Want tips on how to participate in the Callejon segment of the Pamplona bull run route in the safest way possible? Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or expert runner, you’ll want to be wary of pile-ups in this extremely narrow portion of the course. Callejon is notorious for the dangerous montons (Spanish for mountains) of runners who get tripped up and then fall upon each other. This is the penultimate section of the bull run course, where mozos must navigate a tight corridor that pours into the bullring, or Plaza de Toros. Over the years, there have been dozens of injuries and a couple of deaths at Callejon, all due to pile-ups. You want to be swift and agile here to avoid falling, or being pushed to the ground as the herd of bulls bores down.
Running the Calejon – Plaza de Toros
This stretch of the course is less than 9 feet wide at its narrowest point, just before the tunnel opens into the bull ring. If this is your first time to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, you should seriously consider running an easier portion of the route. Statistically, Callejon is more dangerous than La Curva, also known as Dead Man’s Corner. Besides the threat of pile-ups, you also have to worry about keeping your balance on a sharp downward slope at the entrance to the Plaza de Toros.
There are a few spots to crawl for safety if you fall in the corridor, but you must act quickly to avoid creating a pile-up and getting crushed by other runners and/or bulls that will clamor over you. These 1,200-pound animals are frenzied at this point, and will thrash and gore as they stomp over whatever obstacle is in their way.
Keep in mind that the entrance gate to the arena is closed after the last of the six bulls makes it in. If you haven’t made into the pandemonium of the Plaza de Toros once the gate is shut, it’s wise to call it quits.
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