Picture this: colossal sand dunes stretching toward the sky, their golden ridges rippling in the wind, with a backdrop of snow-dusted Rocky Mountains that look like they belong in a different universe. Welcome to Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern USA — a natural mashup of desert and alpine that feels almost too surreal to be real.

The boat ride starts off like any other through the ancient canals of Xochimilco. There's laughter in the distance, floating mariachi music, and the occasional splash of an oar. But then your trajinera turns away from the main path. The air gets still. The water darkens. The laughter fades. You're no longer headed toward a party—you’re heading into a ghost story.