Every year the courageous and crazy alike funnel into the Spanish city of Pamplona for the Festival of San Fermin and the Running of the Bulls event that defines it. With this year's event set to kick off in July, many prudent adventurers have begun booking flights and hotels for this year's festivities. 

The encierro, or running of the bulls, invites thousands of people from around the world to run through the streets of Pamplona with a sextet of charging bulls at their back. The bulls are set loose on a controlled path that leads to the plaza de toros, or bull ring, in the center of town.

Bulls are run every morning during the weeklong festival, with festivities beginning at 8 a.m. and running past 11 p.m. that evening. Many travel agents advise that travelers considering a run during the festival may want to arrive at the track early, as the crowds tend to mass near the barricades around 7:30 in the morning.

Travelers should be advised that runners are not permitted to wear cameras on the course and though police will be on hand to keep the peace, runners participate at their own risk.