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Curated cultural experiences · Pamplona
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Experience San Fermín · Running of the Bulls and Bull Fair tours

The bull run and the Bull Fair,
with those who know them.

Guided tours and activities to understand the culture of the fighting bull, its life in the countryside, its significance and its place in San Fermín.

A way to see with more context

The bull run and the countryside,
clearly explained.

Both feared and revered, the bull has been an object of worship in Western civilisations since antiquity. Mediterranean peoples have regarded this animal as an embodiment of courage, violence, masculinity, fertility and royalty.

Fighting bulls at a breeding ranch in Navarre at dawn

We offer expert-led tours and activities for those who want to understand bullfighting culture from within, with careful planning and full respect for the tradition.

Guided experiences

01

Running of the Bulls route tour

With an expert alongside you throughout, this tour helps you understand what you have seen at the bull run or what you will see on a later day. We walk the route, learning about each section, its details and interesting facts about the bull run as a whole.

Experienced runners guide you through the key points and lesser-known details that make the world’s most famous bull run even more interesting.

Duration: a 1-hour tour covering the essentials of the bull run route, or an extended 2.5-hour tour with a bullfighting expert, including further details about the Feria del Toro.

When is it recommended? Whenever possible, we suggest taking the 1-hour tour before watching your first bull run, so that you can more easily notice the details during the race. If you have considered running, we do not recommend it; if you insist, an educational tour may help you choose your position and reduce risks.

Information and booking enquiries →
02

San Fermín bull-breeding ranches tour

Bulls from eight breeding ranches arrive in Pamplona each year. A guided tour introduces the details of each ranch and how its bulls behave during the run, putting each morning into context.

Duration: 2 hours.

Information and booking enquiries →
03

Encierrillo tour

On the evening before each bull run, the bulls that will run the following day cover the 400 metres between the Corrales del Gas and the Santo Domingo pens. It starts at 22:00, with a meeting time of 21:00.

At nightfall, in complete silence and without runners, the bulls move with only herders and trained steers to guide them. A short, beautiful tour without crowds lets you enjoy the Encierrillo from privileged viewing positions.

Duration: 1 hour.

Information and booking enquiries →
04

Visit to a Navarrese bull-breeding ranch

Visit Navarre’s oldest bull-breeding ranch to learn about the Navarrese bloodline and see fighting bulls up close in the countryside. Transfer pick-up is in central Pamplona at 10:00, before travelling to the ranch for a visit led by expert staff.

You will also travel by trailer to an area among the Navarrese fighting-breed cows. The tour ends with a homemade Navarrese aperitif: chorizo, cheese, bread and drinks.

Duration: 3.5–4 hours.

Information and booking enquiries →

Before you come

The Feria del Toro,
in context.

Three ways to approach the Feria del Toro through the countryside, the city and a respectful perspective.

Fighting bulls at a Navarrese breeding ranch at dawn
How are the breeding ranches connected to the Feria del Toro?The bulls’ journey begins long before they arrive in Pamplona.

The Feria del Toro is easier to understand when you also look towards the countryside. Each breeding ranch has its own history, management practices and way of raising fighting bulls.

Learning about these origins helps put San Fermín into context and lets you observe the festival more attentively.

How can you approach it respectfully?Observe, listen and always follow the guidance given at each place.

Guided visits prioritise explanation and keeping an appropriate distance. The aim is not to capture a fleeting scene, but to understand the craft, the landscape and the rhythms that make the fair possible.

A well-guided visit lets you enjoy the experience without disrupting the work of the people behind it.

What to plan beforehandYour dates, interests and the type of route you would like to experience.

Tell us when you are travelling, how many people are in your group and whether you are interested in the bull run, the Encierrillo, the breeding ranches or a combination of experiences.

These details let us guide the proposal personally. An enquiry does not constitute a reservation or confirmation of availability.

Bulls during preparations for the San Fermín bull run in Pamplona
Before the run, the city is already ready.

A presence throughout the festival

Understand the context,
before you watch.

In Pamplona, this ancient relationship takes shape in the Feria del Toro, officially established in 1959. Unlike other fairs, here the focus is on the fighting bull and its behaviour during the bull runs, a central cultural feature of San Fermín.

The fair grew out of a historical blend of religious, commercial and charitable traditions, taking shape over the centuries to become one of the pillars of Pamplona’s identity.

During San Fermín, we help you understand the culture of the fighting bull: its life in the countryside, its significance and its place in the festival.

You can also explore

A selection of ideas to extend your journey. Every enquiry is reviewed personally.

The San Fermín Running of the Bulls seen from a balcony in Pamplona7–14 July · The bull runRunning of the Bulls balconiesExplore this experience Red scarves during the San Fermín Chupinazo6 July · The openingChupinazo balconiesExplore this experience Candles and red scarves during the San Fermín Pobre de mí14 July · The farewellPobre de mí balconiesExplore this experience Giants and Bigheads during San Fermín in PamplonaTailor-made momentsTailor-made experiencesExplore this experience

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