Cerro Negro: Volcano Boarding
In Leon there are several companies that take you on a tour to board down the Cerro Negro Volcano. This volcano was formed in the early 18 hundreds which actually makes it the youngest volcano in Central America and the second youngest world wide. Besides holding these records, it is also the only volcano in the world (according to our guides) you can board down. We took our tour with Volcano Day. From Leon, a shuttle picks you up and drops you off at the base of the volcano. They do provide boards and protective gear but you do need to bring your own bandana to cover your face. You’ll have the option to board or sled down…choose the sled! Sebastian tried boarding and it was nothing like snowboarding. So, if you just want to have fun picking up some speed and making it to the bottom…pick the sled. You are responsible to carry your board to the top but there is an option to pay someone to carry it for you. In full transparency, the hike was by far the highlight for us. It wasn’t too difficult (even with Lucas and our boards) and the views were incredible! Plus, the guides will take pictures for you and of you so you don’t need to bring your phone. We also chose to go in the afternoon, which was nice in that it wasn’t as hot and we got to catch the sunset from the top of the volcano. It’s fun to say you sled down a volcano but the real MVP was the view!!!
Paradiso Hostel
This place was so much fun. It is a hostel/hotel on the Apoyo Lake which is a lake inside a volcano crater and since we were in our van, we ended up staying in their parking lot. You have amazing views, a great restaurant and lake access. We spent hours not only playing in the water but relaxing in the hotel provided inner tubes. Truly a slice of paradise!
Masaya Volcano
Central America has a ton of volcanoes but what’s cool about this one is that you can drive right up to it. Each volcano we visited was a unique experience and this one was no different. The volcano is only 23 km away from Granada and there are numerous day tours you can take in order to see the volcano up close. Before sunset, we walked around the grounds to catch different angles of the volcano and once it got dark, it was so fascinating to look down in the crater and see the glowing lava.
Ometepe Island
Ometepe is an island in Lake Nicaragua formed by two volcanoes. We took a ferry over to the island and got to take our van, but the best way to get around is either by moped or motorcycle. There are tons of places where you can rent one as soon as you get off the ferry. If you’re looking for an INCREDIBLE sunset…go to Playa Mango. If you want to spend the day playing in natural pools…go to Reserva Natural Oja de Agua and if you want to take a tour of the lake and see some wildlife…go on a kayak tour. We had a blast riding around the island, seeing all the free range animals (pigs, chickens, horses, cows, monkeys!) and taking in the amazing sunsets. Ometepe is special.