Overview
- Community members, including artisans and the Consejo Indígena de Pisté, took control of Chichén Itzá and opened the site free to visitors after the INAH and Patronato announced on May 19 that the zone, the Gran Museo and the CATVI would be closed for maintenance.
- State police and the Guardia Nacional deployed an estimated 300 personnel and metal barriers were placed at the old parador entrance, actions protesters say broke dialogue and which the community later removed to restore access.
- The temporary lapse in regular site control allowed at least two visitors to climb El Castillo, prompting the INAH to apply identification and removal protocols and to reinforce supervision at the monument.
- Talks have continued in Mérida with a follow‑up session scheduled in Valladolid but remain fragile because artisans demand written guarantees to keep the traditional parador open and refuse full relocation to the CATVI, which they say has inadequate, exposed vendor spaces.
- The dispute is disrupting tourism operations and local incomes, forcing tour operators to redirect visitors to nearby sites such as Ek Balam and prompting authorities to review security and conservation protocols at one of Mexico’s busiest archaeological sites.