Tourist Beaten by Crowd After Climbing Sacred Mayan Pyramid at Chichén Itzá – Faces Charges

A tourist in Mexico is facing legal consequences after climbing the steps of the Temple of Kukulcan at Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The incident, which occurred last week, sparked outrage among locals, who took matters into their own hands by physically attacking the man before authorities intervened.

Bystander footage shows the unidentified individual scaling the ancient pyramid, also known as El Castillo, as security guards chased after him.

he was one of two visitors caught climbing the sacred structure on Thursday, a day when around 9,000 tourists gathered to witness the spring equinox phenomenon.

"He eluded us, even though we’re keeping watch on the western side of the temple,"

A National Guard officer told Mexico . "He ran past us. He’s clearly in good physical condition."

The second trespasser, a 38-year-old German tourist, reportedly tried to hide inside the pyramid’s chamber but was later found and escorted out by authorities. As the first man was detained, angry onlookers shouted that he should be "sacrificed" a chilling reference to the ancient Mayan rituals once performed at the pyramid’s summit.

The incident occurred during Chichén Itzá’s four-day spring equinox celebration, where visitors gather to witness the "Descent of the Feathered Serpent," a natural light effect that creates a serpent-like shadow along the pyramid’s stairs. However, climbing the nearly 1,000-year-old structure has been banned since 2006 to preserve its integrity.

Both tourists were arrested and could face fines under Article 55 of Mexico’s Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic, and Historical Monuments. The primary suspect was filmed being struck with a stick by a bystander before his arrest. According to the Mexico Daily Post, he was jailed for 12 hours and fined 5,000 pesos (approximately $300 USD).

The dramatic confrontation highlights the cultural sensitivity surrounding sacred historical sites and the consequences of disregarding preservation laws.