Tourist Booed and Doused With Water After Climbing World-Famous El Castillo 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.

Thomas Calderon livestreamed 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.”

Calderon captured another video showing the tourist pushing her way through the crowd as people pull at her, toss water on her, and sling insults her way. Local news outlets reported the tourist was detained “and taken to the nearby town of Piste for questioning.”

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. Credit: Thomas Calderon via Storyful