Are you allowed to climb the ancient Mayan pyramids?

Of the four main Mayan ruin sites that people visit from the Riviera Maya, only one still allows people to climb to the top of the main pyramid. There are however some other Mayan ruins that might be a little harder to get to but offer a great experience including being able to climb to the top of some of the pyramids.



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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.

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The Kukulkan Pyramid, also commonly known as El Castillo, is the most impressive building in the Chichen Itza archaeological site, and one of the tallest in all of the Mayan architecture. Unfortunately for visitors, no, Chichen Itza Pyramid is not allowed to climb.

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The ruins of Chichén Itzá are federal property, and the site's stewardship is maintained by Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History). The land under the monuments had been privately owned until 29 March 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatán.

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It is against the laws of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala to take any pre-Columbian antiquities out of their country. It is against the law of the United States to bring most pre-Columbian art into this country. Maya pottery from the Peten area is especially illegal.

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The interiors of all three pyramids of Giza are open to visitors, but each requires the purchase of a separate ticket. Although tourists were once able to freely climb the pyramids, that is now illegal. Offenders face up to three years in prison as penalty.

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In the 1930s, however, a group of excavators began exploring and discovered that another pyramid-temple was nestled within the larger pyramid. Further excavations revealed that it had nine platforms, a single stairway, and a temple containing human remains, a jade-studded jaguar throne, and a so-called Chac Mool.

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It is forbidden to climb it and fines range from $4000 to $8400 for trespassers, depending on the amount of damage caused. However, this weekend, it was onlookers who meted out punishment for climbing the national treasure.

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Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air. Been Here? Want to Visit? The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels.

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In the 12th century, Kurdish ruler al-Malek al-Aziz Othman ben Yusuf attempted to destroy one of the pyramids, but only successfully damaged the smallest, leaving a vertical gash on the north face.

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Many of the ancient Maya suffered at the hands of the Spanish in the 16th century as they conquered their land, burnt their books and brought disease and death in their wake. Fortunately, there are descendants of the ancient Maya living today, around 8 million.

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