Scout Mythical Creatures at These Magic-Filled Destinations

The Scottish Highlands are perhaps the best known mythical area thanks, of course, to the Loch Ness Monster—or, “Nessie” as some affectionately call her. Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster is, according to numerous eyewitness accounts, long, thin, and green with four legs, a tail, and a head like a snake. You can find her in Loch Ness, one of the deepest bodies of water in the United Kingdom at 800 feet, which is southwest of Inverness. In addition to looking for Nessie in the Loch Ness waters, you can tour the Loch Ness Center and Exhibition in Drumnadrochit.

Iceland is the land of the huldufólk. The most striking thing about the huldufólk narrative—huldufólk being elves, trolls, and fairies thought to reside in Iceland—is genuine belief the country has in their magic. Some Iceland residents believe more in their spirits, while many others think that huldufólk, often called “secret people” are 100% real. Iceland goes to great lengths to protect sites that might be inhabited by the secret people. The long-standing belief in huldufólk stems from Viking culture, who brought Scandinavian stories of trolls, elves, fairies, and the like over when they settled in Iceland.

Nepal is of course home to the one and only Abominable Snowman—i.e., the Yeti. Kathmandu lays claim to some of the most talked about Abominable Snowman sightings. Nepalese locals and travelers who come for climbing expeditions believe strongly in the Yeti’s existence in the Himalayas; they often refer to him as a “man bear,” which is descriptive imagery that speaks for itself. The Yeti seems to come with more credence (or mythical clout, at least) than most of the planet’s legendary fantastical beings because several noted explorers claim to have encountered him—including Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Everest.

According to Swedish legend, there’s a Scandinavian destination called Blåkulla where witches once met up with the devil. Swedes believe Blå Jungfrun Island is Blåkulla IRL—the actual location the legend referred to. Unsure of what mythical beings might live there, whether witches or creatures of sorts, Swedes would deposit offerings to the fantastical inhabitants of the island. Blå Jungfrun Island is now a national park where visitors can feel the spirits’ presence while poking around the caves and stone passageways. Fight the urge to take an island artifact home with you—it’s supposed to be very bad luck.

The Irish are all too familiar with the fairy forts sprinkled throughout the country—there are approximately 60,000. The scale of these forts varies depending on the locale—there’s one nestled within Dublin Castle, while a cluster of fairy forts sit in Brigit’s Celtic Garden in County Galway. In County Limerick, Terra Nova Fairy Garden has a castle and a garden where visitors can acquaint themselves with the culture surrounding Irish mythical beings. Fairy forts, often called ringforts, are considered quite sacred in Ireland—they’ve preserved Ireland’s magical roots for centuries.

El Chupacabra is a fantastical Latin American beast that ventured onto the mythic scene in 1995 after several farm animals in Puerto Rico had a very unfortunate encounter with a supposed five-foot hairless beast with fangs and red eyes. That creature became known as El Chupacabra, and while some scientists insist it was a coyote struggling with illness, the folklore that’s taken over insists it was an elusive beast that now roams Latin America. El Chupacabra supposedly emits unsettling shrieks—so keep your ears open on your next Puerto Rican getaway.

There are few cities in the world more magical than New Orleans. And while NOLA is typically regarded as a “haunted” destination revered by ghost busters, there are many more fantastical sides to the city. The magical roots originally come from religious influence—Roman Catholic and West African spirituality merge to give life to Voodoo practices. Unlike in the case of Nessie or the huldufólk, there is not one specific manifestation of the city’s mysticism—there’s an ever-present aura instead. Travelers looking for a taste of NOLA’s mystical spirit can visit esteem Voodoo healer Marie Laveau’s grave at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and spend time in Congo Square, where people once gathered for spiritual ceremonies.

In the land down under, the Bunyip is rumored to dwell in creeks and small bodies of water, and reported sightings date back to the mid 1800s. The Bunyip is said to have enormous, orange-colored eyes and menacing tusks. The creature is part of Aboriginal mythology and supposedly kills its victims (usually women and children) by hugging them to death, despite having deadly talons and the ability to hypnotize people. A roving beast, the Bunyip has been spotted in New South Wales, Southern Australia, and Victoria.