JÖKULSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON

 

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is fed by Breiðamerkurjökull, which is an outlet glacier from Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in all Europe. The glacial lake is getting bigger every year and it is now about 18 km².

If you already went to Jokulsarlon one day, you can find it totally different when you go back because the landscape is always changing. In fact, the glacier tongue is receding very fast, letting many ice chunks fall from it. Some icebergs are incredibly bright blue, others have gray streaks from the ash residue of anterior volcanic eruptions. Depending on what kind of icebergs there are floating in the lagoon, Jokulsarlon can look like a completely different place from one month to another. That is why no one would never get bored of the glacier lagoon.

Jokulsarlon is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Iceland, it is definitely the highlight of the South Coast.

 

HOW TO GET THERE

Jokulsarlon is about 370 kilometers (230 miles) east from Reykjavík. It is very close to the Ring road and from the Icelandic capital, the drive is approximately 4.5 hours. It is located in the South-Eastern part of Iceland, on the edge of Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, in Austur Skaftafellssýsla county. Jokulsarlon is on the southeastern border of the Vatnajökull National Park.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The lagoon is accessible all year round, but boat tours are only in operation during the summertime and are dependant on the weather.

It is recommended to bring appropriate clothing such as warm clothes, a hat, a scarf, gloves, and good shoes even if the sun is shining and you are visiting during summer. Always dress in layers so if you are too warm you can take one layer off and vice versa.

There is a café with restrooms right beside the lagoon. There, you can have a hot drink and eat something in a warm place.

It is always better to book your boat tour in advance to be sure to have a seat left, mostly if you are traveling with a group of people or if you are visiting during high season.

 

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO GET THERE?

In winter, there are fewer people coming to Iceland due to the few hours of daylight and the low temperatures. So if you go to Jokulsarlon during the wintertime you would benefit from smaller crowds and lower prices on everything. However, you will not be able to join a boat tour as they run only during summer. Roads conditions can get really hard from October to April so it is better to visit with a guide.

During summer, you can take advantage of the midnight sun and the full 24 hours of daylight at the end of June to visit the glacier lagoon during the evening to meet fewer people. It is a good tip to visit the most crowded locations with fewer tourists.

Ariadna Ortiz