Any city or landmark could be on a traveler’s bucket list, but it’s hard to top the Seven Wonders of the World. These sites showcase the splendor of the Earth and the cultures that have called it home, from the Great Wall of China to the hills of Machu Picchu. The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are a popular destination for travelers in Mexico, though no tourists are actually allowed on, or even close to, its iconic step pyramids.
Dogs, however, are an entirely different story. On January 1, traveler @kenyavlogs_ shared a breathtaking video of a pack of stray dogs trotting up the pyramid steps as if they owned the place. It was a stunning scene that could have come from a movie, but the reason the dogs climbed the ruins could make any pet parent laugh.
These adorable dogs ran all the way up there just to bask in the sun and bark at the birds! If this isn’t a canine power move, I don’t know what is.
“Did they really just go up there to go bark at some birds?” viewer @yas328i_ asked. They sure did! Most dogs wouldn’t be so committed to the bit that they would climb up all those steps, but these explorers can’t be stopped.
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“Just 3 best friends on an adventure and living their best lives,” commented @emilsgonz. I couldn’t have said it better myself! With such an iconic backdrop and 3 confident lead characters, their adventures could be turned into a children’s book or TV show, too.
Now, only one question remains: What is ‘Chicken Itza?’ That’s the hilarious typo in @kenyavlogs_ video that couldn’t be more fitting. It’s like one of the dogs stole their phone and wrote it himself!
Dogs in Mayan Culture
“The Mayan culture had a complex relationship with dogs,” commenter @karlosmedina262, “viewing them as liminal beings that could travel between the physical world and the spiritual realms. Dogs, particularly the hairless Xoloitzcuintli breed, were believed to guide the souls of their deceased owners through the perilous journey across the nine levels of the underworld, known to the Maya as Xibalba.”
Dogs were both revered and feared in many Mesoamerican cultures, but today, thousands of dogs live in these areas as strays and village dogs. They are often cared for by communities, though some will tag along with travelers on local hikes! There’s nowhere these brave dogs can’t go—even on top of an ancient monument.
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jan 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.