The geological beauties of the Reykjanes Peninsula and cliffs

Pickup at the Reykjavik port, where your cruise makes a stop, by our Spanish-speaking guide who will be identified with the Shore2Shore sign, to begin the excursion.

Reykjanes is a true geological paradise, with incredible geothermal energy, seismic activity, and tectonic movements. This tour is perfect for those who want to witness the great diversity of Icelandic nature.

Included in the UNESCO Global Geopark, Reykjanes has much to offer and gives us a good overview of the possible landscapes around Iceland. From iconic lava fields to geothermal lakes and also hot springs, our excursion will be full of surprises and unique geological features that you may only see once in your lifetime.

The Reykjanes peninsula is located where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are constantly moving apart about 2 cm per year. That is why the peninsula offers permanent volcanic activity and small earthquakes are not uncommon there. The cliffs around the peninsula are dotted with rich birdlife and some of the most spectacular breaking waves in the world.

Reykjanes has many fishing villages and towns, forming the largest municipality of Reykjanesbær which includes approximately 16,000 residents. It is therefore the fifth largest municipality in Iceland.

Our excursion begins with a bus ride of approximately 45 minutes before reaching our first stop that will leave us speechless. The geothermal area of Krýsuvík is indescribable. With its multicolored hills, rising steam columns, and bubbling mud pools playing a symphony, Krýsuvík is unique in the world. Located in the Reykjanes Nature Reserve, the geothermal area truly shows the power of nature through its active hot springs.

We will return to our bus and after about 40 minutes arrive at the Gunnuhver geothermal area. The highly active geothermal area of bubbling mud pools and steam vents is linked to a ghost story. It is named after an angry ghost called Gudrun, whose spirit was trapped in the hot springs by a priest about 400 years ago. Gunnuhver has the largest mud pool in Iceland, measuring 20 meters wide (65 feet). The hot springs are filled with seawater, unlike other geothermal areas around Iceland, providing water up to 300 °C.

Our next stop will be the oldest and most popular lighthouse in Iceland: Reykjanesviti.
If you are interested in wildlife, specifically birdlife, the cliffs of Valahnúkur are the perfect place. Originally built in 1878, the lighthouse was destroyed 8 years later due to a major earthquake. The building you see today was actually constructed in 1929 and it is estimated that a new one will be needed in the coming years due to cliff erosion. Reykjanesviti is 31 meters tall and stands 73 meters above sea level.

Very close to the lighthouse are the Valahnúkur cliffs. The area hosts a large colony of seabirds. At Valahnúkur, the beautiful stretch of coast is continuously hit by huge waves while thousands of birds fly in search of food in the sea. Valahnúkur is composed of layers of tuff, pillow lava, and breccia, all formed during a single eruption. We must always be careful at the cliff edges due to the strong wind.

We will return to the port for the farewell.

Images 1-5 credit: https://www.visitreykjanes.is/ 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

• (INCLUDES ASSISTANCE AT THE PORT AND ON THE BUS, TRANSPORTATION AND SPANISH-SPEAKING GUIDE).
• DURATION: BUS AND GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 5 HOURS, DEPENDING ON THE SHIP'S TIME IN PORT.
• NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES.

NOTES

• Easy/Panoramic level
• It is recommended to wear comfortable footwear.
• People with reduced mobility who use wheelchairs must be accompanied by another person who can assist them. We kindly ask that foldable wheelchairs be used, as buses do not have lifts or ramps. Shore2Shore is not responsible if the client does not inform about their situation at the time of booking.

The port of Reykjavik is quite small. The guide will be waiting for you with the Shore2Shore sign in front of the little house (souvenir and wool clothing store called "Icewear") in the same parking lot. There is NO terminal, there is the pier and the parking lot and there is only one house in the parking lot near the pier.