I love Iceland. The only reason I haven’t written more about Iceland is that it had been 24 months since I visited that magical, beautiful place before my recent trip. I will write more about all the things I love about Iceland, but today’s topic is the three lagoons I visited: Blue, Secret and Sky.
Full disclosure – there are more lagoons to visit, but these are the three commercial ones I know about that I have visited.
The Blue Lagoon –
The Blue Lagoon is pretty famous[1], but it disappointed me both times I visited. The first time was in July of 2018 on our first international trip with BigOne and SmallOne. NumberOneNiece came too, and the only booking we could get[2] was at 5pm on our first day in Iceland. It was sleeting[3]. The kids were cold. None of us had slept much[4]. We barely made our bus to the Blue Lagoon.
Once we got there, we were impressed. At first. In the middle of nowhere to us, there was water flowing and steaming through the sleet. The water at the Blue Lagoon is tinged a light blue and very cloudy. It is a man-made lagoon that is part of the huge geothermal plant that supplies electricity to much of Iceland. They leave the silica in the water, and probably add more, to make it a consistent balance of chemicals. The water is soothing, and it gently scrubs at your skin. However, the silica is drying, and you are told to leave a lot of conditioner in your hair when you get in the water.
While in the lagoon, you can go over to the mask bar to receive one portion of silica mask to cleanse your face[5]. You rinse it off in the lagoon water. Strangely with the silica in the water, the mask residue did not seem to affect the water at all. There was a swim up bar for a drink. It was crowded that day despite the sleet, and people left their drink glasses all over which made me nervous. And a little bit ashamed of visitor behavior in Iceland.
I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. It was my third impression of Iceland as a tourist, and I thought, really? $100 per person for that?
No offense Blue Lagoon. You serve your purpose very well, and I did go back on the latest trip with NumberOneNiece[6]. We went on the day we arrived in Iceland, and it was exactly like I remembered[7]. This time it was a partly cloudy, and not very windy. So, the experience in the water was better[8].
But it was still – not exactly what I was looking for in a lagoon.
The Secret Lagoon –
In May of 2019 and in November of 2019, I visited the Secret Lagoon[9]. To me, it appeared less in the middle of nowhere than the Blue Lagoon because it was right outside a very small town. I loved it. We were running ahead of schedule, and I was worried I would not arrive exactly at my appointed time. So I splurged and called. They kind of laughted me. At the Secret Lagoon, you can arrive early[10]. They are very relaxed[11].
The Secret Lagoon has changing facilities, towels provided and a snack bar just like the Blue Lagoon. At the Secret Lagoon, you don’t have to wait for your snacks until you are done. You can get out of the water, go in for a snack, and go back out in the water. The bottom of the pool is not as smooth as at the Blue Lagoon and the water is dark and cloudy like you have stirred up the bottom of a mud swimming hole in the Midwest.
I liked the more casual atmosphere and the lack of selling way expensive skin products[12]. I liked that it had a campground nearby and was about a 75 min drive from where we were staying in Reykjavik.
When I went back with the family, it was on the day we arrived in November 2019[13]. It was a great way to wake up on the first day of the trip after a short nap on the plane. It was a perfect beginning to the trip as we made our way to Vik to see the Black Sand Beaches[14].
One thing about visiting a lagoon in Iceland, you have to take your swimsuit off and wash all over. At all of them. They are very serious about it, and they aren’t so concerned with nudity in public spaces. LittleOne particularly did not like that first thing in the morning on his first day on a trip.
The Sky Lagoon –
But my favorite lagoon so far has been the Sky Lagoon[15]. It is right outside of Reykjavik, and you can take a taxi there[16].
The water at the Sky Lagoon is crystal clear. You can see your feet and the benches strategically placed around the lagoon. It is so well designed to feel hidden and secluded. The steam rising off the water and the twists and turns of the architecture and the infinity edge that really felt as though you could swim out into the ocean from the lagoon worked together to convince me that I had entered a mystical place outside of time.
It had elements LIKE the Blue Lagoon[17], but it felt like I was in Iceland not at a Theme Park of Icelandic.
I will go back. The Sky Lagoon is not JUST for tourists, and someday I hope to buy the multi-pass if I ever get to spend three months there. The media for it has mentioned it is supposed to represent the way Icelanders enjoy their diverse, incredible, beauty of water.
We did the Ritual which included:
- Hot Pool (the lagoon)
- Cold Pool (for a quick dip – it WAS invigorating. I didn’t last 10 second.)
- Sauna (hot with a lovely window floor to ceiling that let you look over at Reykjavik)
- Cold Mist (to bring your temperature back down to prepare for the)
- Salt Scrub (but not on your face – on your body!)
- Steam Room (this was my favorite as your pores are opened to be cleansed by the scrub)
- And finally a shower
Then you get to go enjoy the hot lagoon again.
I have read other posts on this, and it is true you want to visit any lagoon in Iceland when it opens to get the best experience.
I may go back to the Secret Lagoon one day. I like that area of Iceland and would spend a day or two enjoying it more in the future if I can. That is a wish.
There is a plan[18] to return to Iceland for an extended trip. I want to be there and enjoy an extended chance to breathe the air, drink the wine, and write the words. To be.
Next time, or sometime in the future, there is another water wonder to visit: The Hot River at Reykjadalur Valley. We found the entrance this trip[19], but the hike was a bit daunting at 27 deg F out. I wasn’t sure I could make it there and back without Husband at my side.
One of the best things about my visits to Iceland, is I have faith I will go back and see the rest of what I want to see. Iceland gives me hope. It is amazing I found the spot on earth that grants me that, and I am so grateful I got to go back.
[1] It is not, however the first thing that comes up in Google when you type “Blue Lagoon.” Thanks Brooke Shields.
[2] Because I waited so long to make the booking…
[3] Yes, it can sleet in July in Iceland.
[4] When traveling to Iceland on Icelandair (which I recommend), flights from the US arrive in Iceland in the very early morning. This means, even if you can sleep on the plane you will only get about 4 hours of sleep. Not ideal, but you learn to get used to it.
[5] You can also add on other masks. For a fee.
[6] Everybody needs a little time away, and I certainly did after the last 20 months.
[7] Except for the carrot cake. No carrot cake in the snack bar this time.
[8] I also didn’t have to worry about losing LittleOne in the cloudy water this time.
[9] This one does come up first in the Google search.
[10] Or, that day we could.
[11] This is true of most events in Iceland, or so I have found. The Icelanders don’t get fussed about time the same way Americans do. Except about early check in at hotels. That is almost never available.
[12] The Blue Lagoon has a whole line of skin care options to purchase. I have purchased them and they are nice.
[13] Again, not much sleep.
[14] Someday, I will spend an extended period of time in Vik writing a novel. Or so I hope.
[15] It’s new.
[16] You can also get lost finding it as NumberOneNiece and I discovered.
[17] A swim up bar. A beauty ritual.
[18] And you may recall what I have to say about plans…
[19] NumberOneNiece is an AWESOME navigator.
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