New Distance Rules at Chichén Itzá Follow Cheeky Tourist Antics
Weeks after a German tourist became the latest self-entitled visitor to sprint illegally up El Castillo’s ancient steps, INAH has implemented new distance rules at Chichén Itzá.
The heritage agency is establishing a minimum viewing distance of 15 meters / 50 feet from the base of the site’s magnificent main pyramid. This increased buffer zone means visitors can no longer approach the structure as closely as before.
Climbing the Chichén Itzá pyramid is considered reckless and offensive. Catcalls and boos or worse occur when visitors get the idea of trampling on these ancient steps. Climbing the El Castillo — also known as the Pyramid of Kukulkán — was banned in 2008.
New distance rules at Chichén Itzá
This is why officials have installed boundary markers to clearly indicate the new viewing perimeter around this centerpiece of the archaeological site. The decision also comes as part of ongoing conservation efforts aimed at protecting the ancient structure from degradation caused by erosion, humidity, and physical contact from the millions of visitors who explore the site annually.
The timing of these new restrictions follows a March 31 incident during the spring equinox celebrations, when a German tourist bypassed security and climbed El Castillo’s summit, raising concerns about visitor behavior and monument protection. As one of Mexico’s most-visited archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage treasure, these measures seek to ensure Chichén Itzá remains intact for future generations.
Chichén Itzá: A wonder of the ancient world
Chichén Itzá stands as one of the most remarkable archaeological complexes in the Americas. Located in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, this pre-Columbian city was one of the largest and most diverse Maya centers, flourishing between approximately 750 and 1200 CE. The name “Chichén Itzá” translates to “at the mouth of the well of the Itza people,” referring to the site’s proximity to sacred cenotes (natural sinkholes) that were vital to Maya religious practices.
In 2007, Chichén Itzá achieved global recognition by being named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World through an international voting campaign. This prestigious designation places it alongside other magnificent human achievements, such as the Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, and Machu Picchu in Peru.
El Castillo is the site’s most iconic structure—a stepped pyramid approximately 30 meters tall that demonstrates the Maya’s extraordinary mathematical and astronomical knowledge. The pyramid features 365 steps (one for each day of the year) across its four sides. Perhaps most famously, during the spring and autumn equinoxes, the afternoon sun creates a shadow pattern on the northern stairway that resembles a serpent slithering down the pyramid. This phenomenon continues to draw thousands of visitors at these times of year.
Beyond El Castillo, Chichén Itzá encompasses numerous other significant structures, including the Great Ball Court (the largest in Mesoamerica), the Temple of the Warriors, and the astronomical Observatory El Caracol. Together, these monuments represent the Maya civilizations’ remarkable architectural, artistic, and scientific achievements, making the site’s preservation a matter of global cultural importance.
The most recent incidents
During the spring equinox of 2025, two foreign tourists evaded security in separate incidents and scaled El Castillo while thousands gathered to witness the equinox light phenomenon. The crowd responded by yelling angrily at the rule-breakers.
One was a 38-year-old German tourist apprehended after scaling the pyramid on March 20, 2025. Security personnel chased him up the stairs, and after his arrest, he was confronted by angry locals who physically attacked him as he was being led away by National Guard personnel. He was jailed for 12 hours and fined 5,000 pesos (approximately US$250).
In November 2022, a 29-year-old woman named Abigail Villalobos climbed the pyramid and performed a victory dance at the top. When staff demanded she descend, angry onlookers shouted at her, pulled her hair, and doused her with water. Initially claiming to be from Spain, she was later identified as Mexican. Authorities fined her 5,000 pesos (about $250) and released her after 30 minutes in custody.
On Jan. 3, 2021, a tourist from Tijuana, Baja California, was videoed climbing the main pyramid stairs. According to INAH, the woman was intoxicated at the time and took approximately 30 minutes to climb the front face before descending. She faced federal charges and was summoned to appear before the INAH court for violating the Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Zones.
Consequences and penalties
As of 2025, individuals caught climbing the pyramid face fines ranging from 55,760 MXN to 278,800 MXN (approximately US$3,200 to US$16,000) under Article 55 of Mexico’s Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological Zones. However, based on the documented cases, many tourists have been fined significantly less than the maximum amount.
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