Imagine speeding down a mountain at 55 km/hour. No, you’re not in a car or on a motorbike — you’re sliding on a wooden sled down a near-vertical mountain face. Ash and stones kick up all around you. You have only your feet to steer with. In short, it’s a hell of an adventure. This is volcano boarding in Leon.
To get here, you had to strap a wooden plank designed like a toboggan onto your back. You hiked up Cerro Negro — a dormant volcano — in high winds. Just before you start the slide, as you peer over the edge and get your first look at how steep it actually is, you might second-guess your decision. But as soon as you start sledding down, the adrenaline kicks in and you realize how awesome the whole thing is.
In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to go volcano boarding in Leon.
Choosing a tour company for volcano boarding in Leon
The first step to go volcano boarding in Leon is to choose a tour company. While you could theoretically do this trip on your own by hiring a car from Leon and renting a board when you get there, it’s a lot easier to go with a group. Plus, you’ll really appreciate having a guide to both look out for your safety and take photos while you’re descending.
The standard price for Leon volcano boarding is $25. This includes your guide, transportation and lunch.
Popular companies include Quetzaltrekkers, Bigfoot Volcano Boarding, and Tierra Tours. I went with Quetzaltrekkers. They are the only company that lets you slide down the mountain twice. Plus, their operation is well-run, and they use their proceeds for social projects. The only downside is their guides are mostly gringos rather than locals.
Overall, from talking to other trekkers, I’m guessing the experience is largely the same with Bigfoot Volcano Boarding and Tierra Tours.
The trip to Cerro Negro
Volcano boarding in Leon takes place on Cerro Negro, a small inactive volcano about an hour and a half outside the city.
First, you’ll meet at the office of whichever tour company you chose at 7:30 am. You’ll get a short safety briefing and the guides will ask you if you want a regular sled or a “snowboard” that you can stand on. (Don’t take the snowboard — it doesn’t work!)
Then, you’ll be loaded into the back of a pickup truck lined with wooden benches to start your Leon volcano boarding adventure. You’ll be on the road by 8 am.
The road to Cerro Negro is very bumpy and dusty. After about an hour, you’ll arrive at the park entrance. The truck stops for everyone to use the (pretty disgusting) toilets and register with the authorities. A small shop sells water and snacks, but it’s wildly overpriced.
It takes almost half an hour to drive from the park entrance to the base of Cerro Negro. Once you arrive, you’ll be handed a specially designed bag and your volcano board. The bag has your “Cerro Negro volcano boarding suit” and goggles inside. The guide will show you how to wear your bag so that you can carry your volcano board underneath.
There is no security at the parking area, so don’t bring anything with you that you can’t carry up the mountain. You can give your camera and other valuables to one of the guides so you don’t break it going down.
Before you can go down, you must go up: Hiking Cerro Negro
It takes about an hour and a half to hike to the top of Cerro Negro with your volcano board strapped to your back. It’s not a technically difficult hike — the slopes are not steep. But it can be exhausting. You mostly hike over volcanic ash and stones, which your feet sink into easily, slowing you down. And the wind blows hard up there, making it hard to maintain your balance with the board on your back.
You’ll also start the hike around 9:30 am, just when it’s starting to warm up. Nicaragua is a tropical country, and this is one of the hottest places. Even worse, the hike has no shade whatsoever. So prepare to be really hot and sweaty while you’re volcano boarding in Leon!
When you arrive at the crater, you’re rewarded with a great view of the entire volcanic range. Cerro Negro itself has three different craters, and you can see at least four others. The views alone makes the whole trip to go volcano boarding in Leon worth it.
You’ll have a little bit of free time at the top to explore and take photos. You won’t have to carry your board around the whole time, which makes it easier to walk around. Then your guide will round everybody up, collect your camera, and tell you to put on your suit.
Time for volcano boarding Cerro Negro!
What goes up must come down. This is what you’ve been waiting for. But when you’re at the top, staring at the surprisingly steep mountainside below you, don’t be surprised if you have second thoughts.
There are two well-established routes to sled down. They’re both equally steep (and I mean steep — even the more serious adventurers in my group were like, ‘really? this is safe?’). One person starts on each route at a time. You can even race if you want.
Before the first person starts, your guide will explain to you how it works. You launch from the top with a push from the guide. Then, you use your feet digging into the sand to control your speed. Leaning back also helps you speed up.
There is a reasonable chance you will crash while you’re volcano boarding in Leon. (I did! Don’t worry, no serious injuries.) You’re theoretically supposed to try to fall backwards so your board doesn’t hit you from above, but in the moment, you probably won’t have much control of where you end up.
Still, volcano boarding in Leon is ridiculously fun — even if you end up with some scrapes and bruises.
Once the whole group goes down once, if you went with Quetzaltrekkers, you can go around again. That means a second hike up the mountain — and in the midday heat, that can seem less than appealing. Give it a go if you have any energy left, or just sit in the shade and chat with your fellow volcano boarders.
After everyone has finished volcano boarding Cerro Negro, you’ll have lunch as a group. We had grilled meats, pasta salad, and fresh fruit — it was delicious.
Then, your volcano boarding in Leon trip comes to a close. All that’s left to do is take the pickup truck back to the city. You’ll be back in central León by 3 pm.
Not a bad way to spend a day in Nicaragua!
What to bring with you for volcano boarding in Leon
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Since it’s just a day trip, you don’t need to bring much with you for volcano boarding in Leon. But these items will help make your trip more comfortable.
What to wear:
- T-shirt
- Long pants
- Long socks (it’s easier to prevent the volcanic stones from getting in)
- Hiking boots
Other things to bring:
- A sarong or bandanna to wrap around your face as you go down. It helps keep the dust out.
- Sunglasses and a case so they don’t break when you go down
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Your camera
- Reusable water bottle and Steri pen — it treats tap water in 90 seconds so you don’t contribute to plastic waste!
- Hair ties! The truck trip, windy ascent, and dusty descent spell disaster for long hair.
Things to do besides volcano boarding in Leon
Admittedly, volcano boarding in Leon is the best activity available. But if you have a little more time, explore the city too. You can see everything in about a day.
Leon was the center of Sandinista culture during the revolution. The Lefty legacy is still strong here. You can tour the Museum of the Revolution (donations requested), where a guide who fought for the Sandinistas will explain the history and tell their personal story. Or just walk around and enjoy the street art depicting the CIA as a snake.
Even more interesting is the Museum of Legends and Traditions ($2). The project of a single local woman, it uses papier-mache figures to depict Nicaraguan folklore, all explained with good English signage. It’s also at the site of a former prison — to honor this dark history, the curator had silhouettes of torture scenes painted all along the walls.
Additionally, the modern art museum (less than $1) displays an astounding collection of local works. Signs are in English. You could easily spend 2 hours here.
When you get sick of museums, climb to the roof of the cathedral for sweeping views over the city and surrounding volcanoes for less than $1. Ideally, time your visit for early morning or late afternoon (although it closes at 4 pm). You can also visit the many colonial-style churches around town, although the architecture is faded compared to better-preserved Granada.
Haven’t had enough mountains after volcano boarding in Leon? Try an evening trip to Telica. It’s a harder hike, but you have a chance of seeing lava.
The best base for your trip to Leon is Hostal la Tortuga Booluda. Dorms cost $10, while simple private rooms run $25. Breakfast is included. It’s spotlessly clean, the WiFi works well, beer is available on an honor system, and the common areas strewn with hammocks are the ideal chill-out places after a long day volcano boarding in Leon.
Looking for more Nicaragua travel ideas? Head to Playa Jiquilillo for a few beach days after volcano boarding in Leon! Or if you want more adventure, take a chicken bus up to Esteli to arrange a day trip to Somoto Canyon.
Have you gone volcano boarding in Nicaragua? What was your favorite part? Leave a comment!
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