Most Creepy Places in Costa Rica: Ghost Stories & Urban Legends of Haunted Places

San José has plenty of creepy stories. San Juan de Dios Hospital, Costa Rica's oldest hospital, is steeped in history and ghostly tales. Built in the 19th century, this hospital is famous for the story of “La Monja del Vaso,” or “The Nun with the Glass.”

According to the legend, a young woman was forced by her family to become a nun. She wasn't dedicated to her duties, especially when it came to comforting the dying. One day, a dying man asked her for a glass of water, but she refused, and he passed away soon after. Regret haunted her, but she died before she could repent, leaving her spirit cursed to wander the hospital, offering drops of water to mourners as penance.

Visitors and staff have reported sightings of the ghostly nun, particularly near the rooms of the dying. People have experienced sudden chills and heard mysterious footsteps, adding to the hospital's eerie reputation. If you’re feeling brave, a visit to San Juan de Dios Hospital might give you a firsthand encounter with “La Monja del Vaso!”

Located in San José, the House of the Seven Hanged Ones is one of Costa Rica's most notorious haunted sites. The house was built in 1920 by Eric Knöhr, and was later passed down to his son John Otto Knöhr and his wife. This is when it became infamous because of a gruesome legend.

According to one version, Otto Knöhr killed his five children and wife before hanging himself. Another says its seven inhabitants hung themselves, for no known reason, one in each of the seven windows facing the street. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, and owners refuting the legend, this chilling tale has persisted. The mansion, combining Victorian and Neoclassical architectural styles, draws many visitors hoping to experience paranormal activities, especially around Halloween.

The popularity of the mansion grew in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as the building, caught up in an inheritance dispute, had fallen into disrepair, adding to its spookiness. The condition of it became so bad that the city had it slated for demolition. However, t he Heritage Center of the Ministry of Culture and Youth gave it protected status as a historical-architectural heritage, and it has since been restored to its original glory.

While the truth behind the House of the Seven Hanged Ones remains uncertain, its dark story continues to be a compelling part of San José's haunted history.

Isla San Lucas, located off the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, is famous for its dark past as a former prison. Established in 1873, it housed some of the country’s most dangerous criminals until it closed in 1991. The prison was notorious for its harsh conditions, overcrowding, and the brutal treatment of inmates. Before it was a prison site, the island was a burial ground for indigenous people, and was the location that the Spanish used as a camp for natives that they captured and eventually killed.

Over the years, numerous tragic events unfolded on the island, including riots, mysterious deaths, and brutal punishments. As a matter of fact, a hidden passage leading to a torture cell was recently discovered during prison renovations. These events have given rise to many ghost stories and eerie experiences reported by visitors.

Former prisoners and guards have shared spine-chilling accounts of paranormal activity. People have claimed to hear disembodied voices, footsteps, and even screams echoing through the abandoned buildings. Some spoke of shadowy figures wandering the halls, while others mentioned cold spots and an overwhelming sense of dread. Local legends say that the spirits of tortured souls still linger on the island, unable to find peace.

Today, Isla San Lucas is a national park, and an easy day trip from San José, Jacó, or Santa Teresa. You can take a tour of the prison, and even if you don’t see or hear anything, the graffiti in the abandoned buildings can send shivers up your spine. Exploring Isla San Lucas is not for the faint-hearted, but it offers a unique glimpse into Costa Rica’s haunted history. Are you brave enough to visit? Ghost Hunters International team was!

Montezuma, known for its laid-back vibe, hides a mysterious secret on its beautiful Playa Grande beach. Off the rocky shores of the Pacific on the Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Grande is rumored to be an ancient burial ground. Nearby Cabuya still has an active island cemetery, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Visitors to Playa Grande have reported strange happenings at night. Ghostly figures, thought to be spirits of the indigenous people buried there, have been seen patrolling the beach, scaring away those who dare to venture out after dark. Nighttime hikers share tales of these ghostly encounters, describing sightings of shadowy figures and eerie sounds.

Whether these stories are real hauntings or just the imaginations of not-so-sober party-goers in Montezuma—also nicknamed “Montefuma” for its party scene—remains a mystery. Despite the spooky tales, Playa Grande's beauty and allure are hard to resist. So, what do you say? Would you spend a day soaking up the sun on this beautiful beach, now that you know the secrets it may hold after the dark?

El Sanatorio Durán, located in Cartago, is one of Costa Rica’s most infamous haunted sites, also drawing the attention of Ghost Hunters International. Built in 1915 by Dr. Carlos Durán, this sanatorium served as a tuberculosis hospital, a mental asylum, and even an orphanage before closing in the early 1970s because of the damage from the nearby Irazú Volcano. The hospital was able to treat and accommodate up to 300 patients and the location was chosen for its altitude, humidity, and the prevailing winds, all of which today help the haunting mood, as chill and fog are common to the area.

Today, El Sanatorio Durán is a hotspot for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers. Visitors report seeing ghostly apparitions, hearing unexplained voices, and experiencing sudden drops in temperature. Shadows move on their own, and people have felt an invisible presence watching them. Other reports include the laughter and sounds of ghost children playing, blood-colored child-sized hand prints on the walls, and even coins being tossed out of patients’ rooms. And of course, the spirits of former patients and staff are said to roam the abandoned corridors, reliving their final moments.

The most reported of these spectral encounters is the ghost of a nun who was said to haunt the grounds even while the hospital was still in operation. Her appearance is a sign of good luck for patients. Another common visitor is a little girl, believed to be the daughter of Dr. Durán, for whom he built this sanatorium, hoping to cure her from tuberculosis. She died in the hospital, and now continues to appear to visitors to share her despair.

If you decide to visit, make sure to have power backup nearby—many who bring in their electronic devices have reported suddenly losing all of their battery power!

Cartago, once the capital of Costa Rica, is home to the famous Ruinas de la Parroquia, an unfinished church with a haunting past. This site is steeped in history, dating back to the 16th century. The church's construction was repeatedly halted by devastating earthquakes, and it was never completed. Legend has it that the parish priest was the brother of the town's fiery mayor and secretly in love with his brother's wife. When the mayor discovered this betrayal, he took his brother's life in a fit of jealousy. Another version of the story claims that it was the priest who took his brother's—the mayor’s—life during New Year's mass. Either way, consumed by guilt, the surviving brother dedicated himself to building a church to atone for his sins.

However, shortly after the fratricide (whichever version you believe), a devastating earthquake reduced the parish to rubble. The townsfolk tried to rebuild numerous times throughout history—in 1630, 1656, 1718, 1756, and 1841—but every attempt to rebuild the church was met with the earth trembling, demolishing it over and over again! By 1910, the townspeople gave up, leaving the ruins as a stark reminder of the love triangle gone horribly wrong and a warning to never let such darkness happen again.

Today, visitors to the Ruinas de la Parroquia report ghostly sightings and unexplained events. Locals speak of eerie apparitions, strange lights, and unsettling sounds, especially at night. Some believe the spirits of those who perished in the earthquakes still linger here, and of course, let’s not forget the ghost of a headless priest who still wanders around the ruins!

The Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles (Basilica of Our Lady of Angels) in Cartago is a site of both miraculous events and ghostly apparitions. This beautiful church, dedicated to Costa Rica's patron saint, is a place of deep spiritual significance and mysterious occurrences. Locals believe that the Virgin Mary has appeared here multiple times, often helping those in need.

The famous origin story involves the small statue of the Virgin Mary found by a young girl in 1635, resting on top of a rock in a river. Despite being moved, the statue repeatedly returned to its original spot, leading to the construction of the basilica in that area. Many believe the statue, known as La Negrita (the Black Madonna) possesses miraculous powers, and numerous pilgrims visit each year, hoping for healing and blessings. Many stories of answered prayers and interventions—miracles, if you will—are attributed to La Negrita’s grace.

However, the Basilica isn’t known just for miracles. Alongside them, there are also tales of ghostly apparitions and unexplained phenomena. Some visitors report seeing shadowy figures and hearing whispers, especially during quiet hours. Others claim to have seen apparitions of the Virgin itself, while others report strange lights or feelings of unease. These stories, combined with the basilica's rich history, make it a fascinating destination. Whether you come for the miracles, history, or mysterious tales, the Basilica offers an unforgettable experience.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is famous for its incredible beauty and rich biodiversity, but it also has its share of spooky legends and ghostly tales.

One of the most common tales speaks of hikers who go missing, only to be found later with no memory of their time in the forest. Locals believe these hikers are guided by the spirits of those who once lived and died in these woods. These ghostly guides are said to appear as shadowy but friendly figures, helping lost souls find their way through the thick fog and tricky paths.

Reports of paranormal activity in the Monteverde cloud forest are quite frequent. Visitors often talk about hearing whispers when no one is around, feeling sudden temperature drops, and seeing mysterious lights flickering among the trees. Some even claim to have seen apparitions of ancient indigenous people or early settlers, adding to the forest’s haunted reputation.

Despite its eerie stories, the Monteverde Cloud Forest remains a popular destination for adventurers and nature lovers. If you're planning a visit, keep your eyes and ears open—you might just experience a brush with the supernatural!

Anyone living on the Osa Peninsula will tell you it's a place where the veil between the natural world and the spirit realm seems thin, and hikers venturing into the dense rainforest may feel a sense of being watched, an unsettling awareness that they are not alone.

Local indigenous communities have long spoken of spirits that roam the dense forests and remote beaches. These spirits are believed to protect the land, often appearing as shadowy figures or strange lights to those who venture too far off the beaten path.

One of the most chilling tales involves an ancient curse said to be placed on anyone who disturbs the sacred sites of the indigenous tribes. Legends say that those who disrespect these areas are doomed to suffer misfortune or even disappear without a trace. Another chilling story tells of cursed gold mines, their entrances guarded by vengeful spirits who drive away anyone seeking riches. And then there’s Ciudad Perdida, a lost city swallowed by the jungle after its inhabitants angered the spirits of the forest. Their restless souls are said to roam the Osa, forever seeking redemption!