The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Iceland Day 2,  The Blue Lagoon

Iceland offers many a Bucket List items, and like The Northern Lights, The Blue Lagoon was on ours too. In this blog, I will tell you about my personal experience there, along with some tips I found helpful along the way. 

Iceland is famously known among travelers as a popular 'stop over' country. Meaning, on your way to and from The United States and the rest of Europe, it's common that you will have a lay over here. It's so common that the country has even started a hashtag, '#mystopover.'  Some airlines, even allow a few day stopover, with out a penalty. So you could, essentially stay in the country for 7 days and have it count as your stop over time, and continue on to the rest of Europe all in the cost of 1 flight. If however, you do not have the luxury of staying in this beautiful country for 7 days, and you have 4 hours or more between your connecting flight. The Blue Lagoon is the perfect one thing to do in Iceland. 
It's located less than 30 minutes from the airport and there are even tours that run back and forth that you can schedule. It is important that you book a reservation prior to going, and try your best to arrive early, as the line can be a little long. I'd guess about a 1/2 hour wait. (but we skipped the lines because we were with a group so that is just a guess) 

The drive alone to the Blue Lagoon, is beautiful. It is surrounded by lava fields, and us being there in the Winter, the lava mountains were topped with snow. You can even see the smoke coming from the factory right outside the lagoon, along the way. 

        

The Lagoon was actually naturally formed in the beginning. There is a factory close by and the run off from the process created a natural lagoon that the workers would go into at the end of their day. Geothermal pools are commonly spread around Iceland, it is a quite enjoyable pass time among the Icelandic people, especially in the winter. The Blue Lagoon itself has been turned into a very popular tourist attraction, and while Icelandic people do go to it, their normal geothermal pools simply look like swimming pools at home. 

Common Concerns about the Blue Lagoon

Many people hear, and are worried that you have to shower naked prior to entering, and while almost all Icelandic people do it with out giving it a second thought, it may not be your preference. So I am here to alleviate your fears, you are required to take a shower prior to entering the lagoon, but The Blue Lagoon is very tourist friendly. There are shower stalls with no doors, and shower stalls with doors. They ask that you shower with out your bathing suit, but do not enforce it.  So have no fear, if you don't want anyone seeing your pasty white bum, you are in the clear! 
Also, the Germs in the water, warm water seems like the perfect place for germs to breed. However, there are natural elements that act as chlorine, that don't allow certain algae to form. The lagoon is also a constant flow of water that replaces itself everyday. 

What to bring to the Blue Lagoon? 

You can rent anything and everything you could need,at a cost of course. Iceland is actually very expensive. So I would not recommend this, but should you head there completely on a whim... 
you'd survive. 

Most tour groups would include a towel, and a fancy package would include flip flops and a robe. While flip flops and a robe would come in handy, they are not necessary. A towel however, is. If you are trying to save some money, you can sneak one out of your hotel. *Don't ask, they will not let you* But if you put it in your bag, or even wrap it under your millions of layers you most likely already have on to stay warm.. you'll be fine. If none of these ideas interest you, you can always bring one from home. I didn't use flip flops, but some people might prefer to have a pair. 

Lockers are included, and along with the lockers you get an electronic wrist band, (Kinda like the bands they give you at Disney) This wrist band, counts as your credit card, and access to everything you need. This way, the only thing you need to bring into the lagoon itself, is yourself. (your camera is permitted)

 **It is important to note that if you lose this wrist band you will be charged about $100** 

Once you enter the locker room, you change into your bathing suit, and shower. Heed this warning!(especially females) ****Due to the minerals in the water, if you go underwater your hair will be very dry and it will be miserable. There is a conditioner in the shower that they recommend you put on your dry hair prior to entering, to prevent this. It helps, but I still would not go under water. ****

Indoor entrance to the Blue Lagoon

Next, is entering the Lagoon. You have 2 options here, The brave, Option 1, make a quick dash through the doors out into the freezing cold weather in your bathing suit, or the.... less brave way, option 2, they built the beginning of the lagoon to start indoors so you can leisurely stroll in, and follow a path to a door that brings you gently into the lagoon itself. I wanted to attempt option 1, but Nick being the Florida boy that he is, (he wont even walk right into a pool in 80º degree weather) we strolled in. 

In the lagoon itself, is actually rather large, and there are different spa like activities you can do. Including a sauna, a steam room, a waterfall, and a personal favorite, a swim up bar that serves wine and beer. *this is where your wrist band comes in handy* There are even a few restaurants in the building, ranging to from fancy to cafeteria type food. 

One of the popular activities is applying the mineral that comes from the water. It is a silica paste you can put anywhere on your body. It is all natural, and forms when  the water is chilled. There are buckets you scoop it out of in certain areas of the lagoon. People put it all over their face, and body. It has been known to severely help psoriasis, and eczema. Your face will feel smooth as a baby's bottom when you rinse it off 5-10 minutes later. 

Overall, it's a very relaxing experience, there are a lot of people in the water, but it doesn't really interfere because of the steam, you cannot see everyone. We had a fantastic time, and the scenery leading up to the lagoon, and the drive there is breath taking. 

I highly recommend it to any one of any age, any type, it was one of our favorite experiences of the trip. The tranquil blue water, the relaxing atmosphere. Here are some of the pictures from our experience: 

For more information go to :http://www.bluelagoon.com/


If you have any questions regarding our experience feel free to leave a comment and I will answer it to the best of my ability. 

*Cheers*