American tourists scratch Peña de Bernal: 'Everyone does it,' they justify (VIDEO)

MEXICO CITY (apro) — A viral video shows an argument between an American tourist who used a marker to scratch Peña de Bernal, one of the world's largest monoliths and an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity . The incident, which occurred on Sunday, was recorded by a local resident who confronted her upon noticing the damage. Municipal authorities intervened, detaining two people for administrative offenses and confirming that the case could be escalated to federal courts, as it involves a UNESCO-protected site.

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In the video, the people who defaced Peña de Bernal try to hand over the marker they used to vandalize the monument to one of the workers there. The woman can be heard saying she's an "American citizen," as if that would erase her offense. The worker responds, "Yes, thank you, I respect that."

The woman tells the person recording, “I didn’t deny that I did it. Yes, I did.” Her companion asks the man what he needs, and he replies, “ I need you to go erase that .” When asked how to do it, he mentions that it could be cleaned with another stone . The visitors also clarify that they are only going to erase what they scratched.

What did the authorities in Peña de Bernal do?

In a statement dated July 8, 2025, the Public Security Secretariat of Ezequiel Montes indicated that "thanks to the citizen's collaboration, the person responsible was identified and the damage was immediately repaired, without any major incidents," according to information from the media outlet Amanecer Querétaro . The agency added that municipal officers were the ones who removed the paint from the Peña.

On the same day, Iván Reséndiz, mayor, confirmed that two tourists were detained for administrative offenses following the graffiti. He emphasized that, since the property is inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) could apply additional sanctions.

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What you need to know about Peña de Bernal

Bernal Rock is a volcanic dome formed approximately 8.7 million years ago. Standing 350 meters tall and 2,515 meters above sea level, it is considered the third largest monolith in the world , after the Rock of Gibraltar and Sugarloaf Mountain in Brazil.

Located in the magical town of San Sebastián Bernal, in the municipality of Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro , this formation has been an object of worship and pilgrimage for centuries . Since 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included it in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity , as part of the " Places of memory and living traditions of the Otomi-Chichimecas of Tolimán ."

Every year, during the spring equinox, indigenous communities ascend to the summit of La Peña to place a cross as part of a ritual ceremony. Furthermore, according to information from México Desconocido , La Peña is part of the so-called "sacred triangle," along with El Zamorano and El Frontón hills, considered places of high symbolic significance in the Otomi worldview.

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Current legislation on damage to monuments and heritage

In Mexico, acts affecting monuments, archaeological sites, and cultural assets are punishable by both administrative and criminal laws.

Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments and Zones

This law establishes in Article 36 that it is prohibited to damage, destroy, alter, or paint any archaeological, artistic, or historical monument. Article 52 states that any person who commits an infraction may be punished with arrest for up to 36 hours or a fine of up to 1,000 units of measurement, depending on the severity of the damage.

Federal Penal Code

Article 397 of the Federal Penal Code establishes penalties of five to ten years in prison and fines of up to five thousand units of measurement for anyone who causes damage to archaeological, artistic, historical monuments or cultural assets protected by law.

Local regulations

At the state level, Querétaro has administrative provisions that allow municipalities to impose sanctions for damage to public property . The "administrative offense" allows for the temporary detention of individuals who engage in conduct considered infringing, such as damaging street furniture or items of heritage value, even if the offense is not serious.

INAH will evaluate the case

Mayor Iván Reséndiz stated that, although the case was handled locally, because it involves a heritage site of federal and international value, the INAH will be notified to assess whether a case should be opened for damage to cultural heritage. He also mentioned that they will reinforce signage at the site and promote information campaigns on the importance of respecting protected areas.

Municipal authorities also announced that new visible signs will be installed along tourist routes , with instructions in several languages ​​warning of applicable restrictions and penalties. This measure aims to prevent similar acts in the future and raise awareness among visitors about their responsibility to preserve these sites.

Social media users condemned the incident and questioned the tourists' attempts to justify the damage. The phrase "I am an American citizen" was particularly criticized , as it was interpreted as an attempt to evade legal consequences simply because she was a foreigner.

There were also messages of support for the citizen who participated in the event , whose reaction was recognized as an example of heritage protection. Some visitors who were in the area supported his claim and shared images of the moment when the tourists tried to erase the mark with a rock.