Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negro (Nicaragua): All you need to know

Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negro: Everything you need to know

Nicaragua, known for its captivating landscapes and cultural richness, offers a unique thrill-seeking opportunity that few have dared to experience: volcano boarding at Cerro Negro volcano.

In a country teeming with active volcanoes, you will never run out of adventurous things to do. Whether it’s hiking the twin volcanoes in Ometepe, watching sunsets from the nearby Telica, or looking deep into the lava crater at Masaya in Granada.

However, the adrenaline-pumping world of volcano boarding still stands out as one of my most memorable and exciting experiences. So continue reading to discover everything you need to know about volcano boarding at Cerro Negro.

About Cerro Negro Volcano

Quick Facts

• Is Cerro Negro Active? Yes
• Last eruption at Cerro Negro: 1999
• Elevation: 728m
• Cerro Negro Meaning: Black Hill. Cerro translates to hill, while Negro means black.
• What type of volcano is Cerro Negro? Cerro Negro is a cinder cone volcano.

Where is the Cerro Negro volcano?

📍 Cerro Negro volcano is located in the south of Nicaragua.

📍 The nearest city to Cerro Negro is Leon, which is situated approximately 25km southwest of the volcano.

History of Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negro

Firstly, what is volcano boarding?

Volcano boarding is similar to sledding. But instead of snow, you’re sliding on volcanic rock and sand down the side of a volcano.

So where did volcano boarding come from?

For years, people around the world have been attracted to Cerro Negro in search of the quickest way down. The young volcano’s clean slopes with soft volcanic ash make it ideal for sliding down.

In 2002 Eric Barone set a new gravel speed record on his bike riding down the volcano. He reached 172 kilometres per hour (107mph) before his bike broke in two causing a spectacular crash.

Inspired by this, an Aussie called Darryn Webb, who was the then owner of Bigfoot Hostel in Leon, decided to slide down Cerro Negro on various ‘vehicles’ of descent. After trying fridges, table-tops, mattresses and various other items to slide on, he figured that a modified toboggan was the most efficient. And so, in 2005 the volcano board was born!

Today, volcano boarding at Cerro Negro is one of the best things to do in Nicaragua and attracts travellers from around the world. Particularly as it’s the only place in the world you can do it!

What to Expect Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negro

Cerro Negro Hike

After being dropped off at the foot of the volcano you will be provided with your gear for the activity. This includes brightly coloured overalls, a pair of goggles, and your trusty volcano board. Leave anything you don’t need behind, otherwise, you will have to board down with it.

To reach the launch point for volcano boarding at Cerro Negro, you must first complete the short hike to the summit. Since it’s the youngest volcano in Central America, it’s only small!

The hike takes approximately 45 minutes including rest stops and photos. The path isn’t difficult and anyone with a basic level of fitness should be able to do it.

You will follow a path up the east side of Cerro Negro, before circling back and following a path along the crater ridge. It finishes at the launch point on the south side.

The volcano is exposed meaning that it can get very windy. Plus, carrying the board can be cumbersome, particularly if the wind catches it. Most companies offer to carry the equipment for you for a small fee.

Once at the top of the volcano, we put our gear down to explore more of the crater. In certain spots, if you touch the ground you are able to feel the warmth from beneath!

Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negro

Once you have successfully made it to the summit, it’s time to gear up and don your protective clothing!

I’m not sure many people can pull off a bright orange boiler suit, but I gave it my best shot!

Then, we were given a lesson on how to volcano board. This covered safety and the main techniques for volcano boarding. Namely: going faster, going slower, and how to position yourself on the volcano board.

Unfortunately, no amount of explanation can truly prepare you for sliding down the side of an active volcano on a board with no brakes… So we made our way to the launch point!

From the top, it looks intimidatingly steep, but once you’re in position it’s actually fine. There were three clear lanes for people to board down where previous volcano boards had carved through the sand.

TOP TIP: Pick the straightest line as the boards are hard to turn.

We lined up in each lane and waited for the signal from below that the lane was clear and ready to go.

Sat down, I shuffled forward on my board and let momentum carry me down. Starting off slow, the slope gets steeper and steeper, causing you to accelerate towards the bottom. The slope gently plateaus allowing you to stop naturally at the bottom.

I tried my best to keep in a straight line, but with the rocks flicking up and minimal steering, I swerved into softer ground on the edge of my lane, causing me to slow down.

Before I knew it, I was at the bottom and covered in dust. My shoes were filled with rocks and I was given my (rather disappointing) speed of 46kph. It felt a lot faster than I actually went!

After Volcano Boarding

Depending on your tour, you may have some post-volcano boarding activities at Cerro Negro. Having booked with Bigfoot Hostel, we had a celebratory drink and toasted marshmallows around a campfire as we watched the sunset.

We stayed at the volcano for around an hour (maybe longer). Being the only group there at the foot of the volcano and away from the bustle of Leon was very special.

This calm was followed by a rowdy party bus back to Leon where the night continued! Lots of free (and low-quality) alcohol was consumed as we boogied to the music and disco lights on the bus.

Everything included in the tour post-volcano boarding was a good laugh if you like to party. If you’re not into partying, you should avoid Bigfoot Hostel!

FAQs

What to pack for volcano boarding at Cerro Negro?

You don’t need to bring much for volcano boarding in Cerro Negro. Here are the main things to consider:

• Small Day Bag: To keep all your belongings together.
• Water (1 litre): You’ll be completing a short hike in the heat, so it’s important to stay hydrated. You can bring more and leave it on the bus for the journey home.
• Walking shoes: Helpful for the hike and great if you don’t want to cover your trainers in dust.
• Suncream: Unless you’re doing the sunset volcano boarding, you will likely need suncream as there’s no shade on the volcano.
• Insect repellant: I returned home in the evening with a lot of bites, so highly recommend using repellent!
• Money (Cordobas): Most tours include the entrance fee for the protected area ($5), but it’s good to have some cash just in case, or if you want to pay someone to carry your board for the hike.
• Phone or Camera: The views are beautiful so snap a few photos to remember the experience. Ask a guide to look after your camera when sliding down, whereas phones can be kept in your pocket.
• Bum Bag: Not essential, but I carry mine almost everywhere I go – the volcano was no exception! My phone and sunglasses felt a lot more secure in a zip pocket. Plus I crushed my water bottle after the hike and put it inside too.

Remember to only take the essentials for the hike and volcano boarding because what goes up must come down! I carried everything in my bum bag and left everything else in my day bag in the vehicle.

What to wear for volcano boarding at Cerro Negro?

Most companies will provide a boiler suit or overalls to wear when volcano boarding. You will also receive goggles to protect your eyes.

The overalls are long-sleeved so cover any clothes that you wear.

The clothing that you wear should be weather-appropriate and comfortable to hike in. In warm weather, shorts and a T-shirt are fine. It gets cooler once the sun sets, so you may wish to bring a long-sleeve top.

In terms of footwear for volcano boarding, any closed-toe shoe is fine. The majority of people wore trainers. I found my walking trainers ideal as they helped during the hike up and were sturdy and protective when sliding down gravel. Hiking boots are also suitable.

You should wear a cover for your face to avoid the dust going in your mouth and up your nose. You can use a facemask, bandana, or even tie a T-shirt around you. Most companies will offer you the chance to purchase a bandana for this.

How to get to Cerro Negro?

From Leon, the best way to get to Cerro Negro is to drive. The journey takes 45-60 minutes.

There is no good public transportation that will take you to the base of the volcano. Thus the best options are either to visit independently by getting a taxi or renting a vehicle, or to visit as part of a tour.

Which Volcano Boarding Tour to Book (+ Review)

There are several tour operators offering volcano boarding at Cerro Negro. Most are bookable online, but you can often book through your accommodation. Here are some of the most popular:

• Bigfoot Hostel
• Volcano Day
• Fun’n’Sun Travels

I opted to book with Bigfoot Hostel as they are the originators of volcano boarding at Cerro Negro and the most established company in Leon. Plus they had a party bus! 🎉

Bigfoot Hostel Volcano Boarding Review

My review of volcano boarding with Bigfoot Hostel is largely a good one. The positives of Bigfoot Hostel Volcano boarding are that it’s very social; the staff are friendly; you get your speed tracked and there’s a party bus. Like most other tour operators, Bigfoot Hostel provided equipment as well as transport to and from the volcano. The boards and overalls were in reasonable condition and had clearly been used before, however, this is common across operators given the wear that the volcano puts the gear through.

The negatives I had were that it’s slightly more expensive than other tours and its popularity makes it busier than other tours. In hindsight, I could’ve saved money and time by going on a more slimmed-down tour that involved just volcano-boarding. However, given that most companies only offer 1 attempt at boarding down Cerro Negro, I’m glad that Bigfoot Hostel made more of a day out of it!

How much is volcano boarding at Cerro Negro?

With Bigfoot Hostel, volcano boarding at Cerro Negro costs $35 USD. The price is the same for sunrise, daytime and sunset tours.

On average, the standard price for volcano boarding at Cerro Negro is $30-$35 (for a group tour). Bigfoot is one of the more expensive tours as it comes with transport, speed-gun, photos, dinner, snacks, alcohol, park entry, as well as volcano boarding.

The cheapest you can get volcano boarding at Cerro Negro, is probably around $25 USD if you go during the daytime and book with a cheaper company like Volcano Day Tours.

Some companies offer the option of a private tour which will cost more.

Is volcano boarding at Cerro Negro safe?

Much like activities across the rest of Central America, there are very few safety procedures involved in volcano boarding at Cerro Negro.

There are no helmets, no brakes and no airbags!

That being said, I don’t think volcano boarding is as dangerous as it immediately seems. I’d still compare it to the same risk of injury as sledding down a steep hill.

Firstly, the terrain of Cerro Negro is somewhat soft. The gravel slides and will absorb some of your impact.

Secondly, you are in control of your own speed. If you don’t want to go too fast, that’s fine. If you do want to go fast, that’s where any danger appears. But as long as you stay on your board, you will be fine as the gradient plateaus leading you to a natural stop.

I can’t deny that some of the crashes weren’t spectacular as not everyone managed to stay on their board (adrenaline-seekers want to push their limits and be the fastest)! I saw a girl do a couple of flips down the hill, rag-doll style when she crashed at 60kph. She was a bit shaken up but fine other than that and laughed it off.

So whilst there is obviously the potential to get hurt, every day people fly down Cerro Negro and are absolutely fine!

In terms of the risk of the Cerro Negro erupting, it is active but hasn’t erupted in over 20 years!

How fast can you go?

The speed record for volcano boarding at Cerro Negro is over 100kph.

On the day that I visited, speeds varied from 25kph to nearly 75kph.

Your speed depends on a variety of factors. Firstly, how gutsy you are feeling and your technique. The factors outside of your control are your weight, the route you follow and the weather conditions on the day.

How to volcano board? Techniques for going fast or going slow

Volcano boarding is a very simple activity as you let gravity do most of the work. However most tours only allow you one attempt, so you want to make the most of it!

The board itself is made of wood and has a metallic sheet underneath to help slide and carve down the volcano. Attached to the front is a rope, which leads to your handle.

You sit on the back of the board, legs out in front of you and holding on to the handle. This is your neutral position.

If you want to go faster, you lean back and pull on the rope.

If you want to go slower, you do the opposite. Lean forward and let the front of the board touch the ground.

You are not meant to dig your feet in while boarding, but as you slow down this is another way to control your speed.

Before you go

Thank you for reading my travel guide on volcano boarding at Cerro Negro, Nicaragua. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy boarding!