If you want to see one of the most unique and coolest (pun intended) experiences ever, then you need to get your butt to Iceland to check out Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. There are not many places in this world where you can not only see a glacier up close but can also watch pieces of it floating around in a lagoon. I couldn’t get over the colors in the ice: from bright aquamarine blue to coal black. You also wouldn’t think watching pieces of ice float out to see would be fun but it totally was! We got to see a chunk get caught it the rapids of the river and you could hear loud cracks/bangs as it broke apart. Definitely an experience of a lifetime!
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
The Ring Road (Road 1) goes right past the lagoon so you can’t miss it! I would recommend going over the bridge in your car (not on foot, long story) and parking in the big lot by the cafe. There were a lot of other people there but since there are lots of different things to see, it didn’t feel overly crowded.
I mean, can you even with those colors?!
Just sit and watch for a while. You won’t regret it other than having a cold bum. haha!
This is the part of the river where the pieces get going to head out to sea and you can watch them crash around. So cool!
Diamond Beach
Get back in your car and head down to Diamond beach, just on the other side of the ring road. There is a parking lot here as well. Some of the glacier pieces get caught on the sand and since they are so clear, they look like diamonds. Hence the name. 😉 I could have sat here for hours, watching waves crash into the ice.
Iceland is full of unique places but I think Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach really take the cake! If you want more on Southern Iceland, check out my other posts here!
