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Have you recently heard that Chichén Itzá has been closed since May 19, 2026? What started as a “temporary preventive closure” by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has now become a conflict that has lasted for more than a week and has many tourists worried, especially those who were already planning to visit the archaeological site.
To keep you updated on why Chichén Itzá is closed, here we explain all the details about the recent events.
Recently, Chichén Itzá has been going through relocations and several changes with the goal of providing a better experience for everyone who visits this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What caused the conflict was a protest organized by merchants and artisans who work inside the archaeological site. They strongly disagreed with their new relocations to the new tourist service center. In addition, the old tourist stop area was completely closed with metal fences, which was seen as an unfavorable measure for merchants, artisans, and tour guides from the town of Pisté.
This situation felt uncomfortable and unfair for the artisan vendors because discussions about their relocations were still ongoing. Because of this, during the night of May 18 and the early morning of May 19, the archaeological site was taken over as a protest area, causing the temporary closure of Chichén Itzá.
Recently, new changes have been implemented at Chichén Itzá, including the new Visitor Service Center, known as Centro de Atención a Visitantes (CATVI), located near the Maya Train station that connects to the Chichén Itzá Museum. In addition, it includes several parking spaces, equipped restrooms, and a special area for local artisans.
According to Joel Omar Vázquez Herrera, national director of the INAH, out of the 666 artisans registered at Chichén Itzá, only 266 have agreed to move to the new CATVI, while the rest want to remain at the old tourist stop area. This shows that there is a strong division of opinions within the merchant community itself.
According to reports, the relocation could affect the economy of artisans and tour guides who live in the community of Pisté and the municipality of Tinum, since tourism is the main source of income in these areas.
The protesters completely rejected the proposed conditions, especially those related to the reorganization of spaces at the entrance of the old Tourist Stop Area. Their main demand is clear: the immediate reopening of the traditional tourist stop, which they say is their main source of income.
In addition, they are requesting the opening of two public access points at Chichén Itzá.
One of the most common questions after this conflict and temporary closure is: “When will Chichén Itzá reopen?” At the moment, there is still no official reopening date for the archaeological site. However, the Government of Yucatán and the INAH are doing everything possible to reach an agreement between the artisans, merchants, and the archaeological site authorities. For now, the dialogue between officials and local communities continues.
Recommendations if you planned to visit Chichén Itzá
If you were planning to visit the archaeological site in the next few days, here are our recommendations: