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An angry mob in Mexico poured water on a clueless female tourist, hurled insults at her and demanded that she be locked up after she ascended the ancient Mayan pyramid and was filmed dancing on the stairs.

The unidentified woman, who is said to be a Spanish national, sparked an outrage Monday when she ignored the rules barring visitors from climbing Mayan Temple of Kukulcán in Chichén Itzá, which was named in 2007 one of the New 7 Wonders of the World by UNESCO.

After reaching the top, she gyrated her hips and waved her arms in celebration, drawing loud jeers from a large group of tourists observing her wild antics from the ground. Some of them were heard calling the disrespectful visitor an “a–hole” and an “idiot” in Spanish.

Chants of “jail, jail, jail” and “lock her up” in Spanish could be heard in the background.

The blonde woman, sporting bright-red tights and a blue T-shirt, ducked into the temple room, before descending the pyramid’s 365 steps. She was met at the base by officials with the Mexican Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), along with a furious crowd.

In viral videos that have been circulating on TikTok and Twitter, irate onlookers are seen dousing the insolent tourist, who has been dubbed “Lady Chichén Itzá,” with water from plastic bottles, and calling her “stupid.”

As she is taken away by officials, some bystanders appear to knock the woman’s hat off her head and yank her hair.

The unnamed woman was arrested by the local police and slapped with an unspecified fine for climbing the world heritage site, which has been off-limits to visitors since 2008 to protect it from destruction, erosion and graffiti, Riviera Maya News reported .

Penalties established by Mexico’s Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Areas range anywhere from $2,500 to more than $5,000, depending on the severity of the damage to a protected site.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History said Monday that the temple, also known as El Castillo, has not been harmed.

The step-pyramid was built by the Maya civilization sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries AD to serve as a temple to Kukulcán, the Feather Serpent god.

The incident comes nearly a year after a woman from Tijuana, Mexico, was fined for climbing the same pyramid while allegedly drunk.

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Video: Tourist mobbed after climbing sacred Mayan pyramid in Mexico

Tourist mobbed after scaling world-famous mayan pyramid.

A tourist was booed and doused with water after climbing the protected Mayan monument known as El Castillo, or Pyramid of Kukulcan, at the archeological site of Chichen-Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, on November 20.

There's always that one person on vacation. 

A recent video has gone viral showing a tourist climbing a sacred and protected Mayan monument prompting an angry crowd to confront her with boos and water being thrown at her. 

The woman was recorded climbing the Pyramid of Kukulcan at the archeological site of Chichen-Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, on November 20. 

Thomas Calderon live - streamed video showing the tourist, in bright-red pants, climbing to the top of the ancient structure. She then makes her descent into an angry crowd. In the caption, he wrote [translated], "Woman climbs the pyramid in Chichen-Itza is booed, beaten, and detained by the authorities."

As the woman climbs up and down the pyramid, a crowd starts videotaping her actions as onlookers begin to boo her and throw insults her way. 

Another video captured by Calderon shows the woman pushing her way through a crowd of angry people some of them who appear to be grabbing at her.

Climbing the pyramid has been banned since 2008 amid preservation concerns, and the Congress of the United Mexican States established hefty fines for such acts in The Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Areas.

Local news outlets reported the tourist was detained "and taken to the nearby town of Piste for questioning."

Tourist booed and mobbed after scaling ancient pyramid in Mexico

The blonde woman was filmed scaling up the 91 steps from a distance despite the public being prohibited from climbing the 79ft step-pyramid at the Chichen Itza archaeological site.

Tuesday 22 November 2022 19:35, UK

A tourist has gone viral after a TikTok video captured her trespassing up the ancient Mayan Temple of Kukulcan in Mexico and a crowd of locals booing her in the process.

The blonde woman was filmed scaling up the 91 steps from a distance despite the public being prohibited from climbing the 79ft structure at the Chichen Itza archaeological site.

She was seen posing and dancing on top of the pyramid, known as El Castillo, before she was ushered down by a security guard into the angry mob.

A closer clip showed her reaching the top where she appeared to go inside the monument before giving another wave and dance.

Furious locals were filmed pulling her hair, shoving her and drenching her with bottles of water as she made her way through the crowd.

Some were heard shouting "Out", "Lock her up" and "Jail!"

TikToker Angela Lopeze posted the footage with the caption: "This is why you don't disrespect historic Mayan Pyramids."

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Another person who filmed the incident said the act showed "a lack of respect."

El Castillo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the public has been banned from climbing it since 2008.

It was built by the pre-Columbian Maya civilisation sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries AD and served as a temple to the deity of Kukuclan.

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Tourist mobbed by onlookers after climbing ancient Mayan pyramid in Mexico

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A tourist was mobbed by onlookers after she was accused of disrespecting Mayan culture by climbing El Castillo, a step-pyramid in Mexico.

In a recent video posted on TikTok by @angelalopeze, that has since circulated on social media, an unidentified woman could be seen climbing the steps of the historical monument, which is known as the Temple of Kukulcán. The pyramid lies in the centre of the Chichen Itza , an archaeological site in Yucatán.

Once the woman made it to the top of the pyramid, she took her hat off and started to dance, prompting a crowd of onlookers standing at the base of the monument to boo. After she’d descended the pyramid, the tourist was reportedly escorted away by security at the archaeological site, while the TikTok video showed onlookers continuing to yell and taunt the woman.

The clip then showed as the tourist attempted to make her way through the crowd of people, during which onlookers could be seen filming her exit and throwing liquids. The woman’s hat was also knocked off by one of the individuals in the crowd, while others could be heard chanting “lock her up” and “jail, jail,” in Spanish.

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In the caption of the video, @angelalopeze criticised the tourist, writing: “This is so disrespectful..don’t mess with my Mexican people.”

The viral video has now been reshared on multiple social media platforms , prompting viewers to condemn the tourist for disrespecting Mayan culture and disobeying the monument’s rules. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) bans visitors from climbing into Chichen Itza’s chambers. As noted by the archaeological spot’s official website , the ban was put in place after an 80-year-old American woman climbed the 91 steps of El Castillo and fell to her death in January 2006.

“It’s about respect for: Old structure, the rules and order established by the people who try to preserve the place [and] culture,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“I visited here. They made it CLEAR that climbing is prohibited because, not only were people abusing the privilege to walk on them, but they would chip off pieces of the structure and take fragments home…or engrave marks in it,” another said. “People have no respect with or without the rule.”

A third added: “Imagine if someone climbed up on the altar in a cathedral and did a rude dance - this pyramid is sacred and that’s what she did.”

The Riviera Maya News reported that the woman was escorted through the mob of angry onlookers by two INAH personnel. The publication also said that she was “arrested by ​​Tinum Municipal Police and fined in accordance with Article 55 of the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments”.

According to MercoPress , the INAH banned climbing on the Mayan monument in 2008, which is when the security cord around it was first installed. Visitors who break the rule can face fines up to 50,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $2,558) to 100,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $5,115), depending on how much damage is caused to the structure.

In a statement shared with The Independent , and translated to English using Google Translate, the INAH said the tourist did not cause any damage to the El Castillo.

“The reasons why it is not allowed to climb the pyramidal structures were explained to the person and they were made available to the Secretariat of Public Security of the State of Yucatan, where it will comply with the corresponding administrative sanctions,” the statement reads.

“The Ministry of Culture and the INAH call on the general public to respect the provisions established for public visits to archaeological zones and historical sites, which are determined to guarantee an enjoyable and safe experience for attendees and staff, as well as and to guarantee the conservation of heritage sites,” the INAH concluded.

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A visitor who apparently decided the rules didn’t apply to her and climbed an ancient Mayan temple in Mexico was met by a furious group of locals who threw water at her after she descended. The unidentified woman was filmed dancing at the top of El Castillo—an ancient step-pyramid in the Chichen Itza archeological site—where climbing has been prohibited since 2008. Viral clips of the incident on TikTok show people chanting “lock her up” and “jail, jail, jail” in Spanish and throwing water at the woman after she descends the steps of the pyramid. Other clips show the unidentified woman being led through the raging mob as people knock her hat off her head and grab at her arms. The Mexican Institute of Anthropology and History issued a statement saying the site—named in 2007 as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World—had not been damaged.

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Tourist mobbed by onlookers after climbing ancient Mayan pyramid in Mexico

A tourist was mobbed by onlookers after she was accused of disrespecting Mayan culture by climbing El Castillo, a step-pyramid in Mexico.

In a recent video posted on TikTok by @angelalopeze, that has since circulated on social media, an unidentified woman could be seen climbing the steps of the historical monument, which is known as the Temple of Kukulcán. The pyramid lies in the centre of the Chichen Itza , an archaeological site in Yucatán.

Once the woman made it to the top of the pyramid, she took her hat off and started to dance, prompting a crowd of onlookers standing at the base of the monument to boo. After she’d descended the pyramid, the tourist was reportedly escorted away by security at the archaeological site, while the TikTok video showed onlookers continuing to yell and taunt the woman.

The clip then showed as the tourist attempted to make her way through the crowd of people, during which onlookers could be seen filming her exit and throwing liquids. The woman’s hat was also knocked off by one of the individuals in the crowd, while others could be heard chanting “lock her up” and “jail, jail,” in Spanish.

In the caption of the video, @angelalopeze criticised the tourist, writing: “This is so disrespectful..don’t mess with my Mexican people.”

The viral video has now been reshared on multiple social media platforms , prompting viewers to condemn the tourist for disrespecting Mayan culture and disobeying the monument’s rules. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) bans visitors from climbing into Chichen Itza’s chambers. As noted by the archaeological spot’s official website , the ban was put in place after an 80-year-old American woman climbed the 91 steps of El Castillo and fell to her death in January 2006.

“It’s about respect for: Old structure, the rules and order established by the people who try to preserve the place [and] culture,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“I visited here. They made it CLEAR that climbing is prohibited because, not only were people abusing the privilege to walk on them, but they would chip off pieces of the structure and take fragments home…or engrave marks in it,” another said. “People have no respect with or without the rule.”

A third added: “Imagine if someone climbed up on the altar in a cathedral and did a rude dance - this pyramid is sacred and that’s what she did.”

@angelalopeze this is so disrespectful… don’t mess with my Mexican people 🇲🇽 #chichenitza #disrespectful #mayanpyramid #vacation #crazy #viral ♬ original sound - ang

The Riviera Maya News reported that the woman was escorted through the mob of angry onlookers by two INAH personnel. The publication also said that she was “arrested by ​​Tinum Municipal Police and fined in accordance with Article 55 of the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments”.

According to MercoPress , the INAH banned climbing on the Mayan monument in 2008, which is when the security cord around it was first installed. Visitors who break the rule can face fines up to 50,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $2,558) to 100,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $5,115), depending on how much damage is caused to the structure.

In a statement shared with The Independent , and translated to English using Google Translate, the INAH said the tourist did not cause any damage to the El Castillo.

“The reasons why it is not allowed to climb the pyramidal structures were explained to the person and they were made available to the Secretariat of Public Security of the State of Yucatan, where it will comply with the corresponding administrative sanctions,” the statement reads.

“The Ministry of Culture and the INAH call on the general public to respect the provisions established for public visits to archaeological zones and historical sites, which are determined to guarantee an enjoyable and safe experience for attendees and staff, as well as and to guarantee the conservation of heritage sites,” the INAH concluded.

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Tourist booed, doused with water after climbing stairs at protected Mayan pyramid in Mexico

In Mexico, a dumb tourist stunt prompted a very angry reaction.

People can be heard shouting "idiot" and other insults in Spanish as they doused the tourist in water.

This was at an ancient Mayan archaeological site known as El Castillo.

The pyramid is a protected monument, and climbing it has been forbidden since 2008.

For some reason the woman climbed it anyway.

When she got down, she was greeted with boos.

According to local news outlets, she was also detained by police who took her in for questioning.

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‘Prison! Sacrifice!’: Angry crowd berates tourist who climbed protected pyramid in Chichén Itzá

Mexican authorities said that there was no damage to the temple of kukulcán, located in one of the most visited archeological sites in the country.

A tourist climbed the more than 90 steps of the Temple of Kukulcán, a landmark monument located in the world-famous archaeological site of Chichén Itzá, a former Maya city in Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. During her ascent of the structure, which is off-limits to visitors, the crowd below began to berate her, with some people yelling “prison!” and other suggesting she should be offered up as a sacrifice to the gods.

After climbing down, several people began throwing water at her, shoving her and pulling her hair, as can be seen in a video released on Sunday.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said in a statement that the monument did not suffer any damage. The violator was handed over to the Ministry of Public Security, where she was expected to face administrative sanctions, although authorities did not quote any specific amounts. Federal legislation sets out fines ranging from 34,574 pesos ($1,768) to 172,870 pesos ($8,845) for these types of offenses.

Social media users have nicknamed the tourist Lady Chichén Itzá . The video footage shows her doing a little dance when she reaches the top, with the crowd screaming at her. The woman left the compound after security agents showed up at the scene.

Chichén Itzá is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Attendance records kept by INAH indicate that it was the most-visited archaeological site in the country from January to September, having received two million tourists so far this year, according to preliminary figures. The second most popular site is Teotihuacán, in the State of Mexico, with 1.4 million tourists, followed by Tulum in Quintana Roo with almost a million visitors.

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Tourist mobbed after climbing ‘sacred’ Mayan pyramid in Mexico

The Mayan pyramids are famed for their hieroglyphs depicting myths and scenes of ritualistic sacrifice.

The temple of Kukulcán in Mexico became a site of ritualistic humiliation after a tourist was doused with water and booed for scaling the sacred monument. Climbing the steps of the 79ft structure at the Chichen Itza archaeological site is prohibited.

In a video which has been viewed more than three and a half million times on TikTok, a woman is seen posing at the top of the pyramid, also known as El Castillo, before a man appears to beckon her away.

The tourist, who may have misunderstood angry cries as cheers, danced and waved her hat at onlookers below as she made her way back down — only to

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#trending: Tourist attacked by crowd, arrested by police after climbing on sacred Mayan pyramid

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MEXICO — A tourist was attacked by a crowd in Mexico after ignoring local rules and illegally climbing to the top of a sacred Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza, one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.

People mobbed a woman (right), hurled insults, doused her with water and threw plastic water bottles at her after she climbed up the Mayan Temple of Kukulcan (left) in Mexico.

• A tourist who ignored rules and illegally climbed the Mayan pyramid in Mexico was mobbed by an angry crowd
• In a TikTok video posted on Nov 21, the tourist could be seen climbing to the top of the pyramid and dancing on the steps
• Furious crowds jeered and tossed water and plastic bottles at the woman
• The woman was arrested by the police and fined for climbing the conservation site

MEXICO —  A tourist was attacked by a crowd in Mexico after ignoring local rules and illegally climbing to the top of a sacred Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza, one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.

In a TikTok video that has been viewed more than four million times since it was posted on Monday (Nov 21), the woman who is reportedly Spanish can be seen climbing the steps of the thousand-year-old Mayan Temple of Kukulcan.

The temple was named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World during a worldwide poll in 2007 and is listed as an Unesco  World Heritage Site.

Upon reaching the top of the pyramid, the tourist did a jig, to the loud jeers of spectators below. Some could be heard chanting “jail”, “lock her up” and “sacrifice (her)” in Spanish in the video.

The woman eventually descended the steps, escorted by security officials. 

She was seen jostling with the crowd as they mobbed her, hurled insults, doused her with water and threw plastic water bottles at her as she left the venue.

One enraged visitor even ran up to her and yanked hard at her hair. 

Media reports there said that the woman was arrested by the police and fined for climbing the conservation site. 

Tourists were banned from climbing the steep steps of the pyramid in 2008 for preservation and safety reasons. In 2006, an 80-year-old American woman fell to her death on her way up.

Viewers of the TikTok video expressed similar outrage at what they described as the woman’s “disrespectful” behaviour. The video had more than 7,000 comments over two days.

TikTok users acknowledged that the pyramid was open for tourists to climb previously, but they pointed out that the structure was dangerous and that conservation of the historical artefact was more important.

Others questioned the woman’s decision to climb the steps, saying that even if she was unaware of the rules, she should have known better. 

One said: “Apart from the disrespect, I don’t know why people would want to climb it. Steps are so steep. It’s kind of scary to come down.”

Another said: “I've always wanted to go to the top of one of these. But I feel like the fact no one in that huge crowd did should be a sign to stay down.”

Some people hinted that the woman might face worse consequences than a fine.

One TikTok user said ominously: “She must not have ever seen The Ruins. Now she’s hexed for life. No spiritual cleanse will help her.”

Constructed sometime between the eighth and 12th centuries AD, the pyramid was built by the Maya civilisation to serve as a temple to Kukulcan, the Feather Serpent god.

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Mexico tourist whacked with stick, heckled after illegally climbing sacred Mayan pyramid

The polish tourist was reportedly arrested and fined over the incident.

Mexico tourist whacked with stick and heckled after climbing sacred pyramid

A tourist from Poland was reportedly detained and fined after climbing the steps of a sacred temple at Mexico’s Chichén Itzá archaeological site. (Daniel Fretwell via Storyful)

A tourist was captured on video being beaten with a stick by a bystander after climbing up a sacred temple in Mexico .

The incident played out over the weekend at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, a popular tourist attraction, and involved an unidentified tourist from Poland running up the steps of the pyramid of Kukulkan, which is a move frowned upon by locals, The Independent reported .

In the videos from the scene, which went viral on social media, the tourist can be seen being led away from the pyramid by two Mexican officials and then beaten with a stick by a bystander.

 "Are you stupid?" an onlooker shouted at the tourist.

AMERICANS TRAVELING BETWEEN MEXICO, US SEE VACATIONS TURN INTO NIGHTMARES AT THE BORDER

A tourist in Mexico was arrested and fined after climbing up the steps of a sacred pyramid. (Daniel Fretwell via Storyful)

The Polish man was reportedly arrested and held for 12 hours before being released.

The director of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) told Mexico Daily Post that the tourist was fined 5,000 pesos ($263) for the incident.

"Tourists must respect the security measures of the INAH in the archeological zone to preserve the cultural heritage of Mexico, take care of other visitors and enjoy that Mayan legacy," INAH Director José Arturo Chab Cárdenas said.

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Tourists visit the Temple of Kukulcan in the Chichén Itzá archeological site in Yucatan, Mexico, on Dec. 8, 2022. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A similar incident unfolded in November when a tourist was mobbed by bystanders and pelted with water for climbing the same pyramid, Fox Tampa Bay reported .

Climbing the sacred site has been banned since 2008 due to efforts by the Mexican government to preserve the Mayan pyramids.  

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People surround the Kukulcan Pyramid at the Mayan archaeological site of Chichén Itzá in Yucatan State, Mexico, during the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21, 2022. (HUGO BORGES/AFP via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital reached out to National Institute of Anthropology and History for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to [email protected].

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WATCH: Tourist Disrespects Mayan Pyramid by Climbing It — & the Crowd Wasn’t Having It

The boos came raining down on a tourist who decided she would climb a structure at a Mayan sacred site known as the Chichén Itzá pyramid.

A disrespectful tourist climbs an ancient Mayan pyramid in Mexico and gets booed pic.twitter.com/ZMAnwf0Euo — Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) November 21, 2022

Located in the Tinúm Municipality in Mexico , Chichén Itzá was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2007.

From the video taken of the incident, it looks like the tourist walked up the steps of Templo de Kukulcán as other visitors of the ancient Mayan ruins shot video of what many considered a disrespectful stunt. Once at the top, the woman raised her hands and started to dance.

Lady Chichén Itzá: Una turista extranjera estuvo a punto de ser linchada por otros turistas y visitantes de la zona arqueológica, por subirse al castillo principal sin permiso de las autoridades. 📹Video: Especial pic.twitter.com/n0gtfSN7Tk — El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) November 21, 2022

Once her feet hit the ground again, the other visitors expressed their anger. Along with booing her and recording her actions, the crowd surrounded the tourist and began to call her names like “stupid” and “idiot.” They even started dousing her with water from their plastic water bottles. One woman went as far as grabbing the tourist’s blonde hair and yanking it.

Shame on this lady. The structures at Chichén Itzá are off-limits to foot traffic for years now due to stress/saturation from all the bus-loads of tourists from Cancún. This is the Templo de Kukulkán, or El Castillo. (I climbed it when it was still open, in 2002.) https://t.co/wCzlkvM2GM — Daniel Hernandez ✍🏽🌞 (@longdrivesouth) November 21, 2022

Other people online shared the same annoyance about what occurred at the pyramid. “Shame on this lady,” one Twitter user posted. “The structures at Chichén Itzá are off-limits to foot traffic for years now due to stress/saturation from all the busloads of tourists from Cancún.”

Some believed that although the woman was wrong for climbing the structure, there was no excuse for the violence against her. “The tourist is bad, but nothing justifies the violence of the crowd.”

Mal la turista pero nada justifica la violencia de la muchedumbre. — Tere Lagos ®  (@terelagos) November 22, 2022

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Shocking footage shows what happened to tourist who climbed Mayan pyramid after she was surrounded by mob

The woman has since been fined for her actions.

Emma Guinness

A tourist who decided to ignore the law and climb a Mayan pyramid found herself facing the wrath of an angry mob when she climbed down.

And now, what happened after the woman tried to walk through the mob calling for her ' sacrifice ' has been revealed in shocking new footage.

The woman was later identified by local press as 29-year-old Abigail Villalobos - although this was not confirmed by authorities to the Daily Mail.

Villalobos can be seen attempting to shield herself with her hat after stepping down from the ancient pyramid that she climbed illegally.

This was the very same hat that she had used to dance on top of the pyramid just minutes before, despite the fact that the angry mob had formed and was booing her.

As Villalobos danced, the crowd could be heard shouting 'jail, jail, jail', 'lock her up' and 'sacrifice, sacrifice', 'because this woman does not respect the rules'.

In the footage of her exit, members of the mob throw water at Villalobos, while others take it a step further and throw actual bottles.

One woman even decides to grab Villalobos and shake her due to her deciding to scale the ancient monument, which people have been banned from climbing since 2008.

Other tourists follow her with their mobile phones as they boo, presumably filming to deter anyone else who might consider climbing the historic structure.

It is been protected from climbing by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), who issue fines ranging between the equivalent of £2,150 to £4,300 for those who defy the ban.

While it's not known if the woman has received this particular fine, which is calculated based on damage caused to the structure, the Tinum municipal police station told the Daily Mail that the tourist was arrested for her actions.

She was reportedly held by police for half an hour before she was fined 5,000 pesos (£216).

This footage received a lot of commentary online.

One viewer said that the woman who decided to grab the tourist should have been reprimanded for her actions too, describing it as 'assault'.

A second joked: "They respect the pyramid so much they waited at the bottom to deliver the ass whopping."

"How was she not confronted going up the stairs?" questioned a third.

But as angry as the crowd were, the woman was able to make her way through swiftly with the aid of two other people, who tried their best to shield her from the mob's wrath.

Topics:  World News , Viral

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Attention-Seeker Treks Over Forbidden Mexican Pyramid

• Read Later  

A Mexican woman who climbed up an ancient Maya pyramid was immediately fined by authorities. However, enraged visitors threw water and pulled the hair of the so-called “Lady Chichen Itza”.

This story is about a childish, attention-seeking 29-year-old Mexican woman who last Sunday went J-walking up the steps of the Pyramid of Kukulcán in Tinum, Yucatán, Mexico. The woman was held by authorities for 30 minutes at the Tinum municipal police station before she paid a meagre 5,000 pesos fine, about $257, and was released.

However, other visitors at the site were so enraged that they called for Villalobos to be “incarcerated.” But when she was released after 30 minutes some of the angered visitors threw bottles of water on the clown as she was escorted out of the archaeological site.

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The “Lady Chichen Itza” Or “The Chichen Itza Idiot”?

The ancient Maya Pyramid of Kukulcán was built between the 8th and 12th centuries AD as a center for the worship of the serpent god, Kukulcán. The pyramid rises 24 meters (79 ft) high and each of its four sides feature 91 steps. At the top, the ancient builders installed a 6 meter (20 ft) high temple which was aligned with key star rises and served Maya priests as an astronomical observatory. This highest point on the pyramid was an exceptionally holy sanctum-sanctorum that was built to assist Maya astronomers in the construction of calendars , and to predict seasonal and climatic changes.

According to Mexico News Daily the 29 year old woman, Abigail Villalobos, ignored all warnings and “walked up the steps of the ancient pyramid and through one of the Chichen Itza temple's four terraces.” The so-called “Lady Chichen itza,” whose closest connection to ancient astronomy is most likely reading her daily horoscope, just danced through the holy of holies like she owned the pace.

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A disrespectful tourist climbs an ancient Mayan pyramid in Mexico and gets booed pic.twitter.com/ZMAnwf0Euo — Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) November 21, 2022

She Walked Over An Entrance To The Maya Underworld Too

In 2015 Mexican archaeologists discovered the 1,000 year old Maya temple was built over a huge cenote (sinkhole), which is thought to have served as a symbolic entrance to the underworld . Since 2018, access to this pyramid has been forbidden to the public and Daily Mail reports that when Villalobos returned, an enraged group of tourists shouted at the woman as a security guard climbed the pyramid to meet her.

A video is doing the rounds on social media which has been viewed more than four million times. It shows Villalobos being shouted at as the site security guard climbs the pyramid steps to get her. When she got to the bottom several of the crowd were appealing for the woman to be jailed. And so angered were some of the visitors that an elderly woman stopped Villalobos “and pulled her hair while other tourists dosed her with water” according to the Daily Mail .

A tourist was booed, doused with water and reportedly detained by police after climbing to the top of a Mayan pyramid at the Chichen-Itza archeological site in Mexico. Climbing the pyramid has been banned since 2008 amid preservation concerns. pic.twitter.com/0Lj0caJALF — CBS News (@CBSNews) November 23, 2022

The Lady Got Off Lightly, For If I Was In Charge…

Villalobos was taken to the Tinum municipal police station where she paid her meagre fine and was released. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) issued a statement saying the monument “had not been damaged” and this is why the woman’s fine was so low. However, an INAH spokesperson said if she had damaged the structure in any way she could have faced a much stiffer fine of between “$2569 to $5138, depending on the damage caused.”

Villalobos is lucky that it was not I who maintains this site. If this was the case, I’d have found a handful of loose stones on one of the steps to use as evidence of her defacing the monument. She’d have been marched to the police station and charged under “ Article 47 ” of the Mexican Federal law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historic Monuments. This way, Villalobos would be facing ten years in prison for her sheer ignorance and act of attention seeking.

Top image: Mexican woman Abigail Villalobos trespassing on the sacred. Kukulcán pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico. Source: Twitter

By Ashley Cowie

I still say theres a reason ALL of the pyramid complexes are within the same lattitudes Y would u spend so much time n effort with the sciences and still do a shirley jackson lottery every so often? I wonder what the official explanation for mercury rivers under them are? There is still so much unexplained despite the "authorities" presenting their "best guesses" as fact

infinitesimal waveparticles comprise what we call home the earth manipulatable by thought ability supressed in humans since birth

Ashley is a Scottish historian, author, and documentary filmmaker presenting original perspectives on historical problems in accessible and exciting ways.

He was raised in Wick, a small fishing village in the county of Caithness on the north east coast of... Read More

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Tourist booed and called 'disrespectful' for climbing ancient Mayan pyramid

A woman has gone viral for the wrong reasons after she trespassed by climbing up the ancient Mayan Temple of Kukulcan at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in Mexico - angering fellow tourists in the process.

In the clips captured by TikToker @angelalopeze , the blonde woman can be seen walking up the 91 steps from afar despite the public being prohibited from scaling the landmark.

The decision to stop people from climbing up the steep stairs was made back in 2006 after someone died when they slipped on one of the steps causing them to tumble down on their descent, National Post reported.

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Though the woman in the TikTok video decided she was the exception to this rule, a closer clip showed her reaching the top where she appeared to go inside the building before appearing once again to give a wave and dance.

As she drew attention to herself, a crowd on the ground began to gather who were angered by the woman's actions, and made their feelings known by shouting: “Out,” “Lock her up,” and “Jail!”

"This is why you don't disrespect historic Mayan pyramids..." the TikToker wrote in on-screen text.

Eventually, the woman - who has not been identified - came back down and was greeted by furious tourists who were recording the incident on their phones, it quickly became crowded as they heckled her.

As the woman walked through the crowd, water and plastic bottles were thrown in her direction while in the caption @angelopeze summed up: "This is so disrespectful… don’t mess with my Mexican people."

@angelalopeze this is so disrespectful… don’t mess with my Mexican people 🇲🇽 #chichenitza #disrespectful #mayanpyramid #vacation #crazy #viral

Since sharing the videos, @angelalopeze's TikTok has received 3.4m views, 426,000, along with thousands of comments from people who shared their thought on what they had just watched.

One person wrote: "For people saying 'well, you were allowed to climb before', they stopped it because all those climbs not only was dangerous but it damaged the foundations. I personally prefer to preserve the Chichen Itza."

To which @angelalopeze replied: "Yep… erosion, graffiti, and safety are the reasons we can’t climb anymore!"

"I don’t understand why they want to climb it. It’s so steep, and it’s historical. I mean one mistake and they’re tumbling to their death," another person said.

Someone else added: "Few things more embarrassing than entitled tourists."

Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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Montevideo, April 18th 2024 - 06:37 UTC

Mexico: Tourist climbs Chichen Itza Castle without permission and locals call for sacrifice

An angry mob almost lynched a tourist who climbed without permission the steps of the Castillo de Kukulcán, one of the new seven wonders of the modern world located in the archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá, in southeastern Mexico.

With shouts and cries of “jail, jail, jail”, “lock her up” and “sacrifice, sacrifice”, the crowd, gathered in the esplanade of Chichén Itzá, expressed their anger “because this woman does not respect the rules”.

A disrespectful tourist climbs an ancient Mayan pyramid in Mexico and gets booed pic.twitter.com/ZMAnwf0Euo — Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) November 21, 2022

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has prohibited climbing the sacred Mayan building since 2008, installing a security cordon around it and announced fines ranging from 50,000 (about 2,558 US dollars) to 100,000 Mexican pesos (about 5,115 US dollars), depending on the damage caused to the structure.

The tourist of unknown origin climbed to the top of the majestic building and started dancing, which further angered Mexican and foreign visitors enjoying the day off.

INAH authorities have yet to report the incident, and the crowd continues to demand jail and expulsion from Yucatán “and if she is from abroad, she should leave Mexico,” shouted those present.

In previous incidents, INAH reported that they would be punished according to the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historic Monuments and Zones which, in Chapter VI, establishes penalties and sanctions against those who damage or exploit archaeological monuments without authorization from the Institute.

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15 Facts About Chichen Itza, One Of The 7 Wonders Of The World

• Chichen Itza is a top cruise attraction, with many tourists visiting from nearby ports on organized tours.
• Local vendors sell goods near Chichen Itza, although tourists should be prepared for potential persistence.
• Chichen Itza was discovered twice and was used as an observatory by the Mayans. It is being restored and may have been used for sacrifices.

Chichen Itza is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and is a historic site situated in Yucatán, Mexico. While most people realize that Chichen Itza was built by the Mayans thousands of years ago, there are many things tourists don't realize about this marvelous attraction. There are many interesting facts about Chichen Itza that everyone should know before visiting.

Chichen Itza refers to an archeological site, not the pyramid within it, which is the site's most popular tourist attraction. The pyramid itself was built to serve as a temple and a castle and is known as El Castillo - there are a lot more facts about Chichen Itza that you may want to know about both the site and the pyramid before you visit.

UPDATE: 2023/10/26 16:37 EST BY NOAH STAATS

There Is Much More To Understand When Coming To See Chichen Itza

This article has been updated with new information regarding Chichen Itza, as well as two lesser-known facts about this world-famous monument. Whether someone is coming from their cruise, shopping with locals, or wanting to learn more about this iconic structure, Mexico is filled to the brim with history and Mayan culture!

Chichen Itza Is One Of The Most Visited Cruise Attractions

• Cruise passengers account for much of the tourism at Chichen Itza.

Something to know about Chichen Itza in Mexico is that it brings most of its tourists from cruise ships porting in nearby areas. Cozumel is a landing point for many cruisers, with them hopping on a bus to witness the ancient Mayan structure in real-time. For this reason, people will almost always have the option of booking a tour of the site via their cruise company, as it's continuously one of the most in-demand choices among people coming to the country. From water to Chichen Itza!

Guachimontones is another prehistoric site in Mexico worth checking out for anyone with time to spare on the mainland.

Related: The Longest Bike Trail In The World Spans All The Way From Canada To Mexico

There Are Locals Selling Goods Near The Famous Monument

• Local vendors line the streets entering Chichen Itza.

Although this sometimes doesn't sit well with tourists, there are hoards of vendors selling goods just hundreds of feet from Chichen Itza. Most people are fairly calm about selling to tourists, although it has been reported vendors bombarding buses filled with guests in the area, as well as flagging them down at the monument. It's best to say no thanks and move on from the area if this persists. Or, if you want a handcrafted gift, then supporting vendors is a great idea: whatever makes everyone feel most comfortable.

It Was Discovered Twice

• Chichen Itza underwent two major discoveries, one in 514 AD and another in 1841.

One thing most people do not know about Chichen Itza is that it was discovered twice. In 514 AD, a priest by the name of Lakin Chan discovered the site that is known as Chichen Itza. It is believed that Chan was also referred to as Itzamna. Chichen Itza translates as “at the mouth of the well of the Itza.” Over the years following its abandonment, Chichen Itza was lost, and Mexico fell into turmoil and was ravaged by a series of wars. In 1841, American Explorer John Lloyd Stephens stumbled upon this site once again and turned it over to Mexico.

Related: Mayapan: Visit One Of The Yucatan's Most Stunning But Rarely Visited Mayan Sites

It Was Used As An Observatory

• At one point, Chichen Itza was used as an observatory.

The Chichen Itza is a marvelous site due to its rich architecture and historical value, but it also houses evidence that the Mayans were definitely ahead of their time. For starters, the Chichen Itza housed craftspeople, artisans, and scholars and was by no means a civilization of simple people. The Mayans were people of science and math and especially excelled in the field of astronomy. For this reason, tourists can visit the Mayan observatory known as El Caracol, which once was used by the Mayans to gaze into the heavens and study the motions of Venus.

It's Built With Diverse Materials

• The pyramids of Chichen Itza have been made with local materials, such as mica.

The pyramids of Chichen Itza have been a popular attraction for ages, but now they are being questioned, or rather, the method in which they were built. Historians have analyzed the buildings and structures located within this site and have found a variety of diverse materials that do not originate locally in Yucatan, Mexico . One of these materials is mica, which was used by the Mayans during construction to insulate their buildings, but there is one problem. Mica is found 2,000 miles away from the pyramids in Brazil, and scientists are baffled as to how it was transported without vehicles.

It Was Built Near Sinkholes

• This structure was built near sinkholes, often believed to be used for human sacrifice.

Another thing most people do not know about Chichen Itza is that it was built near sinkholes. While your first reaction to reading that might be confusion or worry, there was a very good reason for the Mayans establishing their community near two sinkholes. The area is generally spotted with numerous sinkholes in the limestone earth and is stable. They actually provided the only source of freshwater to the people of the area as there are no rivers or lakes nearby. Therefore, Chichen Itza was built near two massive sinkholes to ensure water availability year-round. These sinkholes are called cenotes and have clean water in them ( cenotes are also one of the top tourist attractions of the Yucatán Peninsula ).

It Is Being Restored

• Many restoration projects have kept Chichen Itza looking beautiful after all these years.

One thing most people find surprising about the buildings in Chichen Itza, particularly El Castillo, is the incredible condition it is in after all these centuries. This is due to the restoration projects headed by the Mexican government and some universities to ensure these structures stand the test of time.

Restoration efforts began in 1923 when Sylvanus Morley, an archaeologist, headed an expedition to the pyramid and realized it had suffered a great deal of decay. After gaining entrance to the pyramid, restoration efforts were started and continue to this day; due to this, El Castillo is stronger than ever.

It May Have Been Used For Sacrifices

• Many believe that sinkholes surrounding Chichen Itza were used for sacrifices during times of heartache.

Next up on this list is a morbid fact about Chichen Itza, which is not entirely butterflies and rainbows. The Mayans were peaceful and smart people but also believed in curses and sacrifice to the gods they worshiped. The sinkholes mentioned above were frequently used for sacrifices during times of adversity, such as a drought or famine. The Mayans would choose a person to be sacrificed to the gods in hopes that this would bring them luck. In addition to sacrifices, the Mayans were also big fans of death penalties, which were gruesome and publicized to maintain order and spread fear.

It Isn't Entirely Mayan

• The Chichen Itza was built in two stages: the pre-Classic and the latter period.

Next up is a fact that startles most people when they hear it, and it truly is shocking. Historians suggest that this famous Mayan community may not have been entirely Mayan, and that is true. The Chechen Itza was built in two stages, the pre-Classic and the latter period. The pre-Classic period was greatly influenced by the Mayans, but following an invasion of Toltecs in the 10th century, this all changed. As a matter of fact, the most iconic buildings of Chichen Itza, such as the Temple Pyramid El Castillo, may have been built by the Toltecs and not the Mayans.

There Are Smaller Pyramids Within

• There is a smaller pyramid cluster hiding below the El Castillo.

Another fact to know about Chichen Itza is that while the huge pyramid of El Castillo looms at a whopping 98 feet , it is, in fact, hiding something beneath it. Within the pyramid are two smaller pyramids that stand at 65.5 feet and 33 feet. The smallest of the three pyramids is believed to have been built by the Mayans, as it features a unique Colombian-style architecture style. In contrast, the other pyramids have Mexican influences in them. Scientists are studying the smaller pyramid to learn more about the ways of the Mayans, as the ways of the Toltecs are shown on El Castillo with its carvings and sculptures.

Related: This Forgotten City Has The Tallest Mayan Pyramid (& Its Not Chichen Itza)

There Was A Death At The Itza

• Tourists in modern times are not permitted to climb or even touch Chichen Itza.

Tourists at the Chichen Itza are frequently disappointed to know that they cannot climb to the top of the pyramid, and here is why. Until 2006 , tourists were allowed to climb to the top of El Castillo to gaze upon the sculptures at the top. That was until an American tourist stumbled on her way down and fell to her death. These accidents are increasingly common, and for this reason, the steps of El Castillo are restricted. In addition to providing an added layer of safety to tourists, this ensures the structure will not be damaged by the feet of hundreds of thousands of tourists climbing the steps.

That said, this Mayan pyramid in Mexico DOES allow climbing , so that's something to think about.

Chichen Itza's Glory Declined Mysteriously

• The Mayans are said to have vanished sometime around the 14th century.

This once great empire met its sudden doom when the Mayans who once inhabited this land mysteriously left in the 14th century and never returned to it once again. The Chichen Itza was a symbol of perseverance and power to the Mayans, who had moved around, ravaged by warfare until settling in the Itza. Their civilization was one of the most advanced of its time. Still, it met its sudden end due to a series of issues, such as drought and famine. After the fall of Chichen Itza, the Mayans persevered in the North till the 16th century.

Chichen Itza Has The Largest Mayan Ballcourt

• Chichen Itza is home to the largest Ballcourt known in Mesoamerica.

Much is not known about the Mayan Ballgame, but it would seem that for the Mayans, the game was more ritual in nature. The game was associated with human sacrifice, and the exact rules remain unknown (except it would seem players could only use their hips and thighs. Chichen Itza is home to the largest Ballcourt known in Mesoamerica .

Chichen Itza Has A Sacrificial Cenote

• There is a sacred cenote at Chichen Itza, where sacrifices occur.

At Chichen Itza, visitors can find the Sacred Cenote . It is an ancient sinkhole that the Mayans believed was sacred. Numerous artifacts have been discovered at the bottom of this cenote, including things associated with sacrifice, like gold, jade, incense, and human bones. The human skeletons include warriors, children, and maidens. Also, at Chichen Itza, visitors can see the Mayan baths where sacrificial victims were ritually cleaned before their sacrifice.

Chichen Itza Is One Of The Most Touristic Mayan Sites

• Chichen Itza remains one of the most popular Mayan sites in the world.

Chichen Itza is not only one of the most popular archeological sites in Mexico, but it is also likely the most popular Mayan archeological site in all of the ancient Mayan world. It is far from the only ancient Mayan city to have impressive ruins. Still, it is one of the most accessible and best known, and it benefits from being in Mexico (Tikal is remote in the jungle in Guatemala). Chichen Itza attracts around 2 million tourists every year.