Biarritz Airport to Pamplona transfers

Event Information

The Fiesta San Fermin otherwise known as The Running of the Bulls, or Pamplona Festival takes place each year in early to mid July.

The most famous running of the bulls is that of the seven-day festival of San Fermines in honour of San Fermín in Pamplona, although they are held in towns and villages across Spain, Portugal, and in some cities in Mexico, Mesquite, Nevada, and southern France, during the summer. Unlike bullfights, which are performed by professionals, anyone older than 18 may participate in the Pamplona Bull run.

Sea-Lifts offer airport transfers from Biarritz Airport, Bayonne Train Station, San Sebastian and every train station in between, directly to Pamplona. Sea-Lifts have been driving festival goers to Pamplona since 2006. Many of our customers stay in Biarritz for a night and then take a Sea-Lifts transfer to Pamplona in the afternoon.

The younger groups tend to party all night and run the bulls the next morning. We then pick them up (or what’s left of them) and drive them back to the security of their hotel.

If you are a little more cautious then we can drive you from Biarritz airport or town, to a Pamplona hotel and then bring you back whenever is convenient for you.

Taking part from around July 6th – 14th every year, the famous bull run attracts thousands of people from around the world.

If you’re thinking about taking part in the Pamplona Bull Run then make sure you use Sea Lifts to transfer you to and from Pamplona.

Don’t want to do the run?

Plenty of people choose to spectate and take part in all of the other festivities, without actually running with the bulls, so you certainly wouldn’t be alone.
The streets of Pamplona are lined with very heavy-duty wooden and steel fencing. It is always really busy, so be prepared for the hustle and bustle.
And if you want to leave before the party gets started in the evening, that’s no problem. Just let us know and we’ll arrange for your transfer to be there to bring you back at whatever time you want.

History

The history of The Pamplona Running of the Bulls is not completely clear. It started when bullfighting became a popular pastime, and many bullrings were built. The only way to get the bulls from the corral to the bullring was by running them through the streets to the ring. Eventually, people started running with the bulls, even though it was actually illegal at the time. As every year passed, this became more and more popular, and has grown into this extremely important festival.

The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona is a practice that involves running in front of a small group of bulls (typically a dozen) that have been let loose on a course made up of sectioned-off streets.

The purpose of the event was in origin to transport the bulls from the off-site corrals where they had spent the night, to the bullring where they would be killed in the evening. Youngsters would jump among them to show off their bravado.

Pamplona by Day

A first rocket is set off at 8 a.m. to alert the runners that the corral gate is open. A second rocket signals that all six bulls and six steers (oxen) have been released. The third and fourth rockets are signals that all of the herd has entered the bullring and its corral respectively, marking the end of the event. The average duration between the first rocket and the end of the encierro is around four minutes.

Don’t miss the start. Book your transfer with Sea-Lifts from Biarritz to Pamplona!
The herd is composed of the six bulls to be fought in the afternoon, six steers that run with the bulls, and three more steers that leave the corral two minutes later. The function of the oxen is to guide the herd. The average speed of the herd is 24 km/h (15 mph).

The length of the run is 826 metres (903 yards). It goes through four streets of the old part of the city (Santo Domingo, Town Hall Square, Mercaderes and Estafeta) and a section called Telefónica before entering into the bullring.The fastest part of the route is up Santo Domingo and across the Town Hall Square, but in the past the bulls often became separated at the entrance to Estafeta Street as they slowed down. One or more would slip going into the turn at Estafeta, but, with the use of the new anti-slip surfacing, most of the bulls negotiate the turn onto Estafeta and are often ahead of the steers. This has resulted in a quicker, but not a safer run, as the bulls are usually ahead of the steers as they reach the lane.

Pamplona by Night

After the Bull Run has finished the music, dancing, drinking and eating starts.
The party goes on ALL night. The atmosphere is fantastic and you will come away from Pamplona with a few thousand new friends.
Generally the young drink sangria from plastic bottles, and everyone else tends to drink their sangria from a glass in street side restaurants.
The food in Pamplona is very typical if the region. You will find bars lined with tapas and pincho’s, lots of cured or dried meats, tortilla and fantastic wines from the nearby Navarra and Rioja regions. Be warned the selection of vegetarian food is minimal and often non existent.
The air is filled with local music and Spanish rock. Some of the best acts can be found on the street, with buskers and street performers. The atmosphere is electric and the vibe is friendly, but you do get bustled around.
If you don’t like intense crowds then Pamplona can be a culture shock, but Sea-Lifts can organise your pick up in one of our minibuses before the party gets wild and return you to Biarritz or the surrounding area.
The party continues through the night until 08:00 the next morning till the brave (or stupid) line up to get chased by bulls. Madness!!!
We can also organise your transfer from Pamplona to Biarritz in the morning after you have run with the bulls or just watched.
Remember….

• If you don’t wear red and white you will stick out like a sore thumb.
• Pamplona Uniform is white trousers, white shirt or t-shirt, red belt or sarong, red neckerchief or scarf.
• Stay with your group
• Be safe