The Best Way to Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua

Have you heard of volcano boarding in Nicaragua?

Let me enlighten you.

I am sure you have heard of sledding. Volcano boarding is like sledding except you’re on a really high volcano instead of a small hill. And you slide down on volcanic ash instead of soft snow. You do wear something similar to a snow suit, but it is to protect you from the flying black ash rather than the cold. And you can’t just do this anywhere with an incline and good conditions. You can only volcano board down Cerro Negro in Nicaragua.

If you’re interested in one of the most unique experiences on the planet, keep reading.

Why do people do this?

Cerro Negro was formed in 1850. Cerro Negro erupted 23 times and hasn’t again since 1999. Because of a perfect combination of how this particular volcano erupted and the wind in that area, the fine ash is blown onto one side of Cerro Negro. This creates an area to slide down.

Cerro Negro Volcano

I guess you have to put Daryn Webb into this perfect combination. In 2004, he started this madness. I can only imagine what he was thinking when he decided to slide down this massive 2250 ft high volcano, but I’m glad the thought crossed his mind. Apparently he tried boogie boards, mattresses, and a mini fridge before settling on an enhanced plywood board.

And so volcano boarding became a thing.

You can check volcano boarding in Nicaragua off your bucket list too.

It’s on the bucket list now, right?

Cerro Negro is about an hour outside of León, Nicaragua. A few tour companies in León will help you accomplish your new dream of volcano boarding. We went with Quetzaltrekkers. Their proceeds go to impoverished youth in León, the volunteers who lead the adventure are incredibly nice, and we definitely took the fastest route down the volcano compared to other groups at the top.

Quetzaltrekkers Volcano Boarding Group

A bus transports you to the bottom of the volcano. You strap a bag with your suit, goggles, and water on your back along with your board. And up you go.

The hike up is about an hour, and the scenery was even better than I anticipated. You can see where the volcanic ash ends and the lush, green Nicaraguan nature begins. We had a clear day, so you could see all the way to the ocean.

Hiking with a long wooden board on your back is a little difficult. When the wind really blew, I had a small fear of blowing off the volcano, and I was pretty sure my board “wings” were not going to fly me down safely. It was quite hot, so be prepared to sweat your way up.

Kyle and I jumping in our volcano suits

You’ve reached the top of Cerro Negro.

Once at the top, you have a chance to explore. Looking around is beautiful, but make sure to put your hands on the ground. It’s hot. And it’s a reminder that you’re standing on an active volcano.

If that thought doesn’t get your blood pumping a bit, it’s time to fly down the side of the volcano. My photos don’t do the height of Cerro Negro justice. It is a steep, far drop.  (Don’t chicken out. It’s so worth doing.) Once you put on your suit and goggles, you make your way to the best lane for boarding. Your guide will explain how to brake, how to go faster, and how to keep your balance.

Kyle must have listened to none of this because he held on with one hand, went really fast, and flew off his board on the way down. Luckily, he only suffered some scrapes and got really dirty.

What a thrill.

Your guide will say “go,” you push off with your feet, and plummet down the side of Cerro Negro. Rumor is that the record speed is 60mph. I am not the bravest, so I used my heels and kept myself at a reasonable speed. Feeling and hearing the ash shoot up at you, seeing the view, and feeling yourself rush down a black volcano is an insane, unforgettable, 3 minute experience.

Here I am!

Some companies allow you to hike back up and give it another go. We were told that they grease the boards and that you can’t go as fast the 2^nd time down. We had signed up for a 2 day el Hoyo backpacking trip with Quetzaltrekkers, so one time was enough for us. It was time to get hiking up a different volcano.

Nurse Advice:

I’m going to give this a 4-7/10 on the unsafe scale. This can be pretty unsafe and risky if you want it to be, but it can also be a 4/10 if you’re like me and you keep your speed under control. Falling is a real possibility, so I would recommend washing those volcano scrapes with clean water and putting some bacitracin ointment on them. Someone biked down this one time, broke records for speed, and broke all of his limbs. If you feel like something is broken, you’re going to have to visit a hospital. Lucky for you, healthcare is CHEAP in Nicaragua.

Kyle and his scraped up arm

If you’re looking for a unique, adrenaline-inducing experience, get yourself to Nicaragua and go volcano boarding.

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