Adventuring Abroad: Iceland: The Southern Coast

On our second full day in Iceland, we set off to explore the southwestern coast of Iceland. Our out-and-back car ride took us to Vik, with multiple stops each way. The landscape is beautiful -- very rugged and moonscape-like at times. We saw some Icelandic ponies in fields as well.

Scenes from the drive to Skogafoss

Allie, Matt, and Paul were in one car

We stopped at a viewing spot for Eygafjallajokull, also known as "E15" for the letter 'E' and the 15 letters that follow it! E15 is the name of the volcano that most recently erupted in 2010 and caused lots of disruption of air travel between Europe and North America.

Hennekes family with E15 in the background (snow-covered).

We then drove a little further to see Skogafoss, one of the beautiful waterfalls along the southern coast. Parking and entrance is free to all of the sites we visited -- although they do request a small donation to use the toilets by the parking lot. Skogafoss was amazing -- the sun made rainbows and double rainbows appear in the mist almost the entire time we were there. Everyone except me and Charlotte made the trek up the cliff to see the falls from above. They reported there were MANY stairs and I wasn't disappointed in my choice to not go up. Charlotte loved the black rocks at the base of the waterfall and she spent a lot of time tossing rocks into the river.

View of the approach to Skogafoss from the parking lot

Charlotte and me at the base of the falls

Throwing rocks

View of Skogafoss from the top of the cliffs

Looking down toward the parking lot from the top of Skogafoss

After leaving Skogafoss, we continued on all the way to the small town of Vik, which is known for its black sand beaches. We had lunch at one of the only restaurants in town (with a lot of tourists! many of whom were drying their socks with the hand dryers in the bathroom -- ew). After lunch, we walked along the path behind the restaurant to the sea. It was very dramatic seeing the waves crashing on the black sand and feeling the mist from the wind across the water. Charlotte and I found a spot somewhat out of the wind to play in the sand while the rest of the crew walked out toward a jetty for more pictures. The sand was very black and surprisingly silky and soft to the touch. I had anticipated a rough texture since it's from volcanic/pumice stone, but I was definitely wrong.

View of rock formations off the coastline of Vik

Trekking along the sandy path to the beach

Surf at Vik

The sand really is black!

Charlotte enjoyed piling the sand on her legs

Mom and Dad at Vik

After leaving Vik, we headed back west and stopped at Reynisfjara beach, which is very close to Vik. It is known for its hexagonal volcanic columns, known as basalt sea stacks, similar to those at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. The wind was FIERCE and it was pretty cold! We tried to pay close attention to the surf because the waves were huge and there were signs warning us about "deadly sneaker waves" which are much higher than the normal surf and can "sneak" up on you without warning. (Yikes!) Charlotte loved climbing all over the basalt columns -- like a natural playground for her.

Reynisfjara Beach

Basalt sea stacks -- so cool!

Watch out for deadly sneaker waves!

Hard to judge from photos, but these waves were really huge!

Mom, Charlotte, and me trying to stay out of the wind at the sea stacks

Little climber!

Next, we drove a little further west to Dyrholaey, which is a viewpoint over the ocean near Reynisfjara Beach. There is a large sea arch to be seen there, as well as views down across the beach toward Selfoss. During certain months, puffins roost in the cliffs, but we didn't see any during our stop.

View to the west of Dyrholaey

Sea arch at Dyrholaey

Rock formations in the ocean off Dyrholaey

Our final stop of the day, as it was starting to get a little dark, was at the beautiful Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall is unique because there is a pathway to walk behind the falls. It was quite wet and windy back there, and a little bit of a challenge to walk through -- hard to photograph but definitely worth it! Charlotte had fallen asleep in the car, so we took turns going and walking behind the falls.