The Most Haunted Places in the Caribbean

Beyond the tropical scenery, crystal-clear water, incredible cuisine, and lively culture, there is another side to the Caribbean you may not be familiar with. In the spirit of Halloween, we share the most haunted places in the Caribbean. Get ready for goosebumps and chills! 

From mysterious shipwrecks and eerie mangroves to mansions with horrifying stories and old forts with ghost spottings, the following destinations will make your skin crawl. Discover some of the most spooky places in the tropical paradise of the Caribbean Islands. 

1 | Sunken Ghost Ships  

Barbados 

If you’re searching for the most haunted places in the Caribbean, a trip below the surface of the tranquil and life-filled waters is the way to go. Beyond the vibrant coral reefs, sea turtles, and stingray habitats are mysterious wrecked ships frozen in time.  

Gather your scuba gear and dive to swim among the haunted ships of the eastern Caribbean Sea, including the SS Stravronikita that sunk in 1978. The wreck's dark rooms and storage spaces are shadowed by the water and taken over by the corals and sea life. However, you can still see some possessions, tools, and other artifacts floating in the ship, reminding visitors of the horror the ship’s crew faced. 

And there are far more ghost ships to explore! Some are as old as 200 years and still give divers chills as they pass by. 

2 | The White Witch of Rose Hall Great House  

Montego Bay, Jamaica 

One of the creepiest stories told in Jamaica is that of the White Witch of Rose Hall. Annie Plamer was the owner of this grandeur property many years ago. However, she couldn’t keep up with the land and mansion all on her own, of course. So, Palmer also owned many enslaved people and married several men to keep her company.  

As the tale goes, Palmer earned the name the White Witch for her brutal torture of the enslaved people and murders in her basement. And the enslaved people weren’t the only unfortunate victims. Annie also killed three of her husbands.  

She died at the hands of the enslaved men she had affairs with and later rejected. Some would say she got what she deserved, but the ritual was left incomplete, leaving the spirit of the White Witch to freely roam the creepy halls and dusty rooms of her mansion. 

Nightly visitors claim to see spirits and wispy figures in the shadows and hear the screaming of her victims over the bay. 

3 | The Mystery of the Chase Vault Coffins 

Oistins, Barbados 

Any location with buried bodies is a little eerie. But the Chase Vault in Barbados is considered one of the most haunted places in the Caribbean and has a spooky story to back it up. The crypt was built in 1724 by a wealthy family to serve as a family burial site. Three family members were placed there to rest, but more than just resting occurred. You could say the spirits of the crypt were quite active. 

After hearing some reports about the commotion at the vault, the burial staff visited the marble door-sealed crypt. Inside, they were shocked to see the coffins leaning up against the walls. After catching their breath, they placed the coffins back to their original spots and sealed the tomb once more. 

A few years later, the vault was revisited and was found the same way– coffins misplaced and standing against the wall. After investigating and finding no evidence of human interference, the visitors laid sand on the floor of the crypt to catch the footsteps of the one responsible for the disturbance. 

Months later, the coffins were found tossed out of place gain. However, no footprints or other evidence indicated human impact, leaving the visitors and locals to conclude that the three relatives were the culprits. 

4 | Haunted Mangroves  

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 

The ominous mangroves of St. Thomas are filled with horrifying tales of the pirates that once terrorized the island. It’s said that they hid in the mangroves between their attacks, theft, torture, and murder of the island locals, mainly made up of European settlers, including innocent children and women. 

Some world-famous names haunting the area are Blackbeard, Bluebear, Mary Read, and Teach. For comfort, you can book a daytime kayaking tour through the water. Just be sure to say your prayers and avoid picking up hitchhiker spirits. 

5 | The Devil’s Sentry Box 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 

In the bustling city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, are the remains of Fort San Cristobal, built by the Spanish in the early 1600s. Some of the island's most terrifying and chilling stories originate from the high stone walls, dark halls, and dungeons. Most noted is the entry box named the Devil's Sentry Box, or “garita del diablo.”  

A Spanish soldier stood guard one night but disappeared without a trace by the morning. The sentry box grew a reputation among the soldiers. Anyone ordered to the spot shivered with fear of the unknown. As expected, the first Spanish man was not the only one to never return from their post. After many similar occurrences, the box was fittingly known as the “portal to hell.” 

Today, the haunted sentry box is left out of guided tours. Curious visitors cannot step inside the eerie spot, but you can see it from a distance. 

 
CITED: Magazine.keycaribe.com, Beach.com, Islandoriginsmag.com