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Natural disasters have carved Iceland’s landscape.
Volcanic eruptions, harsh winters, earthquakes, glaciers, and lava flow all shaped the country and its people, ravaging settlements, towns, roads, animals and crops, and at the same time, creating crater lakes, waterfalls, and striking land formations.
So it’s no surprise that the country draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to see its stunning vistas, dip into its thermal pools, catch the Northern Lights, and experience all the natural wonders.
Long road ahead
When traveling Iceland, renting a car may be the way to go. It provides you with the flexibility to stop and enjoy the views or visit more or fewer places depending on your pace.
However, car rentals in Iceland are expensive. The only way you can maximize the value of a car rental is if you fully occupy it and everyone in your group is paying their share.
An alternative is to join a tour, especially if you’re going solo or traveling with just one other person.
The iconic Kirkjufell. All photos by Joshua Berida/RapplerWhile many have said that “the journey is the destination,” in Iceland, this adage might come quite literally.
Once you drive out of the capital Reykjavik, you’ll see the country’s diverse landscape shaped by catastrophes, and understand why it’s nicknamed the “Land of Fire and Ice.”
A long drive will take you through glaciers, dormant volcanoes, sweeping mountain vistas, lakes, and waterfalls.
Its approximation of an alien terrain has made it a choice filming location. Some movies that have scenes using Iceland’s jaw-dropping landscapes include Interstellar, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Thor: The Dark World, and Prometheus.
Enigma of Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Our tour guide for the Snæfellsnes Peninsula mentioned tidbits about Iceland as our bus drove through the countryside.
They have what they call “window weather” — a view from your vehicle that would look perfect as the sun is out with clear, blue skies, and the window framing the postcard-like landscape featuring waterfalls, rock formations, and cliffs.
However, the moment you step out from the warmth and comfort of your car or bus, you’d feel Iceland’s harsh climate. The temperature would drop, the wind would howl, and the blue sky would turn overcast in a few hours.
Budir Black ChurchKirkjufell is an iconic mountain in Snæfellsnes. It has a distinct triangular shape and stands 463 meters high.
Seafarers and travelers used it as a visual landmark to guide them. Not too far from the mountain is Kirkjufellsfoss, a waterfall.
Many visitors frame it with Kirkjufell when they take photos of the landscape. Its striking image across different seasons makes it one of the most photographed places in the country.
I didn’t bring a winter jacket because it would occupy too much space in my bag and that Iceland was only a short segment of a longer trip. I would stay longer in warmer countries after this trip anyway, I reasoned.
But as we made our way to Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach, I felt my fingers tingle, my face numbing, and my body shuddering because of the freezing temperature.
The gloomy weather was in stark contrast to our stop in Kirkjufell. (Trivia: this mountain was one of the filming locations in Game of Thrones). The towering rock formations on the beach also resembled trolls.
“Don’t get too close to the water. Don’t be fooled by the lapping of the waves. It can suddenly pull you in,” our guide said.
Troll-like rock formations lining Djúpalónssandur Black Sand BeachOur guide gave us some time to walk along the beach. Its black sand is different from the powdery, white shore of the beaches I’m accustomed to in the Philippines. The only other place I saw a black sand beach back home was in Albay.
I stood on top of a group of slippery rocks, minding the distance between me and the waves. I soaked in the views of the crescent-shaped shoreline before rejoining our group.
Wild beauty
I booked a tour to Landmannalaugar while I was in Iceland. It was a hiking trip I looked forward to when I made my itinerary.
The past couple of days were surreal, with excursions to the country’s spectacular and rough terrain. We drove through scenery as if they were taken from sci-fi films; lava fields, volcanoes, lakes, and glaciers dotting the landscape.
Haifoss was one of our stops on the way to Landmannalaugar. The spectacular waterfalls dropped into an equally spectacular canyon.
When we arrived at Landmannalaugar, our guide led us through a lava field with the colorful mountains in the distance.
Rhyolite mountains blend with ice, lava fields, and a rugged terrain in Landmannalaugar.The trail was easy to navigate, and the weather was cooperative. He explained that the area took shape over centuries. The strong winds and numerous volcanic eruptions carved the terrain into what it is today.
One could see the mix of black igneous rocks and ice. Our guide allowed us to go on our own to explore while he returned with the other people in the group.
I decided to take the short hike up to one of the peaks. As I reached the summit, the temperature dropped, and the wind blew stronger. The combination of the surroundings in front of me; the lava fields, jagged rocks, patches of ice, rolling hills, and the colorful rhyolite mountains seemed contradictory definitions of beauty.
How could something cataclysmic create something like this? In Iceland, something’s always brewing beneath the surface; some minor eruption, steam bursting out of the ground. This may or may not lead to a devastating explosion, but that’s part of the adventure.
I took one last look at the rugged terrain before following the trail back to camp.
Journey to the south
The long bus ride took our group to one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
It’s similar to the one I saw in Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but Reynisfjara had one distinct feature, its pillar and block-like rock formations near the shore. If you’re sharp-eyed or have binoculars with you, you can spot puffins flying about (during the right season).
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Skogafoss is one of the waterfalls you’ll likely see splashed all over advertisements and online posts about Iceland. It’s a marvelous sight to set your eyes on because of its power, height (60m) and width (15m).
You can get as close as you want to the waterfall to feel its powerful cascade, if you don’t mind getting wet.
SkogafossSeljalandsfoss drops from a height of around 60m. You can walk behind this picturesque natural attraction during your visit.
Solheimajokull is a glacier you can see up close. I didn’t get to climb it (that’s for a different tour) but got close enough. It’s another one of Iceland’s captivating contradictions — the freezing temperatures and harsh climate that can form glaciers, and simultaneously, have active volcanoes.
The hours-long road trips are part of your adventure in Iceland. The waterfalls, hiking trails, and stunning landscapes will form part of your core memories. It’s a country I would love to go back to. I hope it’s on your bucket list, too. – Rappler.com
