Discover the Reykjanes peninsula and sea cliffs

Pick up at the port of Reykjavik, where your cruise ship calls, by our guide who will be identified with the Shorexc sign, to start the excursion.

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

Included in the UNESCO Global Geopark, Reykjanes has a lot to offer and gives us a good overview of the possible landscapes around Iceland. From iconic lava fields to geothermal lakes or even 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 the reason 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 thus the fifth largest municipality in Iceland.

Our tour begins with a bus ride of approximately 45 minutes, before arriving at our first jaw-dropping stop. The geothermal area of Krýsuvík is indescribable. With its multicolored hills, soaring columns of steam and bubbling mud pools that play a symphony, Krysuvik is unique in the world. Located in the Reykjanes Nature Reserve, the geothermal area truly showcases the power of nature through active hot springs.

We will return to our bus and after approximately 40 minutes we will arrive at 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 named Gudrun, whose spirit was trapped in the hot springs by a priest some 400 years ago. Gunnuhver has Iceland's largest mud pool, 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 (300 °F).

Our next stop will be Iceland's oldest and most popular lighthouse - Reykjanesviti.
If you are interested in wildlife, specifically bird life, 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 can actually see today was built in 1929 and it is estimated that a new one will be needed in the next few years due to the erosion of the cliff. Reykjanesviti is 31 meters high and stands 73 meters above sea level.

Very close to the lighthouse are the Valahnúkur cliffs. The area is home to a large seabird colony. At Valahnúkur, the beautiful stretch of coastline is continuously pounded by huge waves as 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 on the cliff edges due to the strong wind.

We will return to the port for the farewell.

THERE ARE NO SUPPLEMENTS.

REMARKS

Easy/Panoramic Level
It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes.
People with reduced mobility who use wheelchairs must be accompanied by another person who can help them. Please use folding wheelchairs, as the buses do not have lifts or ramps. Shore2Shore is not responsible if the client does not inform us of 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.