Cerro Negro

Cerro Negro appeared in 1850 and has erupted regularly since, which makes it one of the youngest volcanoes in the Americas and explains its appearance - a cone of loose black gravel and ash with almost nothing growing on it, standing out starkly against the green Maribios range. The climb takes about forty-five minutes on the windward side, past steaming vents and views across a line of volcanoes to the Pacific. The descent is why most people come: volcano boarding, sitting or standing on a reinforced plywood board and sliding down the ash slope, with speeds that get genuinely fast on the sitting boards.

What you actually see

• Volcano boarding - the ash-slope descent on a wooden board.
• The crater rim walk - steaming vents and the black cone's summit.
• The Maribios chain view - a line of volcanoes stretching to the horizon.
• Leon's colonial centre - the cathedral and university city as base.

When to go

The dry season from November to April gives firm ash and clear views. Rain makes the slope slower and the climb muddier. Mornings avoid the worst heat on a slope with no shade whatsoever. Tours check volcanic activity, which occasionally closes the mountain.

Honest expectations

The climb is short but hot, exposed and on loose ground while carrying your board. The descent is genuinely rough - expect ash everywhere, in everything, for days, and wear clothes you do not care about. Minor grazes are common and speed depends on technique; standing boards are much harder. Choose operators with proper suits, goggles and gloves rather than the cheapest option.

Nearby

Leon, Las Penitas beach and the Telica and Momotombo volcanoes.