Forget everything you think you know about carnivals. Bright feathers, samba drums, glittery floats? You won’t find them here. Instead, picture this: sweaty bodies painted in black grease, primal howls, wooden masks, jungle drums, and dancing that feels more like an ancient exorcism than a parade. Welcome to Carnaval de Tenosique — the weirdest carnival in Mexico, maybe even the world.

Sure, everyone talks about Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca or Mexico City. But travel deep into the Huasteca region — a lush area spread across parts of San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, and Hidalgo — and you’ll discover a version of the holiday that feels more raw, more ancestral, and honestly... a little wilder.