CNN Travel named volcano boarding down Cerro Negro Volcano on their “50 of the Most Thrilling, Daring Things You Can Do on Vacation! Although I can’t speak for all thrilling experiences in the world, I can confirm that it was definitely one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever done!
Standing at 2,300 feet on top of a windy volcano that you are about to slide down on a little piece of wood was pretty intimidating. I said afterwards that it is like standing at the top of a massive black diamond your first time skiing and hoping that you make it down in one piece. (She didn’t tell me this until after, but Em actually made a little video to her family in case she didn’t make it =) Maybe a little exaggerated, but still cute =) Â
Even if you don’t want to go volcano boarding, the hike to the top of the volcano is worth it! Cerro Negro is the youngest volcano in Central America. During the hike, we walked into an old crater that had previously erupted. We could see smoke coming out of the rocks and feel the heat under from the ground! We continued our ascent until we were standing on the peak of the volcano. Here the wind really picked up! The 55% incline was so steep that we weren’t able to see the bottom of the volcano. The butterflies in our stomachs started to appear which meant that it was time to suit up and slide down!Â
We booked our volcano boarding experience with Franklin from Vamos Travel Nicaragua. The experience with him was incredible. He was our photographer, coach, and wardrobe supplier! He gave us thick denim suits, goggles, gloves, and a handmade volcano board. There are dozens of companies that you can book with, but we loved how Vamos Travel Nicaragua specializes in small groups. Franklin made sure we were safe and properly equipped before we headed down the mountain.Â
Our guide told us the key is to lean back and pull up on the board. If your feet are resting on the front of the board, it digs into the volcanic rock and slows you down. Your shoes are your brakes. My favorite piece of advice was to keep your mouth closed so you don’t get a mouthful of volcanic rock. Franklin went a quarter of the way down the hill with our camera to get the best shot. Then I sat down, leaned back and started sliding!
At first, I felt like I wasn’t going too fast and was turning sideways. I tried using my feet to straighten out. But I quickly started picking up speed and started to straighten out. So, like Franklin told me, I picked up my feet, leaned back, and did my best not to open my mouth! As the volcanic rocks started to fly past my face, I couldn’t help but feel like I was a part of that old computer screensaver with the zooming stars! About halfway down, I must have leaned a little too much to the left and wiped out! Usually rolling down the side of a volcano isn’t really a good thing. But the gloves, goggles, and thick denim suit did the trick and kept me pretty much scratch free. I was able to climb back on my board and finish the rest of the ride! It was definitely one of the most exciting things that I have ever experienced!
Even if you aren’t a fan of speed or heights, this is a must-try experience. The hill is steep, the wind is fast, and the brakes are…. your feet! But we were amazed at how well we could actually control our speed! Em was able to keep her speed under control and prevent any wipe outs on the way down by dragging her feet. (But if you do decide to go for max speed and then try to brake, you are most likely going to wipe out =)Â
So if you ever find yourself in León, volcano boarding Cerro Negro in Nicaragua is definitely a once in a lifetime must-do experience!!!Â
~ Read our 5 Best Things To Do in Nicaragua post for more ideas on what to experience in this beautiful country!
