It is cold here in New England, and today we had an earthquake apparently, although I was in a grocery store and didn’t feel it at all. A cold and shaky earth brought to mind Iceland, of course, and how often I see people asking where they can see an eruption. I, too, was excited to maybe see an active volcano on my trip, but while none erupted on my trip, I did come away with a new appreciation, respect, and trepidation about volcanoes.
As we got closer to our trip date, the science was saying no active volcanoes, so we planned the next best thing: The Lava Show. We chose the Lava Show in Reykjavík since it was the location that fit best in our itinerary. When I bought the tickets at home, it was later in the evening. At checkout, it let me add drinks and a souvenir piece of lava, so obviously I said yes. When we arrived at the show at 9:30AM, it seemed shockingly early for alcohol, but they made us a light and refreshing mango drink along with a tasty beer to consume over the next hour and a half. This show ended up being a great experience and I was glad I added drinks to my tickets.There is a small gift shop and photo op area, and the bar to enjoy prior to the show.
We walked right down the hall and got front row seats. The show was so informative, and let me tell you, when that lava starts pouring in, the room warms up FAST. It got shockingly hot next to the lava. They explained a lot of the science behind volcanoes, did experiments with the lava, answered questions, and showed a movie. I am not one for touristy attractions, but the Lava Show is definitely an experience I would recommend.
Now that you know more about volcanoes and lava, get out and see the real thing…or as close as you can safely come! There are several craters in Iceland, but closest to Reykjavík is the Kerið Crater where you can see unique red volcanic rock. You can also visit Viti Crater in the north or Saxhóll Crater on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Of those three, I think Viti Crater was the most accessible as it is only a few steps from the parking area, and you are already near the top of the crater. For the other two, you must do some climbing to get a good view of the crater.
If you have decent mobility, you can also take a tour of an old lava tunnel. The Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel tour was very educational, and the tunnel is interesting, but the footing is rough. Navigating the rocks was difficult for some. This attraction also had far more people in the tour than I expected. But if you go in knowing that it is a fast paced, rough terrain walk with lots of people, you’ll be in a better place to know what to expect. I think this tour is best after you’ve been to the Lava Show and learned some about how lava behaves, as well. The guides did an excellent job of assisting people who needed help through the terrain, so don’t be afraid to let them know your accessibility needs.
So don’t despair if a volcano is on your dream list for Iceland, but Mother Nature isn’t cooperating. From feeling the heat of molten rock to watching lava react to water to seeing the after effects of volcanoes years later, you now have some new ideas of ways to experience and explore volcanoes in Iceland!