Five years ago, when I first set sail to Iceland with my two best friends, we were all broke university students who wanted to explore this beautiful country in the most cost-effective way.
While I’m still mostly frugal in mindset, it was nice to take Ricky around Iceland and not have to worry about if we’d be able to afford dinner this time around.
The times have changed, but my appreciation for this rugged island has only become stronger. Here are six more tips to consider if you’re planning a trip to Iceland.
1. Visit Vestmannaeyjar
On the south coast of Iceland, and a two-hour drive and a 40-minute ferry ride from Reykjavik, are the archipelago islands known as Vestmannaeyjar, or Westman Islands.
The main island, Heimaey, is the only inhabited island of the 15 islands. Currently, there are only around 4,000 residents, and most of the island is composed of rocky beaches and rolling green hills.
During the ferry ride to Heimaey, we saw some cabins on the other islands. After speaking to locals, we discovered that those were in fact cabins for people who hunt puffins!
Yes, it was in that same breath that we learned that puffins are a traditional dish in Iceland. While I purport myself to be an iron-stomached connoisseur of all local foods, in the end, I couldn’t bare the thought of eating a cute orange-nosed friend.
Anyway, back to Vestmannaeyjar.
The ferry terminal on the mainland is located in Landeyjahöfn and has a massive parking lot. It was very easy to book tickets in advance online, which is a must if you want to bring your car on the ferry. I saw many walk-on guests buying tickets at the terminal, so it may not be necessary if you’re travelling as a foot passenger.
Ricky and I opted to go by foot, which was very doable, as we had an overnight stay on the island. The round-trip total was 8,000 Icelandic króna ($75 CAD). The sailing times change depending on the season, and sailings may be cancelled due to inclement weather, so plan accordingly.
On the island, we hiked up to Eldfell, a volcano that wreaked havoc during six months of eruption in 1973.
We also scooted and walked up to Stórhöfði, the windiest place in Europe, to capture the views of the island and the largest colony of puffins in the world. Luckily, there wasn’t a puffin café anywhere in sight.
Our next stops were Stafkirkjan and…
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