Running of the Bulls Blog
Expert insights on the encierro route, bull behavior, San Fermín culture, and Pamplona strategy from active bull runners who run every morning of Fiesta.
Written by Runners
Every post authored by active encierro participants
Route & Strategy
Section-by-section breakdowns of the 875-meter course
Updated for 2027
Current bull ranch analysis and San Fermín preparation
A Txistu Has Three Holes and No Keys. It Still Plays Two Full Octaves.
The Cabezudos Aren’t Baby Giants. They’re a Different Sculptor’s Work, Made Thirty Years Later.
Borage and Borraja Are the Same Plant. Navarra Only Eats One Part of It.
The Zugarramurdi Cave Has No Stalactites, No Paintings, and Never Held a Trial
The Best Time to Visit San Fermín Isn’t Early or Late Fiesta. It’s the Weekday You Land On.
Pimientos de Gernika Are Not Padrón Peppers, No Matter What the Menu Says
The Ring at the End of the Encierro Was Designed by Spain’s Only Pritzker Prize Architect
The Basque Phrases San Fermín Actually Uses. Not the Same Five Every Guide Repeats.
San Fermín’s Global Fame Isn’t Just a Novel. It’s a City Office Credentialing 677 Journalists a Year
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Explore Our Running of the Bulls Coverage
Deep-dive articles written by the bull runners who run every morning of San Fermín.
Route & Strategy
Section-by-section breakdowns of the 875-meter encierro route from Santo Domingo to the Plaza de Toros.
The Encierro
Understanding bull behavior, the rocket system, herd dynamics, and what happens on the Pamplona bull run each morning.
History & Culture
The traditions, evolution, and cultural significance of San Fermín and the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.
History of the Bulls
The ganaderías (bull ranches), cabestros, and the animals that define each morning of the encierro.
About Encierro
Who we are, why we exist, and what drives Pamplona’s most dedicated team of bull runners.
Runner Stories
First-hand accounts from the streets of Pamplona — what it’s like to run with the bulls during San Fermín.
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