Our most recommended things to do in León, Nicaragua

From León: Hike and Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro

1. From León: Hike and Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro

On this 5-hour tour from León you experience the adventure of volcano boarding. You take a 45-minute drive from León City to Cerro Negro. From the main entrance of the volcano you walk for approximately 2 hours to the top. It is rocky and there is no shade, but once you are at the top you have the best views over the Volcano Chain of León. You can walk around the crater and can see how active this volcano actually is. Cerro Negro is the youngest volcano of Central America but it is also one of the most active. Once at the top you can enjoy volcano boarding your way down the ash side. Feel the rush as you stand up snowboard style or sit down! Feel the heat and smell the sulfur gases as you reach speeds up to 70 kilometers per hour!

Telica at Twilight: 8-Hour Volcano Excursion from León

2. Telica at Twilight: 8-Hour Volcano Excursion from León

Visit the Telica Volcano, one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes, on an 8-hour trip from León. Depart at 14:00, walking for 3-4 hours until you reach the foot of the volcano. Then begin a 1-2 climb up to the crater. The climb will be steep but not entirely difficult. Along the way you'll see plenty of native vegetation and have the opportunity to take in the views. Before reaching the crater, cross a beautiful valley with grass, trees, and stones. At the top, watch and the sunset, a truly magnificent site. Then, once it is dark, hike the final short distance up to the crater to see the lava glowing in the twilight. It's a pretty spectacular sight.

Leon: Colonial City Tour

3. Leon: Colonial City Tour

Nicaragua is a land of volcanoes, a hot climate, and interesting cities. Visit the well-preserved ruins of one of the first Spanish colonial cities built on the continent. You’ll see several places of interest on your 3-hour guided tour of the elegant city of León. Admire the attractive, preserved historical center and its colonial buildings. In addition you’ll see many natural attractions in the area around the city. Leon is known as Nicaragua’s most liberal city, and as an intellectual center that features the country’s largest student population. Your guide will show you Sutiaba, an indigenous neighborhood, followed by visits to the Ruben Dario Museum and the Museum of Myths and Legends. See the Cathedral and head up to its rooftop for the views. Explore the central square and admire its murals.

Leon: Volcano Board Adventure on Cerro Negro

4. Leon: Volcano Board Adventure on Cerro Negro

Test your sense of adventure and feel the adrenaline thrill of boarding down the Cerro Negro just outside of Leon. Think of it as like snowboarding - or sand boarding - except on the black lava of an imposing volcano. Designated a protected area, Cerro Negro provides the breathtaking location for this action packed tour, starting with an early morning transfer by 4WD truck. After an approximate 40-minute drive, you will be at the base of Cerro Negro wondering how on earth you will reach the top. Once at the top, you will wonder how on earth you will ever get back down again! Before you do, take some time to observe the majestic volcano and surrounding forest. Then, fully kitted out in your jumpsuit, goggles and board, climb aboard the sled like volcano board and slide back down to base at blood-rushing speeds! Some refreshments will be waiting at the foot of Cerro Negro as your reward, and after a short rest, the truck will take you back to Leon.

León: Cerro negro volcano boarding

5. León: Cerro negro volcano boarding

You will star the adventure from the city center driving for 50 minutes to get to the volcano. Once you are down there you gonna hike up the hill on a rocky and sandy road around 45 minutes to get the summit and explore the main crater with a perfect view of the whole city surrounded by volcanos and mountains. After exploring the area you will get instruction by the tour guide about the way you gonna handle the board and slide all the way down the volcano and feel the adrenaline of reaching speeds from 70 till 90 km/hrs. When you get the bottom you´re gonna get a drinnk and take some rest so that you be ready to return.

Leon Nicaragua City Tour

6. Leon Nicaragua City Tour

At 8:00 am we will leave for the municipality of León Santiago de los Caballeros. León is located approximately 90 km northeast of the capital Managua. León has been the intellectual headquarters of the nation with a university founded in 1813, also with great agricultural and commercial importance of Nicaragua. The department of León is characterized by having beautiful landscapes, volcanoes and beautiful beaches. The colonial city presents its own tourist attractions that make it a famous destination, and visited by national and foreign tourists, such as the famous Cathedral, also known as the Basílica Catedral de la Asunción de León. Some illustrious characters of the Nicaraguan nation are buried in it and the best known worldwide is our poet Rubén Darío. Then we will go to the Fundación Ortiz Gurdian Arts Center, this historic site has two restored colonial buildings, each building houses different exhibitions of painting, sculpture and contemporary crafts, after a brief tour of its streets, we will go to the beach of las Peñitas to enjoy our lunch and enjoy this beautiful beach that has been ranked among the 10 best beaches in Central America. At the end of the day, return to our hotel.

Add dates

Things to do in
León, Nicaragua

León, Nicaragua

Go beyond León, Nicaragua

Explore all

Frequently asked questions about León, Nicaragua

What top attractions are a must-see in León, Nicaragua?

The must-see attractions in León, Nicaragua are:

Other Sightseeing Options in León, Nicaragua

Want to discover all there is to do in León, Nicaragua? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about León, Nicaragua

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 24 reviews

This experience was so much fun and our guide was the absolute best! Super knowledgeable and friendly and helpful. It’s a unique and fun experience.

Russell was a fantastic guide! Took lots of photos told lots of stories. 100% recommend going with this company over the others. A great experience.

Very nice activity that will hardly be experienced. Relatively simple climb with an impressive landscape and the descent is pure happiness

super recomendado! nuestro guía Russ super atento y nos dio mucha información e historia del cerro y de Nicaragua!