Two tourists have ignited fury after they were caught blatantly scaling an ancient Mexican pyramid, leading to their detention and verbal abuse from irate locals. Video footage captured the pair being escorted away from the site by security personnel as furious onlookers shouted at them. One bystander could be heard yelling, 'You're stupid dude,' while another screamed, 'What is your f****** problem, man?'
The Incident at Chichén Itzá
Additional footage showed the men ascending the steep steps of the iconic 1,000-year-old Kukulkán Pyramid at Mexico's Chichén Itzá archaeological site. They explored the upper temple before jogging back down. As they descended, a crowd gathered at the base of the ancient landmark, filming the pair and preparing to confront them.
The foreign tourists now face substantial fines after violating strict regulations that prohibit visitors from climbing the famous Mayan pyramid. Following the death of a US tourist in 2006, authorities banned scaling the pyramid two years later. Beyond safety concerns, the measure aims to protect the monument from erosion caused by millions of annual visitors.
Security and Legal Consequences
Security personnel met the tourists at the base, where they were subsequently detained by the National Guard. Climbing the Kukulkán Pyramid has been strictly forbidden since 2008 by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). On 5 January 2006, American tourist Adeline Black, 80, slipped halfway down the steep steps while descending and failed to grab the guide rope, falling down the remaining steps. She suffered severe head and neck injuries and died hours later in hospital.
The site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, attracts enormous crowds, especially during equinox events when the shadow of a serpent appears to descend the staircase. INAH has warned that climbing the structure can lead to significant fines and sanctions under the Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic, and Historical Zones.
Mexican law provides for prison sentences of three to 10 years if damage is caused to archaeological monuments, with additional monetary penalties of between £2,150 and £4,300 (MXN 50,000 and 100,000) possible for lesser breaches. This latest episode comes as entrance fees to Yucatán archaeological zones, including Chichén Itzá, have recently risen as part of federal efforts to fund better conservation.
