The Mysteries of Latin America Podcast

The Mysteries of Latin America Podcast

On the Mysteries of Latin America podcast we tell stories of the myths, legends, history and mysteries set anywhere from the Northern Mexican border to the Southern tip of Argentina, and including the Caribbean Islands. It’s so people with roots in the are know their stories and where people who don’t know the stories that have woven themselves into the cultural DNA of the region. Hosted by Andrew Colón

Episodes

July 11, 2025 15 mins

These aren’t just legends—they’re the stories I grew up hearing. In this episode, I’m taking you through 5 of the strangest and creepiest beasts from Latin America—from a serpent that swallows boats whole to a red-furred monster with a mouth in its chest. I’ve dug into eyewitness accounts, real reports, and the traditions that keep these stories alive. And the last one? It might be the weirdest thing I’ve ever covered.

– Andrew 🎧 ...

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What if the first humans arrived in the Americas 20,000 years before we thought? In this episode of The Mysteries of Latin America, we journey to Monte Verde in southern Chile, where archaeologist Tom Dillehay uncovered fire pits, tools—and even chewed seaweed with human saliva—dating back nearly 15,000 years. This single discovery shattered the long-held Clovis First theory and changed our entire understanding of how the Americas ...

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Long before the Mexica built the mighty city of Tenochtitlán, they believed they came from a place called Aztlán—a mysterious homeland hidden somewhere to the north. But was it real? Or just a story meant to turn exile into destiny?

In this episode of The Mysteries of Latin America, I explore the legend, the migration, the gods who guided them, and the sacred signs that led them to Lake Texcoco. We’ll trace the roots of the Mexica ...

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From perfectly carved jungle spheres to a ghost ship loaded with Inca gold, these five unsolved mysteries are hiding all over Latin America—and they still defy explanation.

In this episode of The Mysteries of Latin America, I’m Andrew Colón, and I take you on a journey through:

  • 🗿 The giant Olmec heads of La Venta, Mexico
  • ⚫ The mysterious stone spheres of Costa Rica
  • 🪨 Peru’s eerie Markawasi Stone Forest
  • 🌎 Monte Verde, Chile—...
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Most of us have been lied to about Cinco de Mayo. It’s not Mexican Independence Day. It’s not about tacos or tequila. So what is it really about?

In this episode of The Mysteries of Latin America, Andrew Colón unpacks the real story behind Cinco de Mayo: a shocking military upset at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, how it came to symbolize resistance, and why it means so much more to millions of Mexican Americans today.

From a war spa...

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Mexican scientist Jacobo Grinberg was once called “the Einstein of consciousness.” In 1994, he vanished—no note, no trace.

Was it a CIA cover-up? A voluntary transformation into a mystic?

In this episode, I revisit the mystery with new theories, new handwriting analyses, and—for the first time—real responses from Grinberg’s own family.

From his daughter Estusha to his half-brother Ari Telch, the people closest to him say we’ve been...

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What if every shot of tequila carried 3,000 years of culture, survival, and resistance?

 

In this episode of The Mysteries of Latin America, Andrew uncovers the hidden story of tequila—from sacred Indigenous origins and pulque rituals to Spanish conquest and cultural mestizaje.

You'll meet the Chichimecas, Otomíes, Nahuas, and Mexica. Learn how agave was more than a plant—it was a survival tool, a spiritual symbol, and a gift from ...

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"Mexico went to war with France… because of a bakery. Seriously."

"A French pastry chef in what’s now Mexico City claimed rioters trashed his shop in 1832. He demanded a whole of money’s worth of damages.

"Mexico blew him off. France stepped in…and demanded ten times the original amount…"

"When Mexico still said no? France sent ships, bombed Mexico’s most important port, and occupied the city.

All over a pastry shop…?"

"Or maybe—ju...

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500 years ago, a treasure that was literally a king’s ransom vanished into thin air. Today, we may finally know where it is, and this is the story I’ll tell on this episode of The Mysteries of Latin America!

I’m Andrew, and today, we’re diving into one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in history—The Lost Treasure of the Inca King Atahualpa.

We’re talking about a fortune so massive it could have changed the fate of an empire—gold ...

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For years, elderly women in Mexico City were found dead in their homes—strangled, with no signs of forced entry. Fear gripped the city as whispers of a serial killer spread. But the truth was more shocking than anyone imagined.

The police dismissed key witness descriptions, wasted years chasing the wrong suspects, and failed to see what was right in front of them. When the killer was finally caught, the entire country was stunned.

...

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This is the story of a man who got lost in the Amazon, before it was called the Amazon…

🔥 who found a river the size of an ocean… 🔥 Claimed he saw warrior women straight out of Greek mythology… 🔥 And somehow survived the deadliest jungle on Earth.

But was any of it real? Or was Francisco de Orellana just another Spanish conquistador willing to lie for gold and glory?

Stay with me—because what really happened on this journey migh...

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February 1, 2025 14 mins

Mexico has ghost towns, but not just any ghost towns.

 

One town sank beneath a lake, another was swallowed by fire and rock, one was cut off from the world by a bridge that now leads nowhere, and another? Its goes away,,,and keeps coming back.  

 

But the strangest of them all? It was one company’s way of saying, no más.

If you love stories like this, hit like, subscribe, and turn on notifications. Let’s dive in!)

 

Welcome to The...

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Welcome to The Mysteries of Latin America! I’m Andrew, and here, we explore the stories that define the different cultures from this part of the world. From unexplained phenomena to ancient stories, these tales connect us to our roots. Today, we’ll unravel the legend of La Luz Mala, The Evil Light, and I’d like to thank Adis from Miami, who sent me this story, along others from a collection of stories she had that might just show u...

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Why I Call It "The Mysteries of Latin America" (And Why That Might Be a Problem)

Why is it called ‘Latin America’? I mean, we don’t speak Latin, and critics say the name reduces our vibrant countries to a generic, colonialized label. So why do I use it for my podcast and YouTube channel? Are the critics right? Let’s unpack this together.

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66 million years ago, something hit Earth so hard it ended 75% of all life. Dinosaurs? Gone. Oceans? Boiling. The sky? A choking cloud of ash. And the impact site? It’s right here, beneath the Yucatán Peninsula. What caused it? How did it reshape the planet—and our future?

 Welcome to The Mysteries of Latin America!

I’m Andrew, and today I’ll tell the story of the Chicxulub Crater—the place many believe is ground zero for the eve...

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December 6, 2024 11 mins

In 1974, the quiet town of Matagalpa in north-central Nicaragua became gripped by a tale that blurred the line between folklore and reality. It started on a humid evening as Don Julián Estrada, a seasoned farmer known for his no-nonsense attitude, made his way home from his fields, when he encountered a creature many believed to be a myth…

 

Friend, welcome to The Mysteries of Latin America, where I explore the myths, legends, hist...

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Ancient Maya Treasure Found by Accident: The Uncovering of Valeriana

Join host Andrew Colón as he dives into the incredible story of Valeriana, an ancient Maya city discovered by accident in the dense jungles of Campeche, Mexico. This city, hidden for centuries and rivaling the legendary Calakmul, reveals over 6,000 structures that may have housed up to 50,000 people.

What makes this discovery even more fascinating? It was made not...

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Join Andrew Colón as he uncovers the bizarre phenomenon of Yoro, Honduras, where fish literally rain from the sky every year, leaving scientists baffled and locals in awe. Dive into this mysterious event in The Mysteries of Latin America, and explore the fascinating blend of folklore, science, and miracles behind the legendary Rain of Fish.

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Beware the Shadows: 5 Terrifying Creatures from Mexican Folklore That Will Haunt You! 🌙🔥

Have you ever heard the spine-chilling cry of La Llorona? Or felt the eerie presence of El Nahual, a shapeshifter lurking in the shadows? 🌑 In this episode of Mysteries of Latin America, join me, Andrew, as we explore five of Mexico's most haunting creatures—from the ghostly Charro Negro to the mischievous Chaneque and the infamous El Coco. ...

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They fought, bled, and shaped the course of the Mexican Revolution, but their stories have often been left in the shadows. Thousands of women—Soldaderas—stood on the frontlines, rifles in hand, not just following men, but even leading them into battle. One woman even disguised herself as a man to fight and what happened when her secret was revealed was a twist I wasn’t expecting. These women weren’t just supporting the revolution—m...

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