ICELAND: Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon

Visiting the Blue Lagoon was the only thing on our itinerary for our last day in Iceland. It's a highly hyped destination, and it seems that anyone who has spent any time in Iceland has visited this spot. We were no exception. This was by far the most luxurious experience of our trip.

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa, about 12 miles away from the airport. The water is hot (around 98-102 F), and rich in minerals. The primary minerals present are silica (responsible for the milky blue coloring - just like with the blue waterfall!) and sulfur, which supposedly hold healing properties for skin conditions. The lagoon is not natural, and in fact the warm waters come from the nearby geothermal power plant.

Here are some tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon:

• BOOK EARLY! When planning your Iceland trip, purchase your entrance to the blue lagoon in advance. If you wait, you may miss out. The spa does not accept walk-ins. Prices vary based on availability and notice. Booking in advance offers you the lowest price. 
• When booking, choose an early time slot. We chose one of the earliest available time slots to arrive at the spa - around 8am. It was pretty busy, but it was crazy by the time we were leaving (around 11am)! Trust me, if you want a truly tranquil experience - make an effort to get there in the early hours! 
• If you're visiting over summer - you can choose a late time slot (after 9pm) and enjoy the midnight sun. 
• There are several levels of "experiences" you can choose from when booking. We chose the most basic - entrance to the lagoon, plus a mud mask and towel. If you want to make a day of it, look into the pricier options. We found that the basic experience was perfect for our budgets and travel style. 
• You will be provided with an electronic wristband when you enter. This will allow you access to a private locker for your belongings, and be used to create a tab if you purchase drinks or masks. 
• There are mask and drink bars within the spa that you can swim up to. 
• Note: You are not permitted to enter the lagoon without showering, in order to keep the spa hygienic. There is shampoo and soap provided in the locker room showers. 
• I would advise keeping your hair up and out of the water, as the silica and sulfur can make your hair stiff and quite uncomfortable! Of course, you can always wash it out afterwards. 
• There is accessibility for disabled travelers at the spa. 
• The spa is not suited for children under 2 years old, but is free for children 2 - 13 years of age. 

In our opinion, is the Blue Lagoon worth a stop?

Yes, but with a small caveat. There are other spas and pools that can be visited in Iceland for cheaper. For us, it was a fun, popular destination that we could experience for ourselves. The spa is a bit pricey, but it was worth it for us for the convenient location and much needed relaxation. It was a great way to wind down before our flight, and to rest after a nonstop week of hiking and driving. 

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

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ICELAND: Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Fjallsarlon is another glacier lagoon in Iceland, only about 10 minutes away from the more popular Jokulsarlon. For that reason, Fjallsarlon is a great destination if you'd like to enjoy the landscape away from the crowds.

Our visit to Fjallsarlon was quite short, as at the parking lot here, we discovered that we had a flat tire on our rental car! During our visit (2016) the parking lot was under construction, so it is possible that there is more tourism to this spot than previously. Regardless, it's a great stop for a different view of the glacier. There are boat tours offered here as well.

Overall, this is a nice stop if you are visiting Jokulsarlon and the Diamond Beach.

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

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ICELAND: Visiting a Viking Village

This Viking Village was created for a film, which was never made. You can find it near Vestrahorn - or Batman Mountain - in Hofn (East Iceland). You can access this village after paying a small fee at the Viking Cafe, which also grants you access to the nearby black sand beach. 

This village was clearly created with attention to detail, and at our visit (2016) was still in excellent shape! It almost looks lost in time. Its an interesting stop along the way and worth the walk if these types of sites interest you at all. It's small, but you are free to explore it as you wish. As far as we are aware, it still sits there waiting to be utilized for a different film. 

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

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ICELAND: Diamond Beach

Directly across the street from Jokulsarlon is the Diamond Beach. Here, pieces of the glacier from the lagoon travel into the ocean. Many of these large chunks of ice end up beached on the volcanic black sands. The result is an incredibly alien landscape, where bright white and blue chunks of ice contrast sharply against the stark black ground. This location is constantly changing, and so you are always in for a different landscape depending on the lighting, and the ice that has washed up.

During our visit, the skies were overcast and there was some cold rain. However, the beach was still breathtaking.

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

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ICELAND: Batman Mountain (Vestrahorn)

Vestrahorn, aka Batman Mountain, is an iconic feature in east Iceland near the Hvalnes peninsula. Vestrahorn is named for it's sharp, high peaks, which form horn-like shapes - the word translates to mean Western Horn. This monumental mountain is located on a stunning black sand beach (Stokksnes), which includes many dunes. While the dunes make for a great spot to view the mountain or take a photo, use caution when walking near them as the grass protects the beach from erosion. For many reasons, this has become one of Iceland's most popular mountains. 

There is a small fee to pay in order to access the beach, and a small dirt road that leads you there. The nearest stop is a small cafe, called the Viking Cafe. We stopped there for coffee and info before heading down to the mountain. Nearby there is also a Viking Village, of which access is included in the small fee. 

The black sand beaches when wet can form a mirror effect on calm days, which makes for stunning photos! I would advise bringing a wide angle lens for capturing the full landscape. Otherwise, smart phones with capable cameras do an incredible job when shooting in panoramic modes. We set up my small JOBY tripod for some remote shots of us on the beach. There are about a dozen out-takes of us attempting to create an iconic "jumping" shot!

Another stunning feature of this mountain is how clouds seem to hover around the peaks.

The beach is littered with shells and pebbles which almost look like gemstones in the sunlight. They make for some really beautiful natural patterns along the ground.

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

Thinking of booking a trip? Try airbnb for local digs at a lower cost.
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