Your Complete Guide To Volcano Boarding In León, Nicaragua
On a hazy morning my friend and I hopped on to a chicken bus that was parked just outside of our hostel, La Tortuga, in León, Nicaragua. Despite having been to over 30 countries so far on an extremely small budget, I had never been on a chicken bus before, and I knew this would make for an interesting first experience combined with volcano boarding.
In this guide I’ll arm you with everything that you need to know before volcano boarding, discuss which volcano boarding company is right for you, and provide useful information for your stay in León.
All About Volcano Boarding
First things first, what is volcano boarding? If you’re an avid backpacker, you may have already summited the famous Acatenango in Guatemala, or gone sledding down a snow-kissed volcano in Chile. But volcano boarding is different. Volcano boarding is known to be the brainchild of Darryn Webb, an Australian guy who first took a joyride down Cerro Negro using a small refrigerator that was removed from a hotel minibar. Over time his means of transportation evolved, and what we use to volcano board now is the product of many trials and errors on the side of Cerro Negro.
Volcano Boarding Equipment
No matter who you book your volcano boarding experience with, you’ll be using a specialized board that somewhat resembles a snowboard but contains an extra layer of laminated material at the bottom that reduces friction. In addition to that you’ll be provided (somewhat) dust-proof goggles and a silly-fitting jumpsuit.
Volcano Boarding Deaths & Risks
As of the time of writing in 2024, no deaths have been recorded on Cerro Negro. But that doesn’t mean this adrenaline pumping activity goes without risks. During our experience we heard about someone who had lost control and broken their arm the previous week, and other travel bloggers have written about their scary experiences, such as Nat from PintSize Explorer:
“I quickly realised that I’d had an accident. I thought I had just hit something and fallen forward, but I had actually smashed into a small boulder which catapulted me into the air. My body was thrown into a forward summersault and the impact of the crash meant the huge slab of wood (that was my board), was karate chopped (into two pieces) in one swift move by the entire weight of my body.”
Sharing this account is not meant to scare you, but with travel and adventure comes risks, which is important to know about and consider up front. I didn’t experience any sort of accident on Cerro Negro, but I also visited Nicaragua during the rainy season, which meant that the volcano ash was packed down wet and made for an incredibly slow ride down the volcano (more on that later in this guide).
If volcano boarding isn’t for you, consider this 8 hour tour where you’re able to hike during the day and enjoy twilight hour and sunset views of Telica Volcano, one of the most active in the country.
Either way, I highly recommend getting travel insurance for all of your adventures outside of your home country. As a twenty something year old discovering the world on a shoestring budget this was never something that I did, but once you’re on the road long enough you learn that sooner or later we all need a little support, and being covered upfront is a way to do that without draining your bank account. I use SafetyWing for all of my travels because I’ve found their policies to be the most affordable and their service to be incredibly flexible (you can purchase travel insurance even if you’ve already started your trip) and user friendly.
How To Get From Managua to León
Chances are you’re flying into Managua and need to make your way to the colonial city of León to experience volcano boarding. I am always traveling on a small budget and prefer local transportation, so I took a local shuttle from Managua to León, but there are other options too.
Taking A Local Shuttle To León
There are four different ways that you can get from Managua to León, and in my opinion taking a local shuttle is the best. First of all, taking shared local transportation is the most sustainable option, and it also happens to be the cheapest. Taking a shuttle over the bus provided a quicker ride to our destination and offered a tiny bit more comfort too.
Whether you’re coming from the airport or your accommodation in Managua, you’ll need to take a taxi to the shuttle departure location. From the airport we payed $25 USD for two people for a 45 minute ride to the shuttle station. If you speak Spanish well and have the energy to haggle you might be able to pay less. But if you don’t speak the language you’ll be paying the added Gringo tax, which is added on to already high airport prices. You may be able to pay less if you can find wifi or have cell service and use In-Drive. It’s the local form of Uber where you negotiate rates with local drivers and pay in cash. I used it in Managua and it seemed pretty reliable and cheaper than taxis.
(You can also try to arrange private transport from the airport with this local shuttle company for around the same price as a taxi. They speak English, have air conditioning, and will wait for you if your flight is delayed. They offer services for picking people up from the airport and taking them to their accommodation in Managua.)
I told the taxi driver that we needed to go to León, and they told us that taking a local shuttle would be faster than a chicken bus before whisking us off to a small market on the side of the highway that had some stalls with food vendors and shuttles here and there. The name is Terminal de Buses Managua-Granada Cooperativa Cocibolca, and the rough address is 4PGH+WH2, Pista Juan Pablo II, Managua 11125, Nicaragua. Forget about trying to find a departure schedule online; it’s best to just show up and hop on whatever bus is leaving next. We payed 78 cordobas per person which is around $2.12 USD.
The shuttle was filled by locals and we were crammed in on the last two seats available. The ride lasted about an hour and a half and we were dropped off in a taxi-filled area. We paid 100 cordobas total for a taxi to take the two of us to our accommodation at La Tortuga.
Other Ways To Get To León
Your other options for getting to León are by chicken bus, private shuttle, and taxi. In this article I’ve discussed the pros and cons for each form of transportation after experiencing them all during my time in Nicaragua. If you have the money to spend and value comfort over price, taking this locally-owned private transfer is the way to go. It will cost the same (or less) than a taxi, include more comforts, and can be arranged ahead of time.
Volcando Boarding In León, Nicaragua
Volcano Boarding With Bigfoot Hostel
Bigfoot Hostel is the most popular company to go volcano boarding with. It’s incredibly important to note that they turn the day into a party — so if you’re not a fan of drinking and loud music, this company may not be for you. If you stay in a hostel they will offer their recommendations for volcano boarding companies, or you can book a private experience ahead of time if you’re looking to soak in the nature and not be rushed around with a group.
How Much It Costs To Volcano Board With Bigfoot
Even though I don’t drink and am sensitive to loud noises, my friend wanted to experience Cerro Negro Bigfoot style so we paid $35 USD for the sunset tour. (They also offer a sunrise and day tour for the same price.) Around noon the bus picked us up from our hostel, and we were the first ones on the bus so I snagged a seat in the front. Before I knew it we were off to pick up the rest of our volcano boarding crew that was made up of mostly 20-something-year-old backpackers who were hungry to plunge down an active volcano.
What’s Covered In The Cost
In addition to our transportation, our cost covered a t-shirt, boarding equipment, and photos. It also included (seemingly) unlimited alcohol on the ride back to the hostel, and an unforgettable dinner experience provided by a local family. If you’re vegan and sober like me, you can instead have a free non-alcoholic drink and let Bigfoot know when you sign up that you’ll require a plant-based meal. You can expect to eat beans, rice, and veggies — the meal is quite light so don’t be afraid to go back and ask for a second or third serving. The sunset tour includes marshmallows over a fire, but unfortunately they’re not vegan-friendly and the gelatin they’re made from is from the skin, bones, and tendons of slaughtered animals.
Hiking Up Cerro Negro
The hike up Cerro Negro can take anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how fast your group is — it’s no Acatenango. The guides will stop you on the way up to take photos and water break. I found the hike to be fairly easy as someone who hikes often-ish but is slow going uphill.
You’ll be in charge of getting your gear to the top unless you’re willing to pay a local porter $5 to carry it for you. I decided to go with this option because the guides explained that there is a small economy around Cerro Negro and this is one way that locals are able to support themselves.
Boarding Down Cerro Negro
When we got to the top of Cerro Negro my group of friends, the oldest ones on the tour, volunteered to go first. I instantly regretted it when I was standing on the side of the volcano looking down into the abyss. Before we got to this point we were given a thorough safety briefing and jumped into our ill-fitting bright orange suits, but it doesn’t hit you until you’re standing at the edge.
What I imagined as a fast-paced, thrilling, and somewhat scary ride down was actually slow and laborious. We visited Nicaragua during the rainy season in June, (the whole rainy season is somewhere from May to October) so the ash was wet and packed down beneath us. Even though other folks in our hostel had warned us about going after a rain, we only had one chance to slide down Cerro Negro, and the weather doesn’t always cooperate.
Important tip: If you want to go fast and visit Cerro Negro after a rain, don’t go first! Whoever boards down first will go extremely slow and pave the way for others to pick up more speed. If you want to go fast during the rainy season, board down last.
If you’re visiting outside of the rainy season, be sure to pay attention to safety precautions and tips about how to slow down and stay in control from your guides. No matter what the climate, you can ask your guides at the top which line is faster or slower to ride down and choose your place accordingly.
What To Bring Volcano Boarding
Don’t forget your bug spray. Once we got to the top of Cerro Negro, it was an all-out battle between us and the bugs. One landed on my shoulder and I felt a sharp pinch as they bit me hard enough to draw blood. Wearing pants and a shirt that can cover your shoulders makes the insect impact less worse. Additionally, you’ll want to have water, a bandana (or extra t-shirt that can get dirty), plant-based snacks, and sunscreen.
The Bigfoot After-Party
At the end of the day you’ll be dropped off with everyone else on the bus at the Bigfoot hostel. Don’t be fooled: the hostel is only quiet during daylight hours because people are sleeping off the night before. On any given day that you arrive after volcano boarding a raging party will likely be happening, so expect to see people dancing on the bar (I did this, totally worth it) and music so loud that you can’t hear your own thoughts.
Was Volcano Boarding in León Worth It?
Yes. Despite the young European tourists taking shots out of each other’s mouths on the Bigfoot party bus, the experience is something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Visiting with the locals and being able to chat, eat, and relax was something special that other volcano tours don’t seem to offer. If you’re sound sensitive but still want the Bigfoot experience, bring your own ear plugs or noise reducers for the ride home.
Where To Stay In León, Nicaragua
Bigfoot hostel is for the party people, while La Tortuga is more suitable for those who value a good night’s sleep and a relaxed atmosphere. There are other stays and accommodations in the area, but if you’re traveling on a budget I recommend using HostelWorld.
I stayed at La Tortuga for a couple nights and couldn’t recommend it more. Here’s the review I left them: “It’s in a great location, and easy walk to most things that you need. The staff was SO friendly and accommodating. We got one room for 2 people and were a bit hot with just a fan, but that’s the case all over the country. Fair prices, clean rooms, and overall lovely place. The breakfast was really good too and they were able to easily make it vegan!”
Other Activities in León, Nicaragua
León can start to feel small after a couple of days but there are some awesome activities that can be done on a budget. First things first, let’s talk food. Coco Calala has people leaving raving reviews about their food, and they have a swimming pool open for use for patrons. Soaking in the tranquil setting while splashing around is a good way to spend a hot day.
There’s a free walking tour offered in the area (tips highly recommended), so ask your hostel or local accommodation when and where you can join the tour. The walking tour covers history, food, local markets, and more.
Lastly, consider visiting Las Peñitas, a beach located just 30 minutes away by bus from León and make a day trip out of it. This guide by Along Dusty Roads has all the information you need on enjoying the beach, surfing, and visiting the local nature preserve.
