Due to its rich culture, Puerto Rico is full of urban legends.
The island has been the setting of ancient battles, mysterious creatures, and unexplained accidents.
Having been born and raised in Puerto Rico, I grew up listening to these stories and even witnessed a few of them myself.
In this article, I will cover the 10 most haunted places in Puerto Rico:
No other historic site represents Puerto Rico as much as El Morro in Old San Juan.
Besides being the most important landmark of Puerto Rico, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, is also the island’s most haunted place.
Some say the fortress’ intense paranormal activity is due to its long and horrid history, others think it’s because of its close proximity to the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery.
What is certain is that there are hundreds of witnesses who have experienced paranormal events in the castle.
According to witnesses, there is the spirit of a woman that glides through the ramparts of the fortress.
It is said the woman wears a white dress and no one has ever seen her face.
Employees also claim to have heard screams coming from the dungeons.
Below is a video of the tunnels and dungeons of the Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Learn more about this historic fortress in our guide to Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
Castillo de San Cristóbal is located at the eastern gate of Old San Juan.
Also known as Fort San Cristobal, this historic landmark served as a counterpart to the El Morro fortress.
Like many fortresses, Fort San Cristobal has a few turrets that are used to watch over its surroundings.
But there is a specific one that earned the name “Garita del Diablo” (Devil’s Watchtower).
This turret was feared by soldiers centuries ago.
It is said that many soldiers who were stationed in this particular watchtower would disappear without a trace, leaving behind only their clothes and weapons.
According to the legend, the devil himself would randomly come to devour the body of a soldier.
If you want to know more about historical sites in Puerto Rico, make sure to read our article 26 Famous Historical Sites in Puerto Rico.
Locals believe the Normandie Hotel is cursed.
It opened its doors in 1942 and immediately became very popular with the social elite.
During the first year of the hotel’s success, a woman committed suicide by jumping off the seventh floor.
After that, many hotel staff and guests claimed to have heard the voice of a woman crying.
Others swear they have seen her spirit walking through the hotel grounds.
Below is a video of the ghosts of the Normandie Hotel.
Eventually, the hotel was closed off. Since then, the Normandie has been reopened and closed multiple times.
To this day, the hotel remains abandoned and it’s kept closed for safety.
For more to do in the area, read our guide to the 40 Best Things To Do In San Juan.
The apparition of the Chupacabras was initially reported in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico.
It all began back in 1995 when people started reporting dead goats, chickens, and even cows.
The corpses appeared to be completely drained of blood and with two strange puncture wounds in the neck or chest area.
Pretty soon hundreds of witnesses claimed to have seen a red-eye reptilian creature with sharp spikes down its spine.
The reports even made it to the news, and the mayor of Canóvanas decided to organize a hunt to catch the mysterious Chupacabras.
Below is a video of the Chupacabras’ history & lore:
Rumors began to circulate and locals believed the Chupacabras were a military experiment that had escaped.
In a short time, stories of the Chupacabras began to swirl throughout different parts of Latin America, turning the legend into a cultural phenomenon.
Below is a video about the Chupacabras’ cultural phenomenon:
The Tapia Theater is another haunted landmark in Puerto Rico.
It was inaugurated in 1832 and to this day is the oldest continuously working theater on the island.
There have been multiple reports of ghostly apparitions in the theater.
According to witnesses, a woman dressed in Edwardian Era attire tends to appear in Box 105 during performances leaving patrons and actors perplexed as they watch how she materializes before their eyes then disappears in a matter of seconds.
Staff members have also heard footsteps, an otherworldly choir of voices singing from the stage, and unnatural whisperings all around the theater after closing hours.
Actors in rehearsal have admitted seeing a spirit presence walking around the mezzanine level.
Below is a video of the haunting of the Tapia Theater:
This legend is about a man who died trying to save his cow.
It is said that Jacinto, a farmer from Isabela, was very protective of his cow and he used to tie himself to the cow when he walked her through that area.
One day the cow got too close to the edge of the well and lost its balance.
Jacinto tried to save her but she dragged him down the cliff and they both died.
According to the legend, if you stand on the edge of the cliff and ask for the cow, the tide rises as if in anger.
Below is a video of Jacinto’s Well:
Read more about the area in our guide to Isabela – All You Need To Know.
The Guayama Theater is known to be haunted.
Staff members have reported different kinds of apparitions and poltergeist activity.
Many employees have resigned from their positions due to the paranormal activity in the theater.
Below is a video of the Guayama Theater:
This was the oldest prison in Puerto Rico and home to the most violent criminals on the island.
The living conditions of the prisoners were inhuman, to say the least.
And amid riots, prison wars, murders, and suicides White Bear became a place of death.
Below is a documentary about Oso Blanco prison:
In 2004, the last of the convicts who survived the barbaric living conditions were transferred to other prisons and the structure was abandoned.
Since then, the buildings have been the site of intense paranormal activity.
Below is a video of the haunting of Oso Blanco prison:
Eventually, the prison was demolished in 2015.
Lajas PR 116 road is known as the highway of the dismembered.
Multiple witnesses claim to have seen dismembered beings walking and crawling along PR 116.
It is important to mention that there is a specific area of this road where multiple car accidents have been reported.
Locals believe the dismembered are the spirits of people who have died in catastrophic accidents and will forever be aimlessly wandering on the road.
Below is a video of the story of the Dismembered of Lajas:
This railway tunnel is also one of the most haunted places in Puerto Rico.
It is said this tunnel was haunted from the start.
Many workers died during the construction due to dynamite explosions and landslides. Despite many deaths, the construction continued and the tunnel was inaugurated in 1906.
Later, in 1936 there was a tragic train accident where dozens of people died.
Since then, hundreds of witnesses claim to have seen the spirits of the victims and heard the voices of people asking for help.
Many locals also claim to hear the train approaching even though the train has not been in use since 1957.
Below is a video of the story of the ghosts of the tunnel of Guajataca:
To learn more about this historic landmark, check out our article about the Guajataca Tunnel.
Locals agree the most haunted place in Puerto Rico is El Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan.
The scariest urban legend in Puerto Rico has always been the legend of the Chupacabras.
Urban legends are very important as they are a projection of different cultures and belief systems.
Puerto Rico is rich with local folklore, and our legends are part of our history and legacy.
For more information about culture and traditions in Puerto Rico, check out my guide to Public Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions In Puerto Rico.
Writer at PuertoRico.com. I have lived in Puerto Rico my entire life. When I’m not writing, I work in the healthcare industry as a Quality Control Specialist. After Hurricane Maria, my teammates and I were responsible for ensuring that life support equipment reached patients in need around the island.
