Angry crowd reacts after tourist trespassed onto Mayan pyramid in Mexico
Posted November 22, 2022 4:44 pm.
Last Updated November 22, 2022 4:52 pm.
Even if one has never visited the ancient Mayan pyramids in Mexico, it’s widely known climbing the steps isn’t permitted in order to preserve the sacred structures, respect the archaeological site and keep visitors safe.
But a tourist who trespassed onto the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza quickly learned the harsh reaction wouldn’t come from security, but from the crowd below that waited for her to descend the 365 steps.
The video, which was originally posted on TikTok by Angela Lopeze (@angelalopeze), was quickly shared across social media platforms. It began by showing an unnamed female tourist climbing the Kukulkan pyramid located in Mexico’s eastern Yucatan region.
“This is so disrespectful… don’t mess with my Mexican people,” Lopeze’s caption said.
RELATED: Mexico experts find 2,000 ruin sites near Maya train route
It quickly cut to the woman dancing on top of the structure while 30 meters below a crowd begins to gather while chanting, whistling and booing.
Once the woman reached the bottom, she was met with an angry group of people chanting, “Jail, jail, jail,” and, “Call the police”. It quickly escalated as she attempted to make her way through the large crowd. People appeared to throw water and rubbish in her direction.
In another video, an older woman yanked at the woman’s hair as she passed. Again, people appeared to throw water on the woman. She also appeared to be physically assaulted while she was guided away by a worker at the site.
According to the archaeological site’s website, Chichen Itza is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Representatives said the destination welcomes more than 2,500,000 visitors each year.
The incident ignited online discussion about not only respecting cultural property, but how quickly people can react to an individual’s unwanted actions.
@angelalopeze this is so disrespectful… don’t mess with my Mexican people ???????? #chichenitza #disrespectful #mayanpyramid #vacation #crazy #viral
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
Logran bajar a Mujer que se subió a la Piramide en Chichen-Itza obstruyendo la ley, es detenida y la abuchean????. pic.twitter.com/g0Cxoc9Q9V
— Fernando Salvador (@ferchavagilmx) November 21, 2022