As Halloween approaches, leading adventure travel business Explore Worldwide is spotlighting the most eerie destinations and haunted hotspots around the world.
*All details correct at time of publish (15 October 2025)
Rachael Stone, Product Director at Explore Worldwide, said:
“Spooky legends are not just about scares. They reflect the past of a place and how communities continue to interpret it today. Sometimes it’s unsettling, sometimes it’s tragic, but more often than not, these are stories that stay with us.
“Spooky stories and legends can be a great insight into a local culture – past and present. Our local tour guides get right under the skin of each and every location we visit and the local legends, stories and horrible histories, often passed down through generations, really resonate and bring a place to life”.
Each of these destinations has a story to tell – some unsettling, some tragic, all deeply rooted in the history and spirit of the communities that preserve them.
La Casa Matusita, Lima
Located near Lima’s Museum of Art, the unassuming La Casa Matusita carries a haunting past. During the Spanish colonial era, a Persian woman purchased the property.
Accused of witchcraft by the Spanish Inquisition, she was dragged from her home and charged with making a pact with the devil. Facing the same cruel fate as many women of that era, she is said to have cursed anyone who entered the house, condemning them to misfortune.
Over the years, the house has been the site of numerous disturbing incidents. In the 1970s, a well-known TV personality attempted to disprove the haunting by staying for seven days and nights. Within four hours, he was removed due to a breakdown and never spoke publicly of the experience again.
Stop by La Casa Matusita before exploring the nearby restaurants and raise a Pisco Sour in tribute to those entwined in its legend. Offer a toast to the original homeowner – perhaps, if she’s in a forgiving mood, she’ll let you pass peacefully.
Discover Peru Tour gives a real insight into the culture and curses of Lima.
Akodessawa Fetish Market, Lomé
Lomé’s cultural richness lies in its blend of colonial legacy, spiritual tradition, and everyday West African life. Once an important landmark within West Africa’s notorious slave trade, Togo was later colonised in the late 19th century. The faded European architecture and tree-lined boulevards create a striking visual blend of West African spirit and European design.
At the heart of the city lies the Akodessawa Fetish Market, where locals and voodoo practitioners can find everything from charms to ceremonial items used to promote protection, luck, and healing. These enduring spiritual traditions reflect the deep religious and cultural diversity that shapes Lomé today.
With vibrant artisan stalls, palm-fringed beaches bordering the city centre, and easy access to the rest of the country, Lomé acts as a gateway to wider Togo, which boasts remote tribal villages, traditional voodoo ceremonies, and dramatic landscapes ranging from lush highlands to coastal plains.
The Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery allows travellers to experience these sacred traditions firsthand.
Kozukappara Execution Grounds, Tokyo
Just 20 minutes north of Asakusa in Tokyo lie the former Kozukappara Execution Grounds, where it’s thought that up to 200,000 people were executed during the Edo period until 1873. Even today, construction projects often uncover human remains from this dark chapter of history.
Between two temples divided by a JR Line, you’ll find the Kubi-kiri Jizo (Beheading Buddha), a statue said to have been the last sight seen by the condemned.
As Japan opened to Western influence, the Tokugawa Shogunate transformed the area into a memorial site, seeking to distance the nation from its violent past. Yet history lingers – after the 2011 tsunami, the Beheading Buddha’s head was damaged and had to be carefully restored.
The Simply Japan Tour includes an option to visit the site.
Madame LaLaurie’s Murder Mansion, New Orleans
New Orleans is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, lively festivals, and rich Creole and Cajun cuisines. Yet beneath the celebration lies a darker history, with the city often described as one of the most haunted in the United States.
Stories of voodoo practices, ghostly legends, and tragic pasts swirl around its famous landmarks, including the infamous Madame LaLaurie Mansion, long associated with tales of cruelty and suffering.
Even modern landmarks carry eerie stories. Caesars Superdome, home to the New Orleans Saints NFL team, was built on a former cemetery site, leading many to believe it was cursed.
The team had a string of losses, to the extent that fans attended games with bags on their heads to avoid being seen as “Aints” fans. During his 1987 visit, Pope John Paul II was asked to bless the stadium and rid it of its haunted origins.
Experience the mystery and music of New Orleans for yourself on the Deep South and Country Blues Tour.
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