I must admit, I was a little nervous about going to Nicaragua. When I booked the flights from Panama while still in Europe, I didn’t think too much about it. I simply wanted to see the country, as it was close to Costa Rica. However, after talking to my German friend in Bogotá, Colombia, I came very close to cancelling my trip. There are, in fact, quite a few safety warnings about travelling to Nicaragua. But after reading comments from fellow travellers and learning how amazing the country truly is, I decided to go ahead with the trip. After all, I wanted to experience hiking and volcano boarding at Cerro Negro.
The highlights of Nicaragua are the volcanos and I knew this trip is going to be filled with lots of nature and outdoor activities. My 72 hours in León and Granada were set to be wild and adventurous! And I was right! Take my word for it, volcano boarding at Cerro Negro is certainly an unforgettable moment.
And what is there to tell about the small town León? Read more below…
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Hiking and volcano boarding Cerro Negro
Cerro Negro is the youngest volcano in Central America. Suddenly appearing in a cornfield, it formed in April 1850. Since then, it has erupted 18 times, with the most recent eruption occurring in 1999. Wow! Its young age leaves this volcano completely covered in black volcanic sand and rocks. Clearly, nature has had no time to take it over yet. For me, climbing this impressive black terrain is a truly unique experience.
Hiking Cerro Negro in Nicaragua involves a 1-hour trek up steep, black volcanic sand and rocks. It is quite an easy hike up, but I strongly recommend going with a guide. It simply makes things easier. You’ll be picked up directly from your hotel and won’t have to worry about transport, directions, or general logistics. There is a dirt road leading up toward the volcano, and at the end of the day, you’re here for one reason: you want to be boarding Cerro Negro down the hill.
And you need the guide and local equipment to do it. This volcano boarding experience is one of a kind!
Once you start hiking up the black path, the contrast with the surrounding green landscape is unbelievable. I have never seen anything like it before. That said, I had never really hiked a volcano before. I spent a lot of time taking photos of the views, the deep black sand, and the amazingly blue sky. At the top, you can clearly see the crater, and even some small spots where hot air and sulphur gases are escaping from the ground. With so few people around, which was amazing, I felt like I was walking on another planet. What an incredible feeling!
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So, the walk up was easy. But how do you get down?
The run down
Volcano boarding at Cerro Negro is very popular, however I decided against it. I felt that walking down the hill would be just as much fun. And much safer, without any unforeseen injuries. Although everyone I saw up there that day made it down safely. Regardless whether you are boarding or walking down the hill, you are definitely much quicker going down than going up. Which is very unusual when hiking.
Still, the excitement of volcano boarding might be hard to resist for some! And you can decide for yourself which option you prefer.
As for me, what an adventure. Arriving at the bottom, after walking through very soft black dust, my driver was patiently waiting for me. Completely covered in black sand, I was exhausted, happy, and very keen to get back to the hotel for a shower! This was certainly a unique experience I will never forget.
So, now that I have the taste for it, where is the next volcano for more hiking in Nicaragua?
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The town León
There is not much to say to León, except that it was very busy due to the Christmas season. Local markets were in full swing, and the traffic was pretty bad. And given the ‘safety warnings’ about walking around at night in Nicaragua, I didn’t venture out of my hotel in the evening. Luckily the Hotel had a pool table and amazing food. Which is all I needed for my one night stay here.
After my volcano adventure at Cerro Negro I was ready for more hiking in Nicaragua and headed south, to the second must see destination in Nicaragua. The town Granada.
So next time you plan a trip to Nicaragua: make sure to experience the thrill of hiking or volcano boarding at Cerro Negro. And stay tuned for more volcano adventures from me!
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