photo by Pedro Felipe (via Creative Commons)
We've talked a lot about amazing Colombian tour destinations, but it's that time of year when leaves start to turn auburn and wispy winds start to beckon on sweater weather it feels like a good time to talk about the most haunted places in Colombia. Whether you're just a fan of the paranormal or would actually like to check these places out, take a look at these two haunted places where you might catch a glimpse of Casper on your Colombian trip.
photo by Pedro Felipe (via Creative Commons)
Hotel del Salto
Hotel del Salto is one of Colombia's most haunted, and beautiful, spooky locations. Originally created as a home in 1923 for its architect Carlos Arturo Tapias, the building has since gone through its own renaissance.
Throughout the 20s, Tapias would throw many famed parties that the roaring 20s are known for where all the glitterati would attend and marvel at the beautiful architecture of the building. Then in the late 1920s, the mansion opened as a hotel with a new expansion to accommodate the rich and the famous. But after being open for 60 years, the original structure started to disintegrate due to the polluted Bogotá River.
As the building continued to literally crumble away, the hotel closed in 1990 and has been abandoned until 2013 when the Ecological Farm Foundation of Porvenir renovated the space and reopened it as an art museum where you can now visit.
So what makes this place so haunted? Legend has it that many visitors would jump to their deaths from the windows due to broken hearts, broken wallets or broken spirits. And it's suggested that these victims romanticised a local legend of indigenous people jumping out of the windows to flee the Spanish conquerors. Then, while in mid-flight, these leapers according to legend would transform into eagles allowing them to fly to their freedom.
photo by Pedro Felipe (via Creative Commons)
La Candelaria Neighborhood – Bogotá
Known as the birthplace of Bogotá, there are plenty of haunted sightings throughout this neighborhood including the Museo De Bogotá and many more. Perhaps this is because proper cemeteries didn’t exist in the region for hundreds of years and many people would lay their ancestors to rest in their backyard gardens. The homes as well as many vintage buildings also add to the creep factor as most of them are over 200 years old.
But don't be frightened, most of these spirits are friendlies. In the case of the museum, orbs of light appear around closing time and dance in the halls as if to say that they’ll protect the museum while the workers are gone for the evening.
Of course, there are also more sinister ghost stories from the La Candelaria neighborhood. One such story is one about a beautiful, young housemaid who worked for a couple in the area. The wife grew jealous of the young maiden and her husband's male gaze that she sent the girl away on a lengthy mission in hopes that she stay far away for good.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case and the girl returned to the husband's delight and the wife's chagrin. After such a reunion, it is said that the wife peeled each one of the girls fingernails off, pulled out her hair, burned her face and body and literally barricaded her in the walls of the house a la Elizabeth Báthory from the famous Hungarian horror story. Since this poor girl suffered greatly before her passing, it is said that she's an angry spirit that continues to roam the streets and scare those that cross her path.
Still want more?
Reach out to Colombian tour guide and book a Bogotá adventure tour, then in the evening brave the streets of La Candelaria and maybe you’ll be lucky (or unlucky?) enough to see some paranormal activity yourself.