This was my favorite day of the entire trip. Although I wish that the weather had been a bit more friendly for sightseeing, we made the most of the incredibly fierce wind and the drizzle after having had an on and off sun-filled day around the Golden Circle. Because we drove from Keflavik, we were able to drive down the coast along route 427, passing through the eerily beautiful volcanic landscape of Reykjanesfolkvangur Nature Reserve. The drive was a little over two hours to our first stop because of the wind, but the ocean waves and snow-capped mountains amongst the black lava fields were a breathtaking sight as we explored. Check out the route we drove here.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss: This waterfall may just be the most iconic of Iceland (this one or the amazing Kirkjufellsfoss on the Snaefellsness Peninsula in the north of the island which I hope to get to one day!). But, what makes Seljalandsfoss so incredible is the cave behind the cascading spray which you can walk into and actually stand behind the waterfall! This picture had been the background of my laptop for months as I dreamed of travelling to Iceland, and now I have a photo of my own to remind me of the incredible beauty of the falls!
Clothing Tip:
You will get wet! Wear a raincoat and waterproof shoes (boots if you have them, there is lots of mud and puddles) and leggings are actually better for girls even in the chilly winter because they dry faster than jeans. I brought two pairs of leggings to double up if needed.
Gljúfrabúi
Gljúfrabúi: Just a quick distance up the dirt path to the left of Seljalandsfoss is another waterfall only seen by the brave willing to get to it. This waterfall is located in a cave, so you have to navigate your way over the rocks through a running stream to get inside! Once you are in, you will be at a loss for words. Gljúfrabúi cascades down the cave’s rock face, spraying those adventurous souls who dared to enter with its chilly water in a refreshing moment of “oh my god, this is amazing”!
Vik
Vik: Due to the crazy wind slowing down our driving, we had to pass a few of the other sightseeing spots I had originally planned into the itinerary (mentioned below!) and decided to take the hour drive right to the quaint little coastal town of Vik. If the weather had been clear, I could have spent hours wandering the little shop-lined streets and taking photos from the hillside where the pretty little church sits watching over the town. I was able to get this one, but I wish I’d had so many more. This iconic coastal town is a great spot to stop for lunch, and we ended up a little spot called Halldorskaffi, hidden beside a hostel down the road toward the sea. They were relatively inexpensive for the tourist town, had a warm atmosphere, and an extensive menu with Icelandic classics like fish soup, as well as delicious homemade pizzas!
Reynisfjara Beach
Reynisfjara Beach: Black sand ground by ocean waves from millenniums of volcanic eruptions are just one of the many highlights of this stunning Icelandic beach. The biggest attraction would be the massive cave, Halsanefshellir, with its beautiful black-etched rock face carved from years of weathering and erosion. Beyond Halsanefshellir in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean is another beautifully eroded rock structure called Reynisdrangar made of basalt, and rising up from the waves like the back of a sea creature. The views were simply mesmerizing. You feel as though you are in another world.
Dyrhólaey Arch
Dyrhólaey Arch: Another beautiful structure formed from centuries of erosion and weathering, this arch rises up from the surf beyond a cliff on which a beautiful lighthouse sits. A colony of Puffins actually lives beyond the cliff, and on clear days you can see them flying about and diving down into the waves. We were met, however, with gusts of wind traveling at nearly 70 mph! It was insane, we were being blown left and right, but I just HAD to snap a photo of the amazing arch! We laughed the entire time as the wind whipped us and the three other daring American souls who braved the weather to see the arch and the lighthouse. I swear, I only got knocked over once!
We ended the day exploring as much of Reykjavik as we could as it was our last chance to see the beautiful capitol. We only made it as far as the main road called Laugavegur which has tons of little shops and restaurants. We wanted true Icelandic food and decided to splurge a bit at this wonderful restaurant just one road up from the main street (which actually led to Reykjavik’s famous church Hallgrimskirkja) called Ostabúðin at which we tried an Icelandic specialty, whale. It was served raw with hollandaise sauce and bacon-wrapped fennel and it was surprisingly delicious, similar in texture and look to salmon or tuna sashimi. Next we had a famous Icelandic fish called Arctic Char which is similar in look to Salmon, but has a less fishy taste and a softer, more buttery texture. It was the most incredible food I had in Iceland!
Other Places to Stop:
Skogafoss: This is the other famous waterfall along the south coast of Iceland’s ring road, route 1. It features an observation deck above the waterfall which you can stand and look down as the water cascades and crashes below. It is one of the tallest in Iceland, and quite often on sunny days you can see rainbows dancing in the spray.Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck: An eerily beautiful site, this plane wreck occurred back in the 1970’s when a U.S. Naval Plane ran out of fuel and crashed along the black sand beach. Fortunately everyone survived, and the plane remains decaying on the ocean shores still today, another sight which makes you feel as if you have travelled to another planet entirely while in Iceland.
