The Most Haunting Latin American Monsters, Ghosts, and their Legends

Across the Latin America, many spooky stories are popular. Some of the gothic stories have become legendary- as for generations, people listen to them and according to elders, many of them have seen those monsters and blood-sucking vampires when they were young. We are not here to debate or culminate whether these Latin American monsters do exist…we will rather try to pass through the popular legends. Are you ready for this haunting tales? Some of those are spine-chilling nevertheless.

Spain’s El Cuco
Popularly known as El Viejo del Saco and El Sacomán- the El Cuco targets children just like the Boogeyman per legend. The Latin American parents often take refuge to this popular monster legend to develop the fear of God among their children. The belief goes like this- the angry El Cuco kidnaps the yelling and misbehaving kids in his bag. Later on, the kids are not found! Many belief that the children were taken in his cave and eaten up. This is still a mystery remained unsolved. Thus, the Spanish Kids are scared of this folklore boogeyman. But is he still remained in the folklore or he still exists? It is believed that at the beginning of the 20th century Francisco Ortega aka El Cuco or El Moreno was desperately suffering from tuberculosis. He was not getting a cure until he meets a Curandera. The Curandera asked him to drink the blood of young children. Thus, Francisco Ortega kidnapped a 7-year-old boy named Bernardo and drank his blood. Ortega became a monster per legend just like the Guarani also known as Jasy Jatere who used to kidnap children and consumed on them mercilessly.

Bolivia’s Acalica
These Bolivian creatures are known to be not-so-ferocious. These fair-tempered creatures are known to be weather-fairies for their power to controlling the weather just like Colombia’s Madremonte. The Acalicas live in the underground caves and they usually avoid coming in front of the human territory. Legend says that some humans had previously confronted with the Acalicas and they are like small and wizened men. They enjoy controlling the weather but it is said that like Colombia’s Madremonte they punish those who try to mess with them.

La Llorona (Mexico), La Novia de Tola (Nicaragua), La Sayona (Venezuela)
The ancient haunting tale of La Llorona (Mexico), La Novia de Tola (Nicaragua), La Sayona (Venezuela) is so similar. This is said to be the spookiest and the most scaring ghost that has been heard several times before. The legend is of the pathetic tale of a beautiful woman names Maria who had been terribly cheated by her beloved. Out of fury and rage, she killed the two illegitimate children of hers to take spite on the estranged lover. Later on, the corpse of the beautiful damsel was recovered from the riverside. Since then people heard her cry during nights. They believe she looks for her children whom she haven’t yet found. Thus, she cannot enter the world of the dead and leave the mortal world. Those who have seen her often share their spine-chilling experience of witnessing a woman in white gown crying and howling for her children. This is one of the scariest horror legends of Venezuela, Mexico, and Nicaragua.