If you are in search of a singular spot to go to in Iceland with unimaginable landscapes and an fascinating historical past that hasn’t been to completed to loss of life by each different vacationer, permit me to introduce you to Heimaey Island, one of many Westman Islands.
The Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) are an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast, comprising 15 small islands fashioned by underwater volcanic eruptions. The largest and solely inhabited island within the chain is Heimaey, which has a inhabitants of about 4300 folks.
And you may simply go to Heimaey Island as a part of a tour of Iceland’s South Coast, or as a slight detour from a Ring Road highway journey.
Westman Islands vs. Heimaey Island
“Vestmannaeyjar,” or the “Westman Islands” confer with the entire archipelago of volcanic islands positioned off the south shore of Iceland. Heimaey Island is the biggest of the Westman Islands, and is the one island that’s inhabited – and can be the principle island that vacationers can go to. (The city on the island can be simply referred to as Heimaey.)
So, when somebody says “I’m going to the Westman Islands,” they most likely imply that they’ll Heimaey. It’s widespread for guests to Iceland to confer with Heimaey as “the Westman Islands.”
How to get to the Westman Islands
While you technically can fly to Vestmannaeyjar (there are day by day flights from Reykjavik on Eagle Air), the preferred option to get there may be by ferry. The ferry Herjólfur sails from the city of Landeyjahöfn on the south coast of Iceland (roughly 1 hour from the city of Vik), taking about 40 minutes to cross over to Heimaey.
The ferry is massive (it is a mixed automotive and passenger ferry that may maintain 65-70 automobiles and as much as 540 passengers), and comes full with a number of lounge areas and a small cafe onboard.
The ferry sails no less than 7 occasions per day between Landeyjahöfn and Heimaey throughout good climate. (Note that in tough winter climate, the ferry generally sails from Þorlákshöfn as an alternative.)
You can discover extra data on ferry costs and the crusing schedule right here. (And sure, I positively suggest reserving ferry tickets upfront if you happen to plan to take a automotive with you!)
When to go to the Westman Islands
You can go to the Westman Islands year-round because the ferry runs year-round, however summer season is excessive season right here. Not solely is the climate essentially the most favorable through the summer season months, however May-August can be when 1000’s of puffins nest on Heimaey. In reality, extra puffins nest on this one island than in every other a part of Iceland.
So if you wish to see puffins, take pleasure in lengthy days, and have one of the best likelihood of excellent climate, you may need to go to the Westman Islands in the summertime.
Things to do within the Westman Islands (on Heimaey Island)
Once you get to Heimaey, listed below are the highest issues I personally assume are price doing there:
1. Visit the Eldheimar museum
Heimaey Island has truly been inhabited for a very long time, however the defining second that modified the course of its historical past endlessly occurred within the early morning hours of January 23, 1973, when a previously-unknown volcano dubbed Eldfell (“Hill of Fire”) erupted violently.
Through a stroke of eerie luck, a storm the day past had stored all of the native fishing boats in Heimaey’s harbor, and all the island’s 5300 inhabitants had been capable of be safely evacuated from the island. Not one life was misplaced through the eruption.
The Eldheimar Museum chronicles the story and aftermath of the Eldfell eruption, with the museum being constructed round a number of properties that had been buried in ash and different volcanic particles.
To totally perceive Heimaey and its folks, it’s essential go to this museum and perceive the lasting impact this occasion had on the Westman Islands.
2. Hike a volcano
Speaking of Eldfell, you may hike to the highest of the volcano’s crater to see the way it (fairly actually) modified the panorama of Heimaey. The hike to the highest is a 3.2-mile loop path that has some good elevation achieve to it.
(If you’d favor a shorter volcano hike, it is also attainable to hike to the close by Helgafell volcano crater, which is only a 1-mile loop path.)
3. Look for puffins
Like I discussed above, tons of puffins nest on Heimaey every summer season. There’s a bulbous little bit of land known as Stórhöfði on the southern finish of Heimaey Island the place the vast majority of the puffins nest on the cliffs. There are some strolling trails up right here, in addition to a number of marked “Puffin Lookout” areas.
During the summer season months, the puffins are tremendous simple to identify right here – simply be quiet and hold your distance from their burrows.
June, July, and early August are one of the best months to search for puffins.
4. Go on a RIB boat safari
RIB stands for “Rigid Inflatable Boat,” and a RIB safari within the Westman Islands is unquestionably one of many prime issues to do! An organization known as RIBsafari presents these excursions (together with extra conventional boat excursions), taking friends throughout Heimaey and a number of the smaller surrounding islands.
The RIB boats go quick, and also you’re inspired to face up (whereas holding on) and dance to blaring music as you journey between factors of curiosity. At every cease, a information will inform you about issues like wildlife, historical past, and anything you might be interested in.
You’ll sail out and in of sea caves, and in addition see some well-known rock formations like Elephant Rock on a tour like this.
My buddy and I did the 1-hour RIB Safari on an exquisite sunny August day, and instantly regretted not doing the longer 2-hour tour. It actually was that a lot enjoyable!
5. Play a spherical of golf
I’m not a golfer myself, however in case you are you would possibly need to lease some golf equipment and deal with the links-style course at Golfklúbbur Vestmannaeyja. This golf course on the sting of the ocean has arguably a number of the finest views on Heimaey; you may see Elephant Rock and nesting puffins as you play!
6. See the black church
Near the harbor the place the RIB excursions go away from, you may discover a curious picket church: an all black stave church.
Stave church buildings are normally present in Norway, and the Stafkirkjan on Heimaey was certainly a present from Norway. The church was gifted to Vestmannaeyjar by Norway within the yr 2000 to commemorate the 1000-year anniversary of Iceland’s conversion to Christianity.
The church is positioned in an space referred to as Skansinn or “The Fort,” which dates again to the 1500s. Here you may see the place the lava move from the 1973 Eldfell eruption was stopped actually in its tracks by a joint effort of US Army and NATO forces who force-cooled the lava utilizing sea water. They saved the Heimaey harbor (and subsequently the entire island’s livelihood) by doing this – although simply barely!
7. Relax on the swimming pool
Every city in Iceland has a public swimming pool, and Heimaey is not any exception! While there are not any sizzling springs or thermal swimming pools to take pleasure in on the island, you may go to the city swimming pool (search for indicators for the “Sundhöll Vestmanneyja”) as a customer.
This pool advanced has a big indoor pool, together with heated outside swimming pools, three sizzling tubs, and a few epic water slides. The entry payment is round $5 USD per particular person. (Just notice that, as at any public tub or pool in Iceland, you may must bathe totally bare earlier than coming into the pool space!)
8. Have drinks and dinner on the town
If you are staying in a single day on Heimaey, then you may take pleasure in a meal on the town (seafood is unsurprisingly wonderful right here). Slippurinn is likely one of the top-rated eating places, and we additionally liked the cocktails and meals at Gott. There’s even a brewery on the island known as The Brothers Brewery.
How a lot time do you want within the Westman Islands?
You can technically match all of the actions talked about above right into a day journey to the Westman Islands. But, if you wish to totally soak every little thing in and never fear about dashing to make a return ferry, then I like to recommend staying in a single day on Heimaey.
Where to remain on the Westman Islands
The majority of lodging choices on Heimaey embody guesthouses and hostels. But a number of choices which can be extremely beneficial embody:
I personally stayed in a little bit glamping cabin, which was tremendous cute!
Do I want a automotive on the Westman Islands?
Many folks will inform you that you do not NEED a automotive to go to the Westman Islands (and positively the ferry ticket is cheaper if you happen to’re not bringing a car!). But I truly disagree. I’d suggest that you just do deliver a automotive with you to Heimaey if you happen to’ve already rented one in Iceland.
While you may simply stroll from the ferry dock into city, the island is not *that* small. For instance, if you happen to wished to stroll to the puffin cliffs on the south finish of the island, it will take you nearly 1.5 hours, with elements of it being uphill.
I used to be very joyful that we determined to being a automotive with us to the Westman Islands, because it made getting round fast and simple. And we had no points discovering parking wherever, regardless of visiting throughout excessive season.
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Who’s able to plan a visit to the Westman Islands?