By: Maria Camila Ospina 10B

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We know Halloween is all about scary movies and stories. But… Why not upgrade it a little bit? Why don’t you try and visit some of Colombia’s most haunted places? In this article you’ll find the five most haunted places to ever exist in our country and to be honest, they all sound pretty scary.

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1.    Castillo La Alboraya: This famous castle is located in Barranquilla, and since many years ago, has been surrounded by many terrifying ghosts and spirit stories. The most famous one relies on the owner of the building, a Spanish man, who supposedly made a pact with the devil and practiced African witchcraft, in order to intimidate and ward off people from his house. Anyone who did get to enter without permission was severely tortured. This is why many people still hear screams and cries of agony inside the building.

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2.    The Nazi House: This house is located in the heart of Cúcuta, and at the first glance, it doesn’t seem scary at all, it just seems old. It is said that a little girl used to live in this house and her spirit refuses to leave it; this is why she scares, with screams and mysterious tricks, anyone who attempts to visit the place. The reason of the “Nazi” in its name is still unknown…

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3.    Gorgona Island: Although nowadays we know this place as a natural reserve for many species, its past is very dark. In the 1960s, this island used to be a prison for the most dangerous criminals in Colombia. The construction of this building was inspired by the Nazi concentration camps and was full of diseases and many dangerous animals, such as the most poisonous snakes alive. In this jail, of course, many people were tortured, and their spirits continue to lament inside the walls of what used to be the greatest prison of our country.

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4.    Crowne Plaza Hotel: This hotel in Bogotá, may be known as one of the most traditional ones, but the stories that surround it are not that great. Most of the people that have stayed in this hotel have left with the same feeling of paranoia and fear. All of them have seen or heard the same: the spectrum of a girl that cries and sings, things that obviously result really scary at night.

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5.    Salto del Tequendama Hotel: At the side of the enormous Tequendama waterfall, you can find the Tequendama Hotel. The hotel was built by Germans in the 1920s, and it is thought that they are part of the spirits that surround the old building. Although the hotel closed almost ten years ago, the scaring stories do not end; many people that have attempted to visit the house and analyze the different sounds and waves produced by diverse energies located inside of the hotel, end up feeling like they’re being chased or hunted down by someone. Maybe it’s one of the Germans, although no one will ever know… 

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The stories that surround all of these buildings are scary, but that’s what Halloween is for, right? If you’re brave, (VERY brave), maybe you could try and visit one of these places, and come back and tell us how it went! But if you’re not, that’s okay. You can just stay in and be safe… For now.