Forget typical getaways; this October, we’re diving into the eerie allure of abandoned resort towns and haunted locales, offering a unique blend of historical mystery and spine-tingling adventure for the intrepid solo traveler, as shared by adventurer Alyssa Ramos.
Traveling solo can be exhilarating, offering unparalleled freedom and self-discovery. However, as experienced adventurer Alyssa Ramos discovered, sometimes those solo trips can take an unexpected turn into the realm of the eerie and abandoned. Imagine exploring foreign lands alone, only to stumble upon entire resort towns frozen in time, their silence echoing with forgotten histories. This isn’t your typical “Eat Pray Love” scenario; it’s a journey into the “first 10 minutes of a Netflix horror film.”
For those of us who embrace the spooky season year-round, these tales are a fascinating deep dive into once-glamorous destinations where everyone vanished, not always by choice. Join us as we explore three such ghostly resort towns, brought to life through Ramos’s vivid and often nerve-wracking experiences.
Varosha, Cyprus: A Celebrity Playground Frozen in Time
A few years ago, Ramos undertook an incredible journey to Varosha, a district in Famagusta, Cyprus. To reach it, she had to cross a United Nations-controlled buffer zone—an experience she likened more to a “spy movie opening scene” than a tourist attraction.
In the 1960s and early ’70s, Varosha was a Mediterranean paradise, a secret gem frequented by the rich and famous, including legends like Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot. It was a place of luxury high-rises and exquisite hotels, reminiscent of South Beach at its peak, but with pristine waters and an exclusive vibe.
However, in 1974, everything changed. Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the entire area was evacuated overnight. Residents left in such haste that dinner tables remained set, hotel lobbies were frozen in time, and beach towels reportedly flapped in the breeze for decades. This sudden abandonment sealed Varosha off for nearly 50 years, transforming it into a forbidden urban jungle.
Today, parts of Varosha have reopened, allowing visitors to cycle through its crumbling Art Deco streets on rickety ’70s rental bikes. Ramos describes a landscape where nature has reclaimed its territory: palm trees burst through cracked floors, vines scale elevator shafts, and faded “Happy Hour!” signs still cling to ghostly facades. You can even peer into untouched 1970s condos and a Toyota showroom displaying cars from 1974, all eerily preserved. The beachfront, with its untouched sand and decaying luxury hotels, is particularly haunting, offering a breathtaking yet heartbreaking scene.
Travel Note: Varosha remains under military control. For safe exploration, booking a guided tour is highly recommended. For more on the history of Varosha, including the Turkish invasion and its aftermath, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) provides historical context on the buffer zone and the area’s closure.
Boracay, Philippines: Unexpected Horror on a Tropical Paradise
Boracay, with its stunning white sands and turquoise waters, is usually the stuff of tropical daydreams. However, after the island’s temporary shutdown and subsequent reopening, Ramos visited, expecting peaceful beach time and piña coladas. What she found instead was something out of a foreign horror movie: an abandoned, half-demolished resort.
Driven by an adventurous spirit (and a bit of questionable judgment, as she admits), Ramos veered off the main tourist path onto a sketchy coastal trail. Despite missing chunks of the path and horror-movie scenarios playing in her head, she pressed on, eventually encountering a massive, terrifying face sculpture and, beyond that, the deserted ruins of what was once an enormous waterfront resort. Half-demolished and half-crumbling, it stood as a ghostly monument to forgotten luxury.
The reason for Boracay’s abandoned resorts lies in a government crackdown. Several years ago, the Philippine government intervened after numerous resorts were built too close to the shoreline, violating environmental laws. This unchecked development also contributed to high levels of bacteria and fecal matter in the waters, forcing beach closures. In a decisive move, the president ordered demolitions and evacuations. Many buildings were only partially destroyed, leaving behind dangerous, decaying ruins that now serve as a stark reminder of environmental negligence. More details on the government’s rehabilitation efforts can be found via the Philippine Department of Tourism.
After her solo hike, Ramos rented a clear kayak to investigate the ruins from the water, a much safer approach. Travel Tip: If you’re curious, avoid hiking dangerous paths. Opt for a kayak tour, preferably with a guide, to explore safely.
Havana, Cuba: Mansions Haunted by a Revolution’s Past
Ramos’s third ghostly encounter brought her to Havana, Cuba, on a writing project to explore her Cuban heritage. Staying in a casa particular (a non-governmental homestay vital for supporting local Cubans), she found herself in Vedado, Havana’s once-flashy, now-fragmented district.
Vedado’s streets are lined with massive, crumbling mansions, their neoclassical architecture slowly succumbing to tropical vines and mold. Clotheslines draped with worn laundry hang from every window, a stark contrast to the opulence that once defined the neighborhood. Before 1959, when Ramos’s grandparents fled Cuba, Vedado was a vibrant playground for elites, mafiosos, and Hollywood stars, earning Havana the moniker “the Vegas of the Caribbean.” It was a hub of casinos, cabarets, and all-night revelry.
Then came the Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro and Che Guevara’s revolution saw the rich exiled or fleeing, leaving their grand villas behind. The government repurposed these mansions into multi-family apartments, theoretically dividing spaces equally among residents. However, with minimal pay and zero resources for maintenance, these once-opulent estates began to crumble. Today, some house multiple generations under collapsing roofs, while others have been saved by international relatives or converted into paladares (private restaurants) or casas particulares, offering tourists a chance to stay in these “ghosts of luxury past.” Ramos admits to being “terrified AF sleeping there.”
Her stay was filled with unique cultural experiences, from an older couple dropping a key from a second-floor window to them waiting up for her like worried grandparents after a late night “studying” salsa dancing. The revolution profoundly impacted Cuba’s socio-economic landscape, leading to these architectural transformations, a history well-documented by institutions like the Wilson Center’s Latin America Program.
Embracing the Ghosts of Travel Past
Alyssa Ramos’s solo journeys highlight a unique aspect of travel: seeking out the “ghosts” of destinations. Whether it’s a resort town abandoned by war, a paradise reclaimed by nature after environmental neglect, or mansions whose grandeur faded with revolution, these places offer a profound, often unsettling, connection to history.
For those eager to explore the world’s most haunted locales, from the eerie battlefields of Gettysburg to the witch trial history of Salem, or the vibrant yet somber streets of New Orleans and Edinburgh, the options are plentiful. These destinations, like the abandoned resorts, invite us to step beyond the usual tourist traps and confront the deeper, often darker, stories that shape our world.
So, as spooky season approaches, consider adding a truly spine-tingling adventure to your travel itinerary. Just remember to research thoroughly, prioritize safety, and perhaps bring a selfie stick—it might just be your life-saver!
