The Spookiest Latin American Monsters and Legends
Questions This Article Answers
Which are the most popular Latin American myths and legends?
What is a críptido?
What kind of monster is the chupacabras?
What's the legend of the lobisón?
What does la Llorona wail about?
Is Nahuelito similar to the Loch Ness Monster?
What kind of creature is Pombero?
Latin American Myths, Legends, and Folktales
Some of los mitos(myths), las leyendas(legends), and los cuentos populares(folktales) in this article originated in América Latina(Latin America), while others were adopted from other culturas(cultures).
While some of the creatures discussed in this article were arguably created to scare children into behaving, it's still debated whether others are reales(real) or only a product of engaños(hoaxes) or the imaginación(imagination).
Besides críptidos(cryptids), which are animals whose existence cannot be proven, in this article we’ll discuss humanoides(humanoids), monstruos(monsters), and fantasmas(ghosts) that appear in Latin American folklore.
El Chupacabras
- Region: Latin America
El chupacabras(chupacabra) is a relatively new leyenda. The name chupacabras can be literally translated as goat sucker, and it is derived from the Spanish words chupar(to suck) and cabra(goat).
The reports of a creature that attacks ganado(livestock), such as cabras(goats) and ovejas(sheep), and sucks their sangre(blood) began in the mid-1990s.
The descriptions of this críptido are inconsistent, but many agree it is some sort of vampiric canid with glowing eyes and sharp spines that run down its back.
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El Coco
- Region: Latin America
El coco(coco), also known as el cuco(cuco), has been frightening children in households around the globe for generations.
This asustador de niños(figure used to threaten children) originated in the Península Ibérica(Iberian Peninsula) and is the equivalent of the bogeyman in the Hispanic world.
The coco doesn’t have a specific shape or form, and its abilities may vary.
El Hombre de la Bolsa
- Region: Latin America
El hombre de la bolsa(the Sack Man), also known as el hombre del saco, el viejo del saco, or el viejo del costal, is another famous asustador de niños.
This man wanders around nighttime calles(streets) collecting children who misbehave in his bag.
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El Lobisón
- Regions: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
El lobisón(the lobison) is a beast similar to el hombre lobo(werewolf). It is also known as Luisón(Luison), which is derived from the Guarani Luisõ.
In Guaraní(Guarani) mythology, Luisõ was the seventh child of the cursed Taú y Keraná(Tau and Kerana), who had seven children born as monsters.
According to the mito, a lobisón turns into a beast on martes y viernes de luna llena(Tuesdays and Fridays with a full moon). The lobisón wanders around cementerios(cemeteries) looking for cadáveres(corpses) to feed on. The lobisón returns to its human form before sunrise.
The lobisón is described as a big, dog-like human of dreadful appearance and foul smell whose presence causes dogs to bark. Those who are bitten by a lobisón will become lobisones themselves. The only way to kill a lobisón is using an arma blanca(bladed weapon) or a bala bendita(blessed bullet).
In Argentina(Argentina) and Paraguay(Paraguay), people believe that the séptimo hijo varón(seventh son) of a family will become a lobisón when he reaches adolescence. However, if the presidente(president) of the nation adopts the seventh son as his ahijado(godson), the child will not fall victim to the curse. This costumbre(custom) began in order to save the seventh sons of families from being murdered by superstitious people who believed they would become lobisones.
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La Llorona
- Region: Latin America
The legend of la Llorona(the Weeping Woman) has its origins in pre-Hispanic México(Mexico).
La Llorona is the ghost of a mother who went insane and drowned her children in a river. This alma en pena(wandering soul) wanders streets, lakes, and rivers wailing about her dead children.
La Llorona has been described as a fantasmagórica(phantasmagoric) woman with long black hair and a ghastly face covered by a white veil. Her espeluznantes(terrifying) screams may be considered a sign of mal augurio(bad omen).
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La Luz Mala
- Regions: Argentina, Uruguay
The mito of la luz mala(the Evil Light) is popular in rural areas in Argentina and Uruguay(Uruguay) and is similar to the will-o'-the-wisp. It is also known as el farol del mandinga(The Devil’s Lantern).
La luz mala appears at night as a phosphorescent light at ground level. It is believed to be an alma en pena. The gauchos(gauchos) and people who live in rural areas believe that when you see la luz mala, you should rezar(pray) and bite the vaina(sheath) of your knife.
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Nahuelito
- Region: Argentina
Nahuelito(Nahuelito) is a monster that allegedly lives in lago Nahuel Huapi(Nahuel Huapi Lake) in the Patagonia(Patagonia) region of Argentina.
Nahuelito is the Argentinean counterpart to Nessie, el monstruo del lago Ness(the Loch Ness Monster). Reports of an aquatic creature in lago Nahuel Huapi first appeared at the end of the 19th century.
Although there are reports of alleged avistamientos(sightings), there is still no irrefutable pruebas(evidence) of its existence. This críptido is said to have the form of a plesiosaurio(plesiosaur).
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Pombero
- Regions: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay
Pombero(Pombero) is a sort of duende(goblin) in Guaraní mythology who protects bosques(forests) and animales(animals). He’s short and hairy, has dark skin, and has the ability to cambiar su aspecto físico(shapeshift). He is often represented wearing a large sombrero de paja(straw hat). A silbido(whistling) indicates his presence.
Pombero punishes hunters or loggers who take more than they need from the forest. He has a reputation for being a troublemaker, causing accidents and mishaps.
If you don’t want to enrage him, you shouldn’t silbar(whistle) at night, say his name out loud, or speak ill of him.
Pomberito, as he is affectionately called, can also be friendly. He can grant favors and be helpful in return for gifts. His favorite ofrendas(offerings) are miel(honey), cigarros(cigars), and ron(rum).
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El Silbón
- Regions: Colombia, Venezuela
This leyenda originated in the los Llanos(the Plains) region in Colombia(Colombia) and Venezuela(Venezuela).
A young man nicknamed el Silbón(The Whistler) murdered his father. His grandfather not only punished him, but he also cursed him and condemned him to wander around carrying his father’s bones in a sack.
El Silbón is tall, thin, wears a hat, and carries a sack with his father’s bones. He attacks people in los Llanos, especially borrachos(drunkards) y mujeriegos(womanizers). If you hear his characteristic silbido(whistling) close to you, it means he’s far away; if you hear it in the distance, it means he’s close to you!
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La Tulevieja
- Regions: Costa Rica, Panamá
La Tulevieja(Tulevieja), also known as la Tulivieja, is a leyenda from Costa Rica(Costa Rica) and Panamá(Panama).
La Tulevieja is described as a short old woman who wears a large tule(hat made of tule), has bird legs and wings, and lives near the river. She is often seen carrying a load of leña(firewood). She was cursed to live as a sort of bird woman for having drowned her child in a river. She is known for attacking lustful men and breastfeeding children.
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La Viuda
- Regions: Argentina, Chile
La Viuda(the Widow), also known as la Viuda Negra(the Black Widow) is a mito popular in Argentina and Chile(Chile).
La Viuda is a woman of ghastly features who wears black clothes and a black veil. This alma en pena appears on caminos(roads) during the noche(night) and attacks lonely men.
The stories of her origins are diverse. Some say she was a betrayed woman who made un pacto con el diablo(a deal with the devil) and seeks venganza(vengeance) on unfaithful men. Others claim she died of a broken heart and is now looking for a man. Whatever the origin of her curse, you don’t want to stumble upon her when you’re walking home alone late at night!
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Vocabulary
Here’s a list of words related to myths and legends.
Learn more Spanish in the following articles:
