Tourists spark outrage after scaling banned Chichen Itza pyramid in Mexico
The foreign men could face hefty fines after being caught climbing the iconic Kukulkan Pyramid at Mexico’s Chichen Itza archaeological site, with the footage sparking outrage online
Video footage captured the pair scrambling up the steep stone steps(Image: JamPress)
Two tourists have sparked fury after they were spotted brazenly climbing an ancient pyramid. The foreign men are facing a substantial fine following their ascent of the famous Kukulkán Pyramid at Mexico’s Chichén Itzá archaeological site.
After the death of a US tourist in 2006, authorities prohibited people from ascending the pyramid two years later. Besides safety worries, the restriction also aims to safeguard the monument from wear caused by millions of yearly visitors.
Video footage captured the pair scrambling up the steep stone steps of the 1,000 year old Mayan structure before surveying the upper temple. Security staff encountered the tourists at the bottom where they were subsequently arrested by the National Guard.
Scaling 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, tumbling down the remaining steps.
She sustained serious head and neck injuries and died hours later in hospital, as reported by creatorzine.com.
The location, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, draws massive crowds, especially during equinox events when the shadow of a serpent appears to slide down the staircase. INAH has cautioned that scaling the structure could result in hefty fines and penalties under the Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic, and Historical Zones.
Mexican legislation stipulates prison terms of three to 10 years for causing damage to archaeological monuments, with additional financial penalties ranging from £2,150 to £4,300 (MXN 50,000 and 100,000) possible for minor infringements.
This recent incident coincides with an increase in entrance fees to Yucatán archaeological sites, including Chichén Itzá, as part of federal initiatives to bolster conservation efforts.
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