Does strapping a snowboard to your feet and boarding down the side of an active volcano sound cool?  We thought so too, so on our journey through Central America we stopped in Leon, Nicaragua, specifically to try out “volcano boarding.”

The only probably is that in order to come down, you must go up.  So we trudged up the volcano for what seemed like an hour.  Walking up the cinder cone of a volcano is something akin to taking two steps forward and one step backward.  You slide back almost as much as you move forward.  Somehow we made progress up the steep slope along side our guide, who then took us into Cerro Negro’s active crater (pictured here).  His advice was to stay away from the gas…

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IF YOU GO: Tours are easily booked out of Leon, Nicaragua. Check with the various tour operators and hostels before booking, a personal recommendation from another traveler is essential. As always, check what equipment is included, and double check all of the details. Most of the tours were priced per person, we went as a group of three, which was frankly awesome standing atop the volcano without 40 other people! Wear long pants and be prepared to be covered in volcanic rock, which is sharp. Our operator provided safety gear and equipment, necessary to protect your joints and limbs from the volcanic rock. Definitely plan to wear gloves.