Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua: What To Expect
Taken by Santa
Coming in at number 2 on CNN’s list of “50 of the most thrilling, daring things you can do on vacation” is volcano boarding. CNN did not tell a fib because this activity is truly thrilling. There is no sport too extreme for me, at least not yet. It should be no surprise that I participated in this adventure during my visit to Nicaragua. Central America is known for their volcanoes with Nicaragua having 19 active ones! Apart from Volcano boarding you can see bubbling lava at Masaya Volcano or hike up Concepcion Volcano.
via cnn.com
Last erupted in 1999 and still active, Cerro Negro (translated to Black Hill) is located only 45 minutes away from Leon, Nicaragua. It is the youngest and is said to erupt every 20 years. I bet you are wondering who the hell thought of doing this?!
As crazy as it sounds, it wasn’t an easy discovery. There were many attempts and trail & errors to make volcano boarding a thing. Discovered by Aussie Darren Webb, he was determined to make this happen. Using an actual snowboard, a mattress, a refrigerator and even the hood of a car while breaking bones during the process. He finally discovered that a wooden sled (that won’t get hot from the friction) and a thin piece of metal underneath would do the trick.
Booking and cost
I booked my excursion with @BigFootNicaragua and would highly recommend them. What I loveeee about this excursion is how cost efficient it is. It is only $25 + $5 park fee, so why not give it a try. If you would prefer to have a local worker carry your board to the top it will only be an additional $5. That’s still a total of $35, basically an Uber to the airport for a life changing adventure.
safety
I know you’re probably thinking “Abbey does some wild sh*t, I don’t know about this one”, but you are in TOTAL control of your safety.
My instructor Santa, went over safety precautions before the start of our trek. He explained three positions, one for slow speed, medium speed and fast speed. The only way to slow down is to use your feet as the brakes 🥴. The trick to accelerating your speed is to lean back so that you are smoothly gliding through the wind. If you are trying to beat the highest speed recorded at 110 kph then that’s when safety issues will start to arise.
Scratches and bruises can occur at any speed. I saw the slowest people falling over, but don’t fret because I was the fastest person in my group at 65 kph, didn’t fall and walked away untouched. There are no known instances of broken bones or fatalities.
what to wear
The weather definitely plays a part in what you would wear. The weather is generally hot in Central America, including the city of Leon. The day I visited it was hot and dry with much wind, as you can see in photos with my hair constantly blowing in front of my face. I opted for the only shorts that I packed which were a pair of loose denim and my “The Rich Aunt Athletics” short sleeve logo tee. Anything that is comfortable to your liking will suffice.
I recommend wearing comfortable hiking boots or shoes you don’t love because the soles will get scratched up, but not completely ruined from grazing against the rocks on your way down. You will be provided a thick jumpsuit and goggles from your tour company which is included in the price.
Taken by worker carrying my board
Taken by worker carrying my board
Taken by Santa
Taken by Santa
what to bring
Entrance fee.
GoPro or iPhone.
light snack
Water to stay hydrated.
I do not recommend bringing any professional cameras.
Scarf or some kind of fabric to cover your nose and mouth. Big Foot Hostel sells them for $3.
You will be given a back pack that hold your suit and goggles, where you can also put additional items.
If you happen to bring any valuables it can be left back at the truck before you start the hike.
Santa will take pictures of you during your hike and slide and upload them to BigFoot Hostel’s Facebook page. Really good pictures might I add! He will not use your phone or camera to take those photos.
The process
We met and left Bigfoot Hostel on a sunny, bird chirping morning at around 9:30 am. The town of Leon is already up at this time so feel free to grab a power bowl from Batidos Pitaya, or some tasty street food before boarding the truck. We all were loaded up on the back of their truck and headed to Cerro Negro. Melodic pop music with sound from artists like DJ Snake pumped from the open air speakers as the wind blew as we headed there. The entire ride was about and hour and was very smooth. Since the truck is completely open it is very breezy so hold on to your hats!
My group
On our way, we picked up a few men who come out looking for work. Helping the local community Bigfoot Hostel pays for the healthcare of these men. How to assist these men looking for work? Pay them $5 to take your board to the top. While this is totally optional, for someone like me who loves to support small businesses (technically they would be a business right?) I thought that was a fair since the hike is about an hour. Also I did not need an extra weights on me during that hike.
On arrival, we pay our par fee of $5 or 150 cords and used the bathroom if needed. Our guide relayed the necessary precautions and we were on our way to start our hike.
Taken by Santa
Taken by Santa
The hike actually was not bad at all. Though I have done a lot of hikes, it is still a strain on my body, because I am not the most fit person 😩. I loved how our guide, Santa kept us at a moderate paced and took about 3 breaks. During those breaks he would wait for everyone to catch up, relax a little and catch their breath. I usually trailed in the back amongst the last few people and didn’t overwork myself. Any moderately fit person should be able to do the hike without any problems. One young lady with pre-existing health issues started the hike but decided to turn back about 20 minutes in.
During our pit stops Santa informed us how volcano boarding came about and quizzes about the genetic make up of the volcano. The entire hike was scenic and a beauty in itself. What is the yellow element seen on the volcano?
After hiking for about an hour, at last we reached the summit. It was so interesting to feel the heat of the volcano. It reminded me of my volcano hike in Guatemala where we actually roasted marshmallows! The time has come to put on our prison orange protective suits and science lab goggles. You put this suit on over your clothing. Though the volcanic rocks are soluble, they are sharp and can easily cut through your skin.
Santa went over the different speeds again and how to sit on the board. It was riveting to learn that the dry erase board material underneath the board that allows it to slide and go fast is replaced every single day. By the time the slide is over it is so damaged and useless. That’s a lot of work!
Standing tall peering down, looking for the bottom, it was non existent. There was a small hill that blocked the bottom so the slope didn’t look too steep, pretty manageable if you ask me. Santa stated that there was only ONE person that had chickened out, got to the top and did not do this activity. I knew that person could never be me. I was the last to go, grabbed my sled, sat, and leaned back as I made my way down.
I was determined to go fast, but for the fastest speed, the position required my feet being completely off the ground and pointed in front of me. I’m not going to lie I tried this position but it was a bit uncomfortable for me to maintain my balance, so I opted for medium speed position. In this position, you need to sit on the sled with you feet flat on the floor, hold on tight to the rope and lean back.
Then down went ya girl. This gif captured by our guide Santa. Told ya he’s the best!
I went jolting down the incline without any fear. As I was going down, the rapid movement caused the little rock pebbles to hit my face. This is why the protective goggles and scarf around your face is very important. For me the ride was a straight path down. My speed caused me to jump up and down in little but nothing to lose control.
Your speed is recorded at the finish line and to my surprise I came I came in at 65 kph. Making me the fastest girl, person overall and fastest person for the month!
The team then drank Nicaragua beer (I drank soda) and ate watermelon. Everyone is considered a winner with volcano except for the slowest guy and girl. The two slowest have to take an ice bath. The ice water that were keeping the beverages cold was dumped all over them.
With Nicaragua’s heat, that’s more of a good thing than a bad thing.
I am glad I experience Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua and think everyone should give it a try!
Ciao,
Aunt Abi
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