"My first climb of a volcano on sand only, if you don't have sticks, you will never get to the top. The hike by itself isn't rewarding, but there were a couple of perks and unique experiences. Near the summit, the wind picked up really hard (around 100 km/h gusts) and sent the smaller sand particles flying and stinging us. At some point, I was almost afraid I would fall down due to the strength of the wind. Momotombo is an active volcano and at the top we could see fumes coming from the earth. The use of a guide is heavily recommended to ensure you follow a path that will not damage your lungs too much. From the top, the view of lake Managua and Momotombito is quite rewarding. You can also see the spread of the volcanic sand down the slope of the volcano. The summit is quite colorful with the sulfurish yellow and the red of the iron. However, the descent has got to be my favorite part as I was skiing down the sand and keeping my balance with the sticks. For people going to Nicaragua, there's volcano boarding on Cerro Negro, but if you're in decent enough shape to climb Momotombo, that skiing is way more fun and allows you control of what you're doing. Great day overall!" — PL5 • Jan 12, 2015