Things to see and do Southwest

In the south, on route 204: Grænlækur and Steinmyrarflóð, the marshy areas rich in birds.

Still under development, this 32,000^m2 open-water sanctuary has been home to two belugas from a Chinese aquarium since 2020, and can accommodate a further 8. It is dedicated to enabling cetaceans that have always known an enclosed environment to regain semi-liberty.

On site at the harbor, you can visit the visitor center, which features Iceland's only puffin rescue center, an aquarium of local species and educational exhibits on belugas and the sanctuary. Here, you can also take part in boat trips from the Visitor Center to Klettsvik Bay to see beluga whales from afar.

Before you visit, it's important to bear in mind that this is not a tourist aquarium, but a rehabilitation center for wild animals that have lived in a closed environment all their lives. These animals are still adapting, and if anything goes wrong, they can sometimes be returned to the tank for their own good.

So, if you're thinking of opting for a cruise in the bay, it's important to find out about the presence of belugas in the bay, and to bear in mind that this is first and foremost an educational visit, not a tourist attraction. This visit comes at a price, which helps support the site's activities, and it's important to understand what to expect to avoid disappointment.

The vast bay of Lón is a crystalline lagoon where hundreds of young wild swans can be observed during the summer. This bay is situated between two impressive promontories: Eystrahorn and Vesturhorn. Vesturhorn, one of the few formations of the plutonic rock (gabbro) of Iceland, and Brunnhorn form a course between Skarðsfjörður and Papafjörður. Once, the latter was a fishing station and a shopping mall from 1861 to 1897. There were the ruins of Syðrifjörður, which had been abandoned since 1899, and, just to the south, Papadóttir, with some remains of Irish monk habitats that lived here before arrival of the Vikings. At the foot of the Eystrahorn is the Hvalnes farm, the lighthouse and the old fishing station. The Hvalnes farm served as a framework for the movie Paradise reclaimed.

The imposing and unspoilt nature of Lónsöraefi stretches all along the Eastern edge of Vatnajökull glacier, between Hvalnes, “cap of whales” to the Snaefell mount on the central plateau. In this mineral immensity, there are some valleys secret, surprising oasis of vegetation. The vertiginous deep gorges were carved by glacial streams in the massifs rhyolitic of tone clear or colourful including Reyðarártindur and Hvannagil. Beware, difficult track, inquire before you venture there.

If you find the majestic Skogafoss waterfall too crowded, take a trip to its neighbor, the Kvernufoss waterfall. To reach this hidden waterfall, park at the parking lot next to the Skogar museum (at the last sheet-metal building), then follow the path into the canyon and up to the waterfall, surrounded by beautiful rock walls (you can even walk behind the waterfall). Allow 45 minutes for the round trip, for an easy hike. In winter, the path can be muddy and slippery, so be careful!