La Siguanaba
In Central America, men walking home at night see a beautiful woman by the river, who turns to show the face of a horse.
What was reported
La Siguanaba, or Sihuanaba, is a legend of El Salvador, Guatemala and nearby countries. She appears at night by rivers and washing places as a beautiful woman with long hair, seen from behind, who lures men, especially unfaithful ones, to follow her.
When they come close, she turns to show a horse's skull or a hideous face, and the men run off or lose their way. Some versions say she was once a woman cursed for her own misdeeds.
Explanations offered
The legend blends Indigenous and Spanish elements and serves as a warning to men about wandering at night and about infidelity. She's often paired with her son, the Cipitío, a mischievous boy spirit, and folklorists have collected many local versions.
- When
- Told since colonial times
- Where
- San Salvador, El Salvador
- Witnesses
- Night travellers in Central America
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.