Does the idea of shredding down an active volcano sound like your idea of a fun holiday? Or hiking up the infamous Mount Vesuvius? If so, you’re probably an adventure seeker who is looking for the latest in alternative travel.
Volcano tourism is the latest wave to entice tourists who are tired of ordinary sightseeing. Nowadays, there are several different options to choose from, and we’ve highlighted the four best.
Boarding
There are not a lot of options where you can sled, or “board”, down a live volcano. Cerro Negro (Black Hill), located just outside León, Nicaragua, and Mount Yasur on the South Pacific island of Tanna, Vanuatu, are two of the most popular places to do it.
But first, you must find a reputable tour operator to take you there.
“In general, you should look for [tour operators] who specialise on that [particular] volcano and guides who know it well,” says Dr Rosaly Lopes, author of The Volcano Adventure Guide, and a senior research scientist at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by the California Institute of Technology. “Volcanoes have their own peculiarities, so it’s really important to know as much about that specific volcano you want to visit as possible.”
After reading several accounts by those who’ve taken the plunge, this sounds very much like a sport where you take your life into your own hands – tour companies we queried often have a written disclaimer saying they hold no responsibility for any injuries, death or dismemberment while boarding.
“We’ve had a few broken bones over the years,” says Jan Strik, founder and director of Vapues Nicaragua Tours. However, she added, the company’s tour guides are CPR-trained, “renovate their licence every two years with the local Red Cross” and always have a “fully-stocked first aid kit during tours, emergency procedures and list of specialised hospitals”.
To board down a volcano, you must first climb up. And by climb, we mean its 728 metres (2,388 feet) to the top of Cerro Negro, which entails scaling some loose rock. According to those who have made the trek, the hike takes about 45 minutes, but when you get to the peak, it’s a fast and daunting drop down – and it takes about three minutes to complete.
There are two ways to go about your volcanic adventure: sitting down, as if on a sled, or standing up on a board (the latter seems an insane idea once you see the steep drop). For the Cerro Negro tour, participants are given a crash suit for the adventure, as well as protective goggles and leather gloves (because, well, volcanoes are hot). The slope down is not for the faint of heart; according to a video by vlogger Expert Vagabond, it was steep enough for him to crash, which he did. (Note: helmets were not provided).
“The experience is amazing. Everyone in fair health should do an excursion to an active volcano,” says Strik. “We provide expert guides, outdoors adventure equipment, and suggest travellers bring sunblock, long-sleeved clothing and a hat or cap.”
However, says Lopes, “I’d strongly advise people not to take their children into dangerous areas. And of course, you should know your own level of fitness.”
Abseiling
Desperate for more thrill than sliding down a vertical drop? Consider a trip to the South Pacific, where you can trek through the jungle of Vanuatu’s volcanic island Ambrym, and descend 182 metres (600 feet) to a boiling lava lake using just two ropes to hold you. Doesn’t sound exciting enough? Then let’s walk you through it, shall we?
First climb 900 metres (3,000 feet) up Ambrym, then another 450 metres (1,500 feet) inside it, in what bespoke private jet operator VistaJet describes as a “very complicated, dramatic and inhospitable landscape”. Once inside, you descend the “huge vertical walls baked green and yellow with sulphur” to the giant, bubbling and loudly boiling lava lake, doing your best not to think about all the poison and gas, because you are more concerned about the immense heat coming off the molten earth.
“Travellers need to be fit and resilient as this is pure adventure,” cautions VistaJet, which advises no one younger than 18 is permitted on the tour. “There are minimal comforts during the camping expedition – dome tents and using face masks to protect from acidic gases. The expedition is dependent on the weather and seasonal factors of the location, which will be cleared by accompanying experts to ensure the safety of all participants.”
Not many people have made the journey, so you’ll get some impressive bragging rights.
The Volcano Expedition lasts about two weeks and includes other destinations around Vanuatu.
Hiking or climbing
Hiking enthusiasts will be happy to hear there are active volcanoes just waiting to be climbed and scrambled, and depending on the type of terrain, the country you’d like to visit and the range of difficulty, you can practically take your pick no matter where you go in the world.
Outside magazine listed Pacaya in Guatemala, Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland (we dare you to try and pronounce it) and Mount Fuji in Japan as the top three volcanoes to hike in what is called the Ring of Fire along the Pacific Ocean (namely, the area with 452 volcanoes known for their seismic activity and volcanic eruptions).
We also spoke to Walk Japan, an organiser which recommends and organises hiking trips to the Izu Geo Trail. It’s one of the longer excursions, taking you along the Izu Peninsula. According to Walk Japan, the trail is “bubbling with seismic and geothermal activity, peppered with volcanoes and carved by both river and sea”. The fully-guided, seven-day, six-night tour is for those who are able to walk several hours a day.
Biking
Some feel more comfortable checking out lava fields on two wheels rather than two legs, and if you fit that description, there are options available. In Iceland, you can enjoy a guided tour across the 4,000-year-old Berserkjahraun, where eagles and songbirds are meant to guide you on your journey.
In Bali, enjoy views of Lake Batur, Mount Abang and Mount Batur while looping around the lava rock areas on mountain bikes. In Hawaii, volcano biking tours are offered to Pele, where you can stop and see the thermal hot ponds, coconut groves and tree tunnels along the way. In Sicily, start at Mount Etna and head to Cape Passero over lava fields, through thick forests and past Byzantine chapels.
In Oregon, ride the breathtaking crest of Crater Lake as you check out the flowing rivers and snow-capped mountains around you, or try out the Sisters Trails where you can cycle over the Cascade Volcanoes and to the High Desert. In Chile, embark on a more challenging ride across the lakes and volcano area of Pucón as you explore the Patagonia region.
Know what you’re getting into – the risks
There are two types of active volcano: a stratovolcano (such as Mount St Helen’s) and a volcano. The difference between the two is the former erupts violently (posing a threat with its forceful emission of hot ash, gas and lava), while the latter erupts more gently in a smooth river of lava.
Although volcanic tourism has boomed in the last decade, there are a lot of health risks involved, from the obvious (getting severely burned by boiling-hot lava, falling down on sharp, volcanic rocks and getting injured, or risking death by falling from such immense heights) to the insidious (exposure to toxic gases). According to a report entitled The Health Hazards of Volcanoes and Geothermal Areas published in the United States National Library of Medicine, airborne ash “can cause respiratory and cardiovascular hazard (asthma, bronchitis, pneumoconiosis)” and acid gas exposure can cause “bronchoconstriction, aggravation of respiratory disease” as well as irritation to your eyes and skin.
“Volcanoes also emit particles with potential to impact human health,” the report states. “[N]otably sulphate aerosol. Emissions of heavy metals, including lead and mercury, in both gas and particle phase, may also affect those who visit these sites often.”
“Apart from the usual dangers of hiking … [if you go to] any remote area, there are some very specific dangers on volcanoes, ranging from lava flows – [which are] usually not very dangerous, just avoid being cut off from your escape road or terrain – to extremely dangerous explosive eruptions,” says Lopes. “On a volcano like St Helens, or many in the Philippines or Indonesia, get away if there is any danger of an eruption, which is likely to be violently explosive.
“Some volcanoes, like Kīlauea in Hawaii, are not explosive. The more explosive the volcano, the more dangerous it is. Pyroclastic flows and lahars are very, very dangerous. Lava flows and lava lakes [are] generally not. Small explosions like those at Stromboli and Yasur in Vanuatu can be observed relatively safely,” says Lopes.
Where to go
Now that you know the risks, and we haven’t scared you off, there are volcanoes virtually everywhere you turn, and tour operators waiting to take your hard-earned money to show them to you. Here’s a brief list of where to go if you want to take your chances and traverse these majestic beauties:
Japan
Japan has 110 active volcanoes, and Mount Aso (which has five volcanic peaks in its caldera) and Mount Nakadake are also favourites.
Italy
There are 13 active volcanoes in Italy, but Mount Etna, a 3,350-metre-high (11,000 feet) volcano is the largest in Europe. Italy’s most famous is Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed Pompeii, which is only about 22km from Naples, making it the country’s most dangerous as well.
South America
South America is home to 174 volcanoes but Nicaragua hosts two major active ones: Masaya Volcano and Cerro Negro. Ecuador is home to the 5,900-metre (19,300-foot Cotopaxi), located just outside the Andes mountains.
The United States
Out of the 179 active volcanoes in the US, the most famous, which erupted on May 18, 1980, is Mount St Helens in Washington. The most popular climbing volcanoes are: Mount Hood in Oregon, Mount Shasta in California, Mount Baker in Washington, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, and even Mount St Helens. Climb at your own risk, folks.
Indonesia
With a whopping 127 active volcanoes in the country, Indonesia’s second highest, Mount Rinjani, tops at 3,700 metres (12,200 feet) and is located in Gunung Rinjani National Park.
Philippines
An active volcano that has erupted about 10 times a decade since the 1600s, Mount Mayon’s most recent eruption was in January 2018.
New Zealand
Famed for its appearance in The Lord Of The Rings movies, Mount Ngauruhoe is in New Zealand’s oldest national park, Tongariro National Park. But the country’s only marine volcano (you can only see about 10 per cent of it as the rest is below water) is Whakaari (known as White Island), which is only visited by booking a tour.
Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter .