The Mayan site of Chichen Itza is one of Mexico’s most famous archaeological tourist destinations. I’ve been there a couple of times, it’s a fascinating site.
On June 11th, 2025, Chichen Itza was taken over by protesting teachers.
From Mexico News Daily: “Hundreds of teachers from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) have escalated their protest movement in Yucatán this week, taking over the Chichén Itzá archaeological site on Wednesday [June 11th] and staging a demonstration at the Maya Train station in Valladolid on Thursday [June 12th].”
“The actions are part of a continuing wave of mobilizations —including a 23-day sit-in at Mexico City’s Zócalo that ended this week— demanding sweeping changes to Mexico’s education and pension systems.”
So what occurred exactly?
“On Wednesday morning [June 11th], around 300 CNTE members occupied the ticket booth at Chichén Itzá, allowing free entry to tourists and setting up tents at the site, all the while chanting slogans in Spanish…Similar actions took place at Ek Balam and Uxmal, with teachers reiterating their demands for a 100% salary increase, 90 days of bonuses and, mainly, the repeal of a 2007 ISSSTE (public sector social security) law that restructured federal pensions.”
“They even issued a statement in English, explaining their demands and the reasons for their protests, in the presence of foreign tourists and the media.”
Interesting that they would appeal to foreign tourists. But couldn’t that potentially lead to foreigners taking sides in a Mexican labor dispute?
“Despite the disruption, authorities from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and local police did not intervene, and operations for tourists continued under the supervision of site staff.”
So tourists weren’t impeded from visiting the site and even visted Chichen Itza for free.
Here’s a photo of the striking teachers posing in front of the El Castillo pyramid, Chichen Itza’s star attraction:
