35 years old, who live alone, travel frequently and are passionate about movies or television series-, consult for packages to spend Halloween in the United States or live the Day of the Dead in Mexico and know the typical customs of these countries first hand.
If you dare to travel to Mexico, here we recommend some options that will allow you to connect with the afterlife through an unforgettable experience:
Barrio Mágico de Mixquic, Mexico City: here is one of the most famous cemeteries in the country, the cemetery of Mixquic, located almost an hour from the city center in a small town called Barrio Mágico, icon of the most traditional celebrations of the date. Here the festival begins on October 31 and lasts until November 3, and everything is done by candlelight with dozens of families sharing a feast of food at the graves of their ancestors, almost as if waiting for them to leave their eternal confinement to eat together.
Offerings to the dead in Mexico City: it is one of the must-sees of the date in the Mexican capital, a parade that takes place on Paseo de la Reforma Avenue with giant catrinas, skulls and allegorical cars. There are also traditional offerings at the Autonomous University of Mexico, the city’s Zocalo, and one of the most famous, at Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul Museum.
Light and Life in Chignahuapan, Puebla: Chignahuapan is a town on the shore of a lagoon in Puebla and there, on November 1 and 2, the Festival of Light and Life takes place, a festival in honor of the dead that has its origin in a pre-Hispanic ritual to achieve purification. The path that goes from the center of the village to the riverbank is illuminated with torches, which serve as a path for souls to their offering. In addition, there are light and sound shows, music, traditional dances and fireworks.
If ghost, fairy and vampire stories are your thing, Europe offers you multiple options depending on the city you would like to visit:
The Corvinesti castle also known as the Hunyad castle, is a Gothic-Renaissance castle in Hunedoara (Transylvania), Romania.
London, England: Here’s the famous Jack the Ripper tour that follows the trail of deaths at the hands of the world’s most notorious killer in the WhiteChapel neighborhood. You can also visit the museum dedicated to Jack the Ripper.
Dumbarton, Scotland: In this town of superstitious people and believers in ghosts and spirits there is the Overtoun Bridge, sadly known as the bridge of suicide dogs. According to the stories, hundreds of dogs have jumped out of the gothic structure for no apparent reason. To date, it is not yet known what motivates this attitude.
Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic: this fascinating place is an underground Gothic chapel under which the mortal remains of more than forty thousand people exist. It has strange decorations such as spiders, pyramids, crosses and coats of arms of human bones, which transforms it into a unique space to visit.
Vlad Dracul Castle, Bran, Romania: this is a must-see for fans of vampire stories, since according to popular beliefs, it would have been the residence of Vlad Tepes, the Impaler, historical character in which the Irish writer Bram Stoker was inspired to create Count Dracula. It is a medieval fortress located near Brasov in Transylvania, declared a national monument and one of the favorite tourist destinations in the area for its great architectural value.
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