Tourist arrested, attacked for scaling sacred Mayan temple, video shows

A tourist in Mexico is facing charges after he climbed the stairs of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Kukulcan in Chichén Itzá in Yucatan. The incident took place last week as thousands of visitors flocked to the archeological site to observe the spring equinox. The man, whose name has not been released by authorities, was filmed scaling the side of the pyramid, known as El Castillo, as security guards attempted to chase after him.

The man was one of two separate visitors seen climbing the pyramid on Thursday, among the approximately 9,000 tourists gathered at the site. The spring equinox is a significant event at Chichén Itzá, as it marks the Descent of the Feathered Serpent, a natural phenomenon where the sunlight casts a serpent-shaped shadow along the pyramid’s stairs. However, climbing the nearly 1,000-year-old pyramid has been outlawed since 2006 to protect the structure.

The incident took a violent turn when furious locals took justice into their own hands and began beating the man. Bystander footage showed the man being attacked by the crowd, with onlookers shouting that he should be “sacrificed” in reference to the ancient Mayan sacrifices once carried out at the top of the pyramid.

Mexican National Guard officers and personnel from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) attempted to shield the man from the angry mob and eventually managed to arrest him. The man, along with a 38-year-old German tourist who tried to hide inside the pyramid chamber, now face potential fines under Article 55 of the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic, and Historical Monuments and Zones of Mexico.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred at Chichén Itzá. Two years ago, a Polish tourist also attempted to climb the pyramid and was subsequently whacked with a stick by a bystander before being arrested and fined.

Authorities at Chichén Itzá have not yet responded to requests for comment on the recent incident. The site remains a popular destination for tourists, offering a four-day-long program featuring activities for guests to enjoy during the spring equinox. However, climbing the pyramid is strictly prohibited to preserve the historic structure.