Tourists scale Mexican pyramid before being detained by locals

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:02 BST, 22 May 2026 | Updated: 13:09 BST, 22 May 2026

Two tourists sparked fury after they were caught brazenly scaling an ancient Mexican pyramid before being detained and barracked by enraged locals.Video showed the pair being frogmarched away from the site by security as furious bystanders jeered at them. One person could be heard shouting: 'You're stupid dude,' while another yelled: 'What is your f****** problem, man?'Further footage showed the men climbing the steep steps of the iconic 1000-year-old Kukulkán Pyramid at Mexico's Chichén Itzá archaeological site before looking around the upper temple and jogging back down again.As they descended, crowds gathered at the base of the ancient landmark, filming the pair and waiting to confront them.The foreign tourists now face hefty fines after ignoring strict rules banning visitors from climbing the famous Mayan pyramid.Following the death of a US tourist in 2006, the authorities banned people from scaling the pyramid two years later.As well as safety concerns, the measure is also intended to protect the monument from erosion caused by millions of annual visitors. Two tourists sparked fury after they were caught brazenly scaling an ancient Mexican pyramid before being detained and barracked by enraged locals Footage showed the men climbing the steep steps of the iconic 1000-year-old Kukulkán Pyramid at Mexico's Chichén Itzá archaeological site before looking around the upper temple and jogging back down again Video showed the pair being frogmarched away from the site with a local on either side as furious bystanders jeered at them The site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, attracts huge crowds, particularly during equinox events when the shadow of a serpent appears to descend the staircase (stock image)Security personnel met the tourists at the base where they were then detained by the National Guard.Climbing the Kukulkán Pyramid has been strictly banned 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 stepsShe suffered severe head and neck injuries and died hours later in hospital, as reported by creatorzine.com.The site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, attracts huge crowds, particularly 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.