Iceland — Hawaii of the North

Wearing ski jackets in the middle of Icelandic summer isn’t necessary associated with Hawaii. We understand. However, bear with us just for a minute, and we’ll show you the 7 reasons why our first trip to Iceland made us think of Hawaii!

1. Water Activities

Iceland has lots to offer to water enthusiasts: from erupting geysers and majestic waterfalls, to chilling (or warming) in the thermal spas, or even snorkeling. Yes, snorkeling. In Iceland. A first trip to Iceland would not be complete without visiting the Blue Lagoon! Actually, we recommend doing that right after landing. There is nothing better than soaking in warm healing thermal waters after a long transatlantic flight. We did this, and it was a wonderful welcome to Iceland, and a great way to start our vacation.

The geothermal spa experience needs to be booked in advance, and the package price depends on the day and time you want to go. Since our flight landed at the Keflavik airport around 7 am, we were able to book the Blue Lagoon visit early. Because mornings are usually less crowded, this worked out perfect for us! The Blue Lagoon is only 15-20 minutes away from the airport. This makes it very convenient, if you are just arriving to Iceland or on your way back home, versus a 45-minute trip from Reykjavik each way.

After you disembark from the airport transfer bus at the Blue Lagoon, you can securely store your luggage at their storage facility before entering the spa (there is a nominal fee for that). Before you head into the Visitors’ Center (showers, café, restaurant, a gift shop, and other services), take a stroll around the surrounding lava fields to enjoy the views and snap a few photos.

Blue Lagoon is a man-made lagoon, the largest of its kind, with waters rich in minerals, silica and sulfur that do wonders for the skin. The water is supplied by a nearby geothermal power station, and renewed every 48 hours. The reason why it is called “The Blue Lagoon” is because of the unique algae that thrives there, giving the water its blue-milky color. These algae are one of the beneficial healing elements of the lagoon’s waters. Blue Lagoon has rightfully earned its spot on the list of the Top 10 Spas in the World.

Our package included a drink at the swim-up lagoon bar (just like you’d find at a resort in Hawaii) and a silica mud mask at the Mask Bar. Here the bartender will give you a scoop of white clay-like substance that you apply to your face for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off in the lagoon.

Wading through the Blue Lagoon, we saw a couple sitting near a small bridge, and a man said just one word “Zombies”. Watching our startled faces, his wife started to giggle: “Look at all the people with white clay masks on their faces. Now you won’t be able to unsee it!” We couldn’t stop smiling at the groups of people with white silica masks on, relaxed facial expressions, some with drinks in their hands, inching their way slowly through the still waters of the lagoon covered in mist and fog. “Walking Dead” reference here. When you go to the Blue Lagoon and the zombies thought pops into your head – “You are Welcome!” 😊

The Blue Lagoon is pretty large, with lifeguards on duty. There are steam rooms and massage services available, a small man-made waterfall wall, cute bridges to walk under. Our favorite bridge had the water fountain on the wall under it. The real Icelandic ice cold water was so refreshing. Actually, the tap water in Iceland deserves its own post. The tastiest water ever! By the way, the largest line we’ve seen at the Keflavik airport was to the water fountain, with people filling up their water bottles to bring it home.

A couple of TIPS for the first time visitors of the Blue Lagoon: 1) Iceland has a strong bathing culture and strict hygiene laws. Be prepared to strip-naked taking the shower before entering the lagoon. 2) In the showers, you will see a special hair conditioner provided – put it in and LEAVE it in for the duration of the Blue Lagoon experience. You’ll regret it if you don’t, trying to brush the hair afterwards. 3) It is recommended to leave jewelry behind in the lockers to avoid tarnish.

We’ve also had a chance to visit “Secret Lagoon” (We love our thermal spas!😊).

Totally different, natural picturesque setting, much smaller and less crowded, a wonderful relaxing experience! Secret Lagoon is located in Fludir, and some tour agencies add it to the Golden Circle Tour. It is also the oldest pool in Iceland!

Unlike Blue Lagoon, you won’t find fancy spa add-ons, or a restaurant onsite (there is a snack bar), but the facilities are meticulously clean, staff is friendly, and it is off the beaten tourist path.

We didn’t get a chance to snorkel this time in Iceland, however, on our next visit we’d love to do a Silfra snorkeling tour. Granted, that unlike in Hawaii, one must wear a dry suit for that endeavor, only in Iceland you can snorkel inside the fissure between two continental plates! Don’t know what’s down there, but it would be fun to find out!

2. Volcanic Landscape

The lava fields of Iceland reminded us of the Big Island of Hawaii. You’ll feel like you are on a totally different planet! As a matter of fact, both Iceland and Big Island, Hawaii are used extensively for international Mars research teams, as both locations most closely resemble the Martian landscape!

Hawaii’s Big Island has only 5 active volcanoes. You can see the lava flowing in the National Volcano Park, expanding its landmass. The island itself is just 0.7 million years old. In Iceland, it’s a bit different story. Iceland hosts about 130 volcanoes (30 of them active). The island is about 24 million years old.

So, it’s not the age that matters, the trick is that Iceland is formed on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, where the American and the Eurasian tectonic plates border, and slowly separate from each other.

Iceland is the ONLY country in the world where such a rift is above sea-level and you can literally walk in between the two tectonic plates, like in Thingvellir, the National Park of Iceland, a geological marvel that also happens to be the birthplace of Icelandic parliament.

Have you ever dreamed of exploring the inside of a volcano (NOT an active one), like the characters of Journey to the Center of the Earth? In Iceland you can! Venturing into the mouth of Thrihnukagigur volcano is one of the tours offered. This is definitely something to consider on our return trip to Iceland.

3. Waterfalls

One of the main reasons we would love to go back to Iceland is to chase the waterfalls. That might take a while, since Iceland is home to over 10,000 of them! In comparison, the eight main islands of Hawaii have about 100 waterfalls combined. On our last trip to Iceland, we were only able to see one, but what a waterfall it was! The famous Gullfoss (“Golden Falls”) — one of the “Big Three attractions” of the Golden Circle route. It’s named Golden Falls because when the sun hits its cascading waters, the waterfall takes on a golden hue.

4. Rich Folklore Traditions

Just like Hawaii, Iceland has a bounty of local folklore, mythology and legends. Interestingly, we didn’t find as many references to the volcanoes, fire or lava, as one might expect. However, there are some historians who believe that the Norse end-of-times Ragnarok was inspired by the eruption of a volcano the Vikings saw in Iceland.

From the fabled Norse mythology of Vikings to trolls, dwarfs, elves and hidden people (Huldufolk), Icelandic story-telling traditions are fascinating. The majority of Icelanders believe in the existence of these beings and take them quite seriously. Some major road and construction projects have been stalled or abandoned because of the possible impact it may have had on the elves’ habitat. Also, it’s not uncommon to see little houses placed in gardens and seemingly random locations to provide accommodations to the tiny folk.

These mythological traditions are deeply woven into the Icelandic culture. For example, the four legendary wights of Iceland (the Bull, the Griffin, the Dragon, and the Rock Giant), the spirit protectors of the land, can be found on Iceland’s Coat of arms and the heads of their króna coins.

5. Expensive

Speaking of coins, you’ll be spending a lot of them in Iceland. Take it from two Californians in the San Francisco Bay Area (California is the second most expensive place to live in the US after… yes, you’ve guessed it!… Hawaii).

A FEW TIPS: 1) We recommend staying in a hotel that includes a full breakfast menu that you can enjoy before heading out for the day. That way you’ll be good till lunch, or an early dinner.

2) On your first trip to Iceland, you will probably do the Golden Circle bus tour. Most likely, the one stop your group will make for food and a bathroom break, is at the Geysir Visitor’s Center. The place is NUTS, as it is a main rest stop for many other tour groups! Though very crowded, you’ll want to take full advantage of the food court, restrooms, and maybe even pick up a souvenir or two at the gift shop.

Just keep in mind that you are on a tour, and your bus is on a tight schedule. Be sure to know which bus is yours, and how much time you have before it leaves for the next destination. If you go to your far right from the main entrance, you’ll find a spot that serves three or four different kinds of soup among other things. If you like it, they will give you a refill for free (at the time of our visit)! We tried the meatball soup, and it was delicious!!! And yes, we went for the 2nd serving! 😊

3) Credit cards are widely accepted in Iceland, so there is no need to get cash beforehand. If you like to keep a little walking-around money in your pocket for side attractions, gifts, snacks, etc., there are plenty of ATM machines all over Reykjavik, but just about anywhere you go will take credit cards.

6. Excellent seafood

Some of the best seafood dishes we’ve tried were definitely in Hawaii. And we didn’t have any preconceived notions about food in Iceland. We were thoroughly delighted with our culinary experiences in Reykjavik, from lox to fish soup, to fish pastries, to heartier meals. Every dish was wonderfully unique and delicious, and we suggest sampling everything you can to get a true taste of Iceland.

Check here for some of our favorite restaurants in Reykjavik. One of our Icelandic friends in California recommended buying the frozen Icelandic ling cod that Whole Foods Market carries now. And we pass that recommendation to you. It’s not the same as actually being there eating the real thing, fresh off the boat, but it’s great for attempting to recreate your favorite Icelandic dish at home.

7. People

We found that people in Iceland possessed the same laid-back attitude that we adored in Hawaii. They are chill, unpretentious and very friendly. We don’t think we saw one grumpy face anywhere! People are happy to help and make you feel welcome visiting their homeland.

All in all, our first trip to Iceland was absolutely incredible, and we hope to return in the near future. Though these three articles didn’t include every detail of our visit, we assure you it was one to remember. From the warm hospitality of its people, local culture and food to the vast and mysterious landscapes, it is no wonder that visiting Iceland is on the top of many bucket lists.

Hope this post helps you in planning your first trip to Iceland. And if you missed Part 1 and Part 2 of this Icelandic travel series, hope you enjoy them as well!

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