Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.04.2017, Page 50

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50The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 05 — 2017
Paradise Island
A boat trip to Vigur in the remote Westfjords
Words: Joanna Smith Photos: Art Bicnick

Although it boasts some of Ice-
land’s most beautiful landscapes,
the Westfjords is one of the least
visited areas in the country. Admit-
tedly, the windy coastal roads mean
the drive is a long one—five hours
if you’re lucky, and more if you get
caught in bad weather. However,
the big-for-the-Westfjords town
of Ísafjörður is a mere 30-minute
flight from the Reykjavík domestic
airport, meaning you can take a day
trip up north and still be back in
Reykjavík for supper.
O n c e y o u ’ v e l a n d e d i n
Ísafjörður—at potentially the cut-
est little airport in the world—you
instantly feel a world away from
Reykjavík. Surrounded by snowy
mountains and an almost tur-
quoise ocean, this place feels like
something out of a Disney movie—
you know, that one with a Nordic
feel, where everything is frozen. I
forget the name.
Glittering mountains
Although the Westfjords receive
far less visitors than Reykjavík,
there is still a wide range of tours
available, from kayaking to Super
Jeeps to horseback riding. Alter-
natively, if you want something
a little more chilled, a day trip to
Vigur—or “Paradise Island,” as
West Tours calls it—is the perfect
way to see the natural beauty of
the Westfjords.
We hopped on the boat from the
Ísafjörður harbour and sailed for
about half an hour to get there, and
the trip was worth it for the boat
ride alone. The bitter sea breeze
rattles through your bones, but
you won’t even notice—the white
mountains glitter in the sun, con-
trasting against the black soil of the
ground below, and flocks of birds
fly alongside as you speed through
the freezing ocean. It’s Arctic bliss.
Island wildlife
Our destination is a tiny island
famed for its avian inhabitants.
In the summer months, flocks of
puffins and eider ducks nest along
the hilly shore. West Tours is care-
ful about the number of tourists
they take to Vigur—usually only
one group of around ten people per
day—as they’re wary of disturbing
the island’s natural inhabitants.
As we walked along the shore,
we also noticed a group of seals cu-
riously following us, intermittently
bobbing their heads above the wa-
ter to get a good look. Once the tide
went out, they took their chance to
sunbathe, flopping onto rocks in
that oh-so-graceful way that only a
seal can make look adorable. Also, if
you’re into manmade rarities, this
tiny island is home to Iceland’s only
windmill, and the smallest post
office in Europe—which is some-
thing to write home about… and
post from. Two birds, one stone.
Back in Ísafjörður, we had time
to wander around before catching
our flight home to Reykjavík. It’s a
quaint town, with colourful build-
ings set against the snowy fjord.
There are plenty of bakeries and
cafés to enjoy, or you can just grab
an ice cream and watch this slow-
paced miniature world go by. Take
your fill, because once you’re back
in Reykjavík, you’ll be counting
down the moments until your next
trip to this northern paradise.
With special thanks to Aldrei for ég
suður festival

SHARE & VIEW GALLERY:
gpv.is/vig05
Curious sunbathing seals.
Looking back to the mainland... FOREVER
How to get there:
Fly, or drive Route 1 North,
then take routes 60 & 61
Distance from
Reykjavík
445 km
Trip provided by
westtours.is