If you’re looking for the ultimate adventure, skip parasailing or snowboarding and check out volcano surfing. By combining a little bit of physical exertion with an active volcano, you create a thrilling excursion. This is how you can volcano surf.
What To Expect
Participants must first hike up near the top of the volcano. Depending on the size of the volcano and how high you go, the hike can take about an hour. They will have to bring with them a board that they use to surf down it. They will reach speeds of about 30 mph so this is a rather fast ride.
How To Actually Do It
There are a couple of ways that you can surf down a volcano. If you’d like to you can stand-up, just as you would if you are snowboarding. However, it can be hard to balance so if you have never been volcano surfing before you may want to sit down just as if you were on a sled. There are ropes on the board so that you can hold on and try to steer it (although steering is extremely difficult thanks to the rough rock you will be going over). If you want to slow down, you can put your foot down on the rock while you are going down the volcano.
The Dangers Of It
While volcano surfing can be fun, there are some dangers associated with it. Since you will be surfing down a volcano, expect some rocks along the way that you will have to try to navigate around. If it’s a windy day you risk the chance of being blown off of your board. Also, since you will be surfing down an active volcano, there’s always the risk of it erupting, while you are on it. Participants will be given a safety suit to wear to protect them from scratches and injuries along the way. They will also need to wear safety goggles and a helmet as well.
Where You Can Volcano Surf
Believe it or not in Leon, Nicaragua one of the most popular things for tourists to do is to go volcano surfing down the Cerro Negro, known as Black Hill. The conditions to surf down the volcano are good as it has penny-sized grains of rock so there aren’t a lot of sharp, large pieces that you have to worry about hitting while surfing down it.