Volcano Boarding Nicaragua is an absolute must while traveling Central America. Hand on my heart, I can honestly say there is nothing quite like the feeling of racing down an active volcano at speeds of up to 100km/hour. If you love unforgettable active adventures Cerro Negro boarding will be one of the most insane and exhilarating things to do while backpacking in Nicaragua.
What is Volcano Boarding?
Volcano boarding or volcano surfing quite simply means strapping yourself to a wooden board and racing down an active volcano. Now don’t freak out, those videos you see online are a little misleading. You only reach insane speeds if you actively try to, you have the ability to control your speed at all times (more on this later).
History of Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua
If you Google ‘what places should I visit in Leon’ Volcano Surfing Nicaragua is probably one of the first hits. Over the years volcano boarding has become one of the top attractions to see in Nicaragua and a staple of the Central America backpacking route. You will literally see hundreds of volcano boarding tank tops on tourists all the way from Mexico to Colombia.
Who invented Volcano Boarding?
Funnily enough, it was a fellow adventurous Aussie who officially invented Volcano boarding Cerro Negro. He knew how to snowboard down sand dunes back at home but had to adjust this activity to the volcanic gravel surface. First, he tried to slide down the volcano on every object possible such as a mattress or even refrigerator, but finally, he found out that the best results in term of speed he can get when using a wooden sled with a thin metal layer on its bottom. And this is how volcano boarding activity was born. The fastest people can ride the board down in speed hitting 100 kilometers per hour!
How many Volcanos are there in Nicaragua?
There are 23 Volcanos in Nicaragua, 19 of which are active. The closest volcano to Leon Nicaragua is called Cerro Negro. Volcano boarding Cerro Negro is unique because it is the only volcano with the height, consistency and access that allows people to easily climb and board down it.
Is Volcano Boarding safe?
Cerro Negro volcano surfing is safe. There have been no volcano boarding deaths and very few volcano boarding accidents. You can control your speed at all times, so accidents only occur when people are trying to go as fast as possible. We did not see any injuries on our trip.
Keep in mind however, Cerro Negro volcano is obviously a volcano. It is very closely monitored but you are taking a risk hiking an active volcano. Cerro Negro eruption have occurred in the past, it is also one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua, erupting approximately every twenty years. The last time Cerro Negro erupted was 1999.
What to Wear to Volcano Boarding Leon
Come well prepared for volcano boarding in Nicaragua. You need to protect every inch of your body from the harsh gravel as you board down. The tour company will provide you with a jumpsuit, goggles and gloves but you will need to bring:
- Hiking boots / walking shoes
- 1L water
- A bandana or a T-shirt to wrap around your face
- The guide will request you leave your phone in the vehicle as it will likely get smashed on your way down, only bring your phone if you have a Lifeproof FRE Case to protect your phone
The best time to visit Nicaragua is during the dry season, between December and April. The weather will be warm, and there will be little to no rain. Keep in mind however, Leon Nicaragua weather is hot all year round. The temperature typically varies from 74°F (23°C) to 94°F (35°C). Because of the year round heat, keep in mind there is no shade along the hike up to Cerro Negro volcano, you will be in the beating sun all day. Remember to bring along:
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
What to Expect Volcano Boarding Nicaragua
The Hike Up
Hiking Leon Nicaragua Volcano will take approximately 45-minutes. It’s not difficult, but it is uphill and it is hot and windy. You can take breaks whenever you like, just remember to wear decent shoes as the ground is gravely. There are incredible views at the top, and 30 minutes of the tour is dedicated to walking around the summit and taking photos.
The Way Down
Once everyone is ready to gear up, your tour guide will give you a detailed instruction on how to get down the volcano safely. Volcano Boarding Cerro Negro looks way scarier then it actually is. As soon as you sit down on the board it’s easy to dig your feet in and control the speed. I actually regretted going so slow at the beginning because it meant I wasn’t able to gain as much speed toward the end (you get confident really quickly). My advice would be to go 100%. If at any time it becomes too much, you can always roll off the board.
- Love adventure? Why not add a surf and yoga camp to your time in Nicaragua!
Booking a Nicaragua Volcano Boarding Tour
There are two main operators for Leon Nicaragua volcano boarding. The first is Bigfoot Hostel Leon and the second is Volcano Day Nicaragua.
Should I book with Bigfoot Hostel or Volcano Day Nicaragua Tours?
Both tours include:
- Bilingual Tour Guide
- Transportation to and from Cerro Negro Volcano Nicaragua from Leon
- Safety Equipment (jumpsuit, goggles, gloves, board and bag)
- Fruit Snacks
- A celebration beer at Cerro Nego Volcano
- A celebration beer back in Leon
- A free tank top
- A free drink at the beach if you opt to take the transportation there that afternoon.
Both Cerro Negro Volcano Boarding tours cost $30 per person (Bigfoot Hostel advertise it as $25 per person but you need to bring along an extra $5 for the National Park entrance fee).
Tour differences:
- Volcano Day Nicaragua is locally owned and operated
- Volcano Day Nicaragua includes a coffee in the morning, and the option of a smoothie instead of a beer for the optional afternoon beach excursion
- Volcano Day Nicaragua, in my personal opinion, has way cooler tank top designs. You will see the shirts all over the Gringo Trail Central America. They have very distinctive ‘Today is going to be a Volcano Day’ on the back.
The deciding factor for me was that Volcano Day is locally owned and operated. The tour went without a hitch and I highly recommend using this company if you want to add Leon volcano boarding to your Nicaragua itinerary.
What places should I visit in Leon Nicaragua?
After your daring morning of volcano adventures there is so much else to see and do in Leon.
Best Beach in Nicaragua
Beaches in Nicaragua are world-class, especially if you love surfing. While the most famous beaches are south of Leon (San Juan Del Sur and Maderas to name a few), there is also great surfing near Leon Nicaragua. Your volcano boarding tour includes transport to and from Las Penitas Beach (30-mins either way) and I cannot recommend doing this enough. The beach is absolutely stunning and we got an absolutely beautiful sunset. A few people actually chose to stay overnight and come back to Leon the next day.
Leon Walking Tours
I did the most amazing Leon Free Walking Tour that you should definitely add to your Leon itinerary if you want to learn more about Nicaragua culture, Nicaragua history, what is it like to live in Leon Nicaragua and important information about the continuing civil unrest.
León Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary)
This beautiful Cathedral is a World Heritage Site and an Instagram hotspot. Make sure to head up to the roof when it opens to get the best pictures of the distinctive white domes to yourself.
Overall,
Cerro Negro volcano surfing will be one of the craziest most exhilarating travel experiences of your life. It’s one of those adventurous things you will look back and go ‘I’m so glad I did that!’ Cerro Negro Boarding was a highlight of my time in Central America and I hope you consider adding it to your Nicaragua backpacking itinerary.
Looking for more Central America adventures? Why not check out:
- Snorkelling in Belize with Manatees
- Overnight Acatenango Hike: Watching lava explode from an active volcano!