A 45-minute drive from León, Cerro Negro Volcano is one of the area's most-visited attractions because it offers a unique opportunity to go volcano surfing. A moderate hike to the summit takes about an hour and rewards with impressive views, but the ride down is the big draw. Cerro Negro's continual volcanic activity has covered it with black volcanic sand that's perfect for a thrilling three-minute ride to the bottom. Hop on a snowboard, piece of cardboard or just ski down the slope on your feet to take on the challenge.
A short distance from Cerro Negro, the Las Pilas-El Hoyo volcano complex may lack its neighbor's adrenaline-pumping lure, but has summits that give you spectacular views of Lake Managua and a line of other volcanoes. Moderate trails though an unspoiled landscape take you around the cones of Las Pilas and El Hoyo, with its nearly perfect circular crater rim.
With a 90-minute drive from León you can visit the country's highest active volcano, San Cristóbal, which is also one of its toughest climbs. While the strenuous hike is best suited for serious climbers, the average day-tripper can find outdoor adventure on hiking trails in the surrounding Volcán San Cristóbal Natural Reserve. Comprised of grasslands, savannas and pine forests, the protected area is home to rich birdlife, white-faced monkeys, deer and leopards.
A 90-minute drive from León also delivers you to the iconic Momotombo Volcano. With a perfectly shaped cone, the steep volcano on the shores of Lake Managua has climbs that rival the difficulty of San Cristóbal. Momotombo also has outdoor offerings in the surrounding Momotombo-Momotombito nature reserve. There, you can meander along forest trails and encounter pre-columbian statues carved from volcanic stone. Nearby, you'll find León Viejo, ruins of the original city that were preserved by volcanic ash following an erruption in the late 1500s.
Though it's only about 30 kilometers from León, getting to the trailhead of Telica Volcano can take you about two and a half hours over rough road. Rising from a picturesque valley, Telica is popular for hikes to watch the sun set behind the majestic line of Maribios volcanoes. The steep hike also rewards with glimpses of glowing lava at the smoking crater's bottom. The nearby hot springs of San Jacinto are a popular stop, where you can wander through a small field that's dotted with patches of boiling mud.
© Copyright 2016 Vagabuzz.com - All Rights Reserved
