Cerro Negro
Volcano · Malpaisillo ·
Active volcano offering high-adrenaline volcano boarding down black slopes
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Nicaragua Get directions
Active volcano offering high-adrenaline volcano boarding down black slopes
Nicaragua Get directions
"If surfing isn't your scene, don a jumpsuit and grab a board to slide down the black-sand slopes of Cerro Negro instead. This active volcano is considered Central America's youngest, having first appeared in 1850 and erupted dozens of times since. Volcano boarding is better left to only the most adventurous, as speeds can get up to 40 miles per hour for the five-minute ride to the bottom of the volcano. It's just as wild as it sounds." - Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual travel writer, editor, and content marketer. She is an expert on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, as she lived and worked in four different countries in that region. Carley founded the digital travel publications Loosely Local and Home to Havana. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A still-active black-volcanic cone that offers a high-adrenaline 'volcano boarding' experience: visitors strap into boards, don bright orange jumpsuits and goggles, and sit for a steep, dusty descent that can reach speeds up to about 40 mph and is often timed by a radar gun at the base. The ride itself lasts less than a minute, but the physically demanding, hour-long climb back up over loose, sandy terrain in hot, sun-baked conditions is a major part of the challenge; early starts, sturdy shoes, plenty of water, sunscreen and UPF sun protection are strongly recommended. Beyond the thrill, the summit rewards climbers with sweeping vistas and the chance to peer into a crater that is less than 200 years old and still emits gas and smoke, making the whole outing a blend of natural spectacle and intense adventure." - Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual travel writer, editor, and content marketer. She is an expert on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, as she lived and worked in four different countries in that region. Carley founded the digital travel publications Loosely Local and Home to Havana. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"An active, relatively young volcano that has become a destination for adrenaline-seeking visitors who try volcano boarding—strapping into a board and descending black-sand slopes at speeds that can reach around 40 miles per hour over a roughly five-minute run. The experience is intense and best suited to adventurous travelers comfortable with high-speed, downhill thrills." - Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual travel writer, editor, and content marketer. She is an expert on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, as she lived and worked in four different countries in that region. Carley founded the digital travel publications Loosely Local and Home to Havana. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"An active volcano whose 2,300-foot summit is the starting point for volcano boarding: a challenging hike followed by an exhilarating descent on a wooden plank that can reach average speeds of about 50 mph, making for an unforgettable adrenaline experience." - Jade Moyano Jade Moyano Jade Moyano is a Brazilian-born travel writer and editorial director who speaks four languages. Her work has appeared in Monocle, Uproxx, GQ, Travel + Leisure, and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"About an hour from the city, Cerro Negro is the volcano most backpackers visit for volcano boarding — the hike is 1–2 hours and trips leave multiple times per day and last a few hours; I did the hike but skipped sliding down on a board, though boarding tours are the big draw here." - Matthew Kepnes
