Volcan El Hoyo With Volcano Boarding

Three volcanoes and a crater lake, all in two days! We begin the trek at 7am in the Quetzaltrekkers office where we assemble our bags and eat a filling breakfast prepared by the guides. We then leave in our private truck for a one-hour bus ride to the starting point of the hike, the ranger station located between Cerro Negro and the Las Pilas-El Hoyo complex. As we reach the foot of the Volcán Cerro Negro, we leave our overnight packs at the station and begin a moderate 30-minute climb to the first of two active craters. After the steaming sulfur vents at the first crater, we follow the crater’s edge for another 30 minutes to reach the second crater and highest point of the volcano. We spend some time on the summit enjoying the cool breeze and magnificent views over the Maribios volcano range, plains of northern Nicaragua, and the Pacific Ocean. Then it’s time for the fun part…a spectacular descent of the volcano’s black sand slopes on volcano boards! After a safety demonstration, we put on our special volcano boarding suits (of course neon-colored) and take off down Cerro Negro. After refueling with a snack at the ranger station, we grab our big packs and begin a steep ascent of the Las Pilas – El Hoyo volcanic complex. We eat lunch upon arriving at the base of Las Pilas, and then wind through forests and old craters to approach El Hoyo. Out of nowhere comes “the Hole,” a mysterious giant sinkhole where we make camp. After erecting tents, we take a closer look at the Hole, summit the volcano, and explore an ominous, steaming sulfur vent. We enjoy dinner from the campsite, practically a balcony seat for the view over Lake Managua, Momotombo, and lake Asososca. The next day, we open our tents and discover a truly unforgettable sunrise view of the lakes and volcanoes. We then eat breakfast, pack up camp, and make our way downwards through jungle and farmland to reach the Volcán Asososca and neighboring crater lake. After a long morning of hiking, we arrive at the crater lake where we eat lunch and reward ourselves with a refreshing swim. An hour walk, one cold drink, and two bus rides we return to León around 4pm.