Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls)
Quick Facts
- Location
- Mexico, Mexico City
- Category
- Sightseeing
- Duration
- 4-5 hours
- Opening Hours
- Daily 09:00-17:00 · The island has no separate opening hours; access depends on trajinera departures and daylight. Boats leave from Cuemanco or Fernando Celada for a 3.5-5 hour round trip, best started 8:30-9:00
- Ticket Price
- Adult: A whole trajinera for the long route runs MXN 1200-2625 · Child: Around MXN 50-100 per person to step onto the island · Priced per boat for up to 15-20 people; agree the route and total before departing
- Address
- Laguna del Teshuilo, Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco, CDMX, Mexico
- Coordinates
- 19.2905, -99.0958
Introduction
The Island of the Dolls is a small chinampa deep in the canals of Xochimilco, south of Mexico City, where hundreds of weathered, broken dolls hang from trees, fences and makeshift shrines. Its story belongs to the caretaker Don Julian Santana Barrera, who moved alone to this plot in the 1950s. By his own account he found a drowned girl in the adjoining canal, then a doll floating by, which he hung in a tree to calm her spirit. For nearly fifty years he traded vegetables for discarded dolls and fished others out of the water until the island was covered, often telling visitors that the dolls turned their heads or whispered at night. In 2001, aged 80, he was found drowned at the very spot where he said he had found the girl. His family has cared for the site since, and visitors now bring dolls as offerings. This is no theme park: the island takes 15-20 minutes to circle, and half the experience is the long, quiet ride through agricultural canals. A trajinera is essential, hired by the boat for a 3.5-5 hour round trip; replica islands with a few dolls sit near the main docks, so ask specifically for the original island.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | 09:00-17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00-17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00-17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00-17:00 |
| Friday | 09:00-17:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00-17:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00-17:00 |
The island has no separate opening hours; access depends on trajinera departures and daylight. Boats leave from Cuemanco or Fernando Celada for a 3.5-5 hour round trip, best started 8:30-9:00
Ticket Information
| Adult | A whole trajinera for the long route runs MXN 1200-2625 |
|---|---|
| Child | Around MXN 50-100 per person to step onto the island |
Priced per boat for up to 15-20 people; agree the route and total before departing
Transportation
Trajinera from Cuemanco or Fernando Celada, 80-100 min
Park at the pier; boat access only
Ask for the Isla original; replicas sit near docks
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls)?
Monday: 09:00-17:00; Tuesday: 09:00-17:00; Wednesday: 09:00-17:00; Thursday: 09:00-17:00; Friday: 09:00-17:00; Saturday: 09:00-17:00; Sunday: 09:00-17:00; The island has no separate opening hours; access depends on trajinera departures and daylight. Boats leave from Cuemanco or Fernando Celada for a 3.5-5 hour round trip, best started 8:30-9:00
How much is the admission for Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls)?
Adult: A whole trajinera for the long route runs MXN 1200-2625; Child: Around MXN 50-100 per person to step onto the island; Priced per boat for up to 15-20 people; agree the route and total before departing
How long should I spend at Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls)?
A typical visit takes 4-5 hours.
How do I get to Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls)?
Bus: Trajinera from Cuemanco or Fernando Celada, 80-100 min; Driving/Parking: Park at the pier; boat access only
