Volcano Boarding in Leon, Nicaragua
Volcano boarding was so fun and is a must do when in Nicaragua! Reading other blog posts, I was a little worried that it would not be safe but the only time I felt scared was when we were standing at the top of the volcano looking down. The truth is, if you want to go slow you can! You can drag your feet on the ground to go slower or lean back to go faster. It is completely up to you!
Why to Choose Quetzeltrekkers
If you are considering going volcano boarding or hiking in Leon, I highly recommend Quetzeltrekkers. The main reason is because they are volunteer run and 100% of the profits go towards supporting children living in the streets. The money goes to Escuele de la Calle, which is an organization that provides education and housing to homeless children. Quetzeltrekkers have supported hundreds of children in Nicaragua to ensure a proper education. Book with Quetzeltrekkers to ensure your money is going to a great cause.
Another great reason to book with Quetzeltrekkers is that they are the ONLY company that let’s you board down the volcano TWICE!
Click here to read more about this amazing organization!
Leading up to Volcano Boarding
We arrived at Quetzeltrekkers at 7:50am for our 8:00am tour. The workers gave us each a yellow bag containing everything we would need – a suit, gloves, goggles, and a large water bottle. There were five of us on the tour plus 2 tour guides. Mathilde and Ada were our volunteer guides and they were amazing! Once everyone was ready, we loaded into the back of a truck and headed to Cerro Negro Volcano (translates as “black hill”). The drive was pretty bumpy and took 45 minutes. We stopped at the main building of the park to sign in, use the bathroom, and apply sunscreen. Next we drove another few minutes to the bottom of the volcano.
The Hike up Cerro Negro
Before starting the hike, Ana and Mathilde showed us how to tuck our volcano board through the straps of our bag so it was easier to carry them up. The hike to the top of Cerro Negro wasn’t too bad. It was a bit awkward with the boards but only took about 40 minutes. We stopped a few times to take water breaks (since it was so hot!) and to learn about the different types of rocks. Our guides told us about the volcano “ring of fire” in the world – which we were currently in. This ring lines the rim of the Pacific Ocean and is considered the most active region in the world.
Once at the top, we put our bags down and walked another 5 minutes to the volcanoes crater. We could smell the sulphur and see steam coming out of it! It was a neat experience!
Volcano Boarding down Cerro Negro
Finally, we got all of our gear on, took a few pictures, and got ready to board down! Ana and Mathilde taught us exactly how to do it. After finding the nerves, I started boarding down and it was a complete FAIL! I was so worried about going too fast and crashing that I started very slow. We were told that the speed you go in the first few meters determined the speed you will go for the rest of the ride. Well this meant I started quite slow. I got stuck halfway down and had to walk to rest of the way. Quite frustrating!
Thank goodness Quetzeltrekkers lets you have a second try! And it was awesome! I started quite a bit faster and leaned back so my board didn’t get covered with the heavy ash. Volcano boarding in Leon is a must do!
What's Included & What Isn't
This tour cost us each only $30! As I mentioned before, Quetzeltrekkers gave us everything we needed to volcano board safely. The lunch we were given after volcano boarding was amazing! We had veggie burritos – beans, veggies, salsa, and crushed Doritos! Once we got back to the main building, we were able to pick out a free shirt!
Included:
- Gloves
- Suit
- Goggles
- Water
- Snacks (bananas and cookies)
- Lunch afterwards
- Transportation
- Free shirt!
Things to bring:
- Closed-toe shoes
- Sunscreen
- Bandana or something else to cover you mouth (can be rented there)
- GoPro if you have one!
