Bucket List / Adventure Travel Goals
Have A Go At Volcano Boarding
Ticked off in January 2020
Hike up an active volcano with a plank on your back, then race down its black gravel slope in an orange jumpsuit.
The adventure
Cerro Negro rises out of green farmland as a bare black cone, one of the youngest volcanoes in Central America. You hike up its flank carrying your own wooden board, the wind gusting across the ridge and the ground warm and steaming in places. At the rim you look into the crater and out across a chain of volcanoes stretching across Nicaragua.
Then you pull on an orange jumpsuit and goggles, sit on the board at the top of a slope that feels nearly vertical, and push off. Gravel sprays everywhere, the board rattles under you and the speed builds faster than you expect. Lean back to brake, lean forward to fly. Seconds later you are at the bottom, covered in black grit, grinning and wanting to go again.
Why it’s epic
- Cerro Negro first appeared in 1850 and has erupted many times since, most recently in 1999.
- The slope is around 40 degrees, and the fastest riders have been clocked at well over 80 km/h.
- The hike to the top takes about an hour, with views over the Maribios volcanic chain.
- León, the colonial city where tours start, has its own cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What it is
Volcano boarding means sliding down the slope of Cerro Negro, an active volcano, on a wooden board.
How to do it
Join a tour from León, which includes the hike up and protective gear.
Top tip
Lean back to slow down.
Need to know
- Tours from León include transport, the board, a jumpsuit and goggles, but you carry the board up.
- The hike is steep and exposed with no shade, so take plenty of water and sun cream.
- Falls cause cuts and scrapes; go at your own pace and wear sturdy shoes and long sleeves.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Best time to go
- November to April
- Fly into
- MGA airport
The tour itself is cheap; flights to Nicaragua are the main cost.
Do it yourself
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Adventure travel insuranceWorld NomadsWe receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.
My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
Over to you
Is “Have A Go At Volcano Boarding” on your bucket list, or have you already done it? Tell me in the comments, and if you've got a question about it, ask away and I'll answer.