Tour de 2 días a la Laguna Glaciar y las Cuevas de Hielo

Este emocionante viaje de dos días por la costa sur de Islandia te llevará a lo mejor y lo más popular de la isla en invierno y como colofón, se irá a las cuevas de hielo; el tour por excelencia del invierno. Iremos en busca de las auroras boreales (cuando el cielo esté despejado), la anteriormente mencionada cueva de hielo en el glaciar Vatnajökull, visitaremos la laguna de glaciar de Jökulsárlón y disfrutaremos de vistas espectaculares por la costa sur: playas de arena negra, glaciares, volcanes y cascadas, entre otras muchas maravillas naturales.

Te recogeremos en tu alojamiento en Reykjavik y nos dirigiremos por la costa sur. Podrás ver acantilados sombríos y montañas de increible belleza, roca de lava escarpada cubierta por una manta suave de musgo. Durante los próximos dos días, explorarás la costa, particularmente sus cascadas, playas de arena negra, y la Reserva Natural de Skaftafell, hasta la famosa laguna glaciar Jökulsárlón. Tendrás la oportunidad por la noche de ver la aurora boreal si el tiempo acompaña, que hacen las delicias de todos aquellos que la ven.

Al siguiete día se podrá acceder a una cueva de hielo cerca del glaciar Vatnajökull, el glaciar más grande de Europa. Hay disponibilidad extremadamente limitada para ver estas cuevas de origen natural, así que reserva tu plaza cuanto antes para asegurarte que tienes una plaza. Cada año las cuevas de forman de forma distinta al pasar el agua por el hielo milenario, creando esculturas de hielo en formas extrañas y fascinantes. Este tour solo se ofrece entre noviembre y marzo ya que se necesita de mucho frio para acceder de forma segura a las cuevas. No pierdas la oportunidad de explorar el corazón del glaciar! Comprueba la disponibilidad de reserva por encima pulsando "Elije una fecha."

• Disponible: Nov. - Mar.
• Duración: 2 días
• Actividades: Hacer Turismo, Cueva de hielo
• Dificultad: Fácil
• Edad mínima: 8 años
• Idiomas: English
• Lo más destacado:

  Jokulsarlon is a glacier lagoon in the south of Vatnajokull national park that is easily reached by the Ring Road.

  Covered in thick glacial ice until the 1930’s when the glacier started retreating, the lagoon today measures 7 square miles (20 km2). More than 300 feet of ice still breaks away each year, reshaping the lagoon and filling it with icebergs -  causing an alarmingly beautiful sight.

  The water is freezing cold and contains a mixture of salt and freshwater giving it a blue-green color. There is plenty of fish and birdlife by the lagoon and the vast sand area of Breiðamerkursandur, and hundreds of seals stay there in winter.

  Jökulsárlón,

  

  Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Iceland and the third largest glacier in Europe, covering 8% of the island's landmass. Vatnajökull Glacier can be found in the south west of Iceland and is a popular spot for glacier hiking and ice caving tours. 

  Facts about Vatnajökull 

  • Surface: 8,100 km2 
  • Average thickness: 400 - 600 m
  • Maximum thickness: 1,000 m
  • Height: 1,400 - 1,800 m
  • Highest peak: 2,200 m (Hvannadalshnjúkur)

  Information about Vatnajökull 

  Vatnajökull Glacier belongs to the greater Vatnajökull National Park, which encompasses the former national parks Skaftafell, in the southwest, and Jökulsárgljúfur, in the north. Vatnajökull's highest summit is Hvannadalshnjúkur which rests on top of a stratovolcano known as Öræfajökull. 

  Underneath the glacier rests some of the most active volcanoes in the country, the most notable being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðabunga. Volcanic activity in the region has occurred on and off throughout the centuries, and many geologists believe that such a period is overdue for immediate future. If their calculations are correct, it would mean significant volcanic activity for Vatnajökull over the scope of the next half century. 

  The glacier boasts of over 30 outlet glaciers, which are channels of ice that flow out of ice caps but remain constrained on the sides of the valley. The major outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull include Dyngjujökull in the north, Breiðamerkurjökull and Skeiðarárjökull to the south. To the west, one can find the outlet glaciers Síðujökull, Skaftárjökull and Tungnaárjökull. 

  Glaciers are in constant motion underneath their weight; as they form over the centuries, the accession of snow exceeds its melting, creating a constant "push" on the ice cap. Each year, due to the melting ice water, new ice caves form that disappear come spring. 

  • Click here for a selection of Ice Cave tours 

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  Numerous rivers run out of Vatnajökull, making up some of the greatest glacial rivers in Iceland:

  • Tungnaá (west)
  • Köldukvísl (west)
  • Þjórsá (west)
  • Jökulsá á Fjöllum (north)
  • Skjálfandafljót (north)
  • Jökulsá á Brú (north east) 
  • Jökulsá í Fljótsdal (north east)
  • Jökulsá í Lóni (south)
  • Hornafjarðarfljót (south)
  • Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi (south)
  • Skeiðará (south)
  • Núpsvötn (south)
  • Hverfisfljót (south)
  • Skaftá (south) 

  Vatnajökull National Park 

  Vatnajökull National Park, in its current state, was established in June 2008. The park now covers an area of 14.141 km2, making it the second largest national park in Europe. Vatnajökull National Park has 14% coverage over the whole island of Iceland.

   

  Rivers divide the highland plateau to the north of the park; an area that sees massive glacial flows in the summertime. The volcanic table mountain Herðubreið towers over this particular region, along with volcanoes Askja, Snæfell and Kverkfjöll. 

  The canyon Jökulsárgljúfur was carved out by glacial floods centuries ago. At the upper end of the canyon, you'll find Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Further north, the horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi is believed to have formed when Óðinn's horse, Sleipnir, stepped his foot down from the heavens. 

  East around Snæfell, one can find wetlands and ranges, home to roaming herds of wild reindeer and abundant birdlife. Steep mountain ridges make up the south side of Vatnajökull, where outlet glaciers crawl in between the ridges onto the lowlands. The sandy plains of Skeiðarársandur also lie to the south as they reach out to sea. The glacial river Skeiðará runs through this vast desert. 

  One of Iceland's most visited landmarks is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which sits at the head of outlet glacier Breiðamerkurjökull. There, large icebergs that have broken off the glacier gather to float in the lake before ending up in the Atlantic Ocean, or on the nearby Diamond Beach. 

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  • Click here for a selection of Jökulsárlón tours

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  The Future of Vatnajökull 

  The volume of Vatnajökull reached its peak around 1930 but has since been in a steady process of decline. Because of rising levels of global temperature, approximately over the last 15 years, Vatnajökull has on average lost about a metre of its thickness annually. 

  If temperature levels continue to rise, the glacier could be all but gone nearing the end of the next century, leaving only small ice caps on top of the highest mountain summits.  

  Vatnajökull and Jökulsárlón in Popular Culture

  • HBO's Game of Thrones (season 2, 2012)
  • Batman Begins (2005)
  • James Bond: Die Another Day (2002)
  • James Bond: A View to a Kill (1985) 
  Vatnajökull,

   

  Skogafoss is one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls of the island with an astounding width of 25 meters and a drop of 60 meters. 

  This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland for travellers to visit. It is located in South Iceland, not far from Skogar, which itself features a highly interesting regional museum. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall often produces a single or double rainbow on sunny days. 

  Skógafoss,

   

  Seljalandsfoss in the river Seljalandsa in South Iceland is one of the most sought waterfalls in the country.

  Seljalandsfoss has a narrow cascade but is one of Iceland's highest waterfalls, at 63 meters. The waterfall is highly picturesque and has the rare distinction that one can actually walk behind it. 

  Seljalandsfoss,

  Skaftafell is a nature preserve in Oraefasveit. It used to be a national park of its own but joined the larger Vatnajokull National Park in 2008.

  Skaftafell is notable for its rich flora, growing between sands and glaciers, and overall for its amazing and contrasting scenery. You can take short and easy trails to the waterfalls Svartifoss and Hundafoss, as well as Skaftafell glacier, with the mountain Kristinartindar and Morsardalur valley further off.

  Skaftafell is also the perfect base camp for those seeking to climb Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnukur.

  Skaftafell,

  

  The world-famous Reynisfjara shore, near the village Vik in Myrdalur on Iceland's South Coast, is widely regarded as the most impressive black-sand beach in Iceland.

  To reach Reynisfjara you can either drive there yourself. Here you will find the largest and cheapest car rentals in Iceland. Or you can join this summer tour to the South coast, or this winter tour to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

  Reynisfjara is a black pebble beach and features an amazing cliff of regular basalt columns resembling a rocky step pyramid, which is called Hálsanef. Out in the sea are the spectacularly shaped basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. The area has a rich birdlife, including puffins, fulmars and guillemots.

  The waves at Reynisfjara are especially strong and unpredictable, and fatal accidents have occurred at this beach, so people are advised to take extra care when visiting the area.

  According to folklore, two trolls attempted to drag a ship to land but were turned to stone as daylight broke, turning them into the Reynisdrangar stacks, clearly visible from the beach. 

  Black Sand Beach - Reynisfjara,

  Vik in Myrdalur valley is the southernmost village on the Icelandic mainland, located 186 km from the capital Reykjavik.

  Vik is important as a service centre for the inhabitants and visitors of the marvellous Reynisfjara beach.

  Reynisfjara is widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches on earth (see for example Islands Magazine). This black pebble beach boasts an amazing cliff of regular basalt columns called Gardar, which resembles a rocky step pyramid and out in the sea are the spectaculary shaped basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. The area has rich birdlife, including puffins, fulmars  and guillemots.

  Vík i Mýrdal,

  

  The South Coast of Iceland is the country's most visited sightseeing route, along with the Golden Circle. 

  The famed South Coast shoreline stretches from the greater Reykjavík area and is dotted with natural wonders such as cascading waterfalls, volcanoes both active and dormant, black sand beaches and glacier lagoons. 

  Geography, Nature & Wildlife

  Iceland is divided into eight geographical regions. Out of these, the Southern Region is the largest, as it spans over 24.000 square kilometres with its administrative centre in the municipality of Selfoss. 

  What is known as the South Coast embodies the shoreline of this particular region. The area consists of a lowland that is mostly composed of marshlands, bays and cultivated pastures that are met by a series of black beaches where the estuaries to the east and west of the district close off the coastal body. 

  Underneath the soil rests a vast lava field, known as Þjórsárhraun. Its edges reach several hundred metres offshore where the ocean waves crash upon them, thereby protecting the lowland from the invasion of the sea. This results in the South Coast being unusually lacking in the deep fjords that so distinctly characterise the rest of Iceland's shore line. 

  The region boasts vibrant bird life during all seasons. It is not only rich with both marshland birds and seabirds but also migrating birds such as the North Atlantic puffin. Some species stay throughout the harsh Icelandic winter, including the northern diver, the loom and various species of gulls and ducks.  

  Highlights of the South Coast 

  The South Coast offers an unprecedented array of natural wonders that draw thousands of visitors each day. When driving the route from Reykjavík City, the highlights in their correct order are: 

  • Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
  • Vestmannaeyjar; The Westman Islands
  • Eyjafjallajökull Glacier Volcano
  • Skógafoss Waterfall
  • Sólheimajökull Glacier 
  • Dyrhólaey Peninsula
  • Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
  • Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks
  • Coastal Village Vík í Mýrdal
  • Skeiðarársandur Glacial Sand Plain
  • Vatnajökull National Park
  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon 

  These attractions count for but a fraction of what the South Coast has to offer. The vast sand plains of Sólheimasandur are home to a crashed DC-3 Plane Wreck, and close to Seljavellir by the Skógar Village there's Seljavallalaug, one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland. 

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  • Explore the many wonders of the area on these South Coast Tours

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  Costa Sur

• Guía profesional en inglés y conductor

• Traslados en mini-bus

• Alojamiento de una noche con desayuno en el Hotel Höfn

• Tour a la cueva de hielo

• Cena

• Comida

• Ropa abrigada

• Botas de montaña

• Camara

Debido a un gran aumento de la demanda de Islandia como destino turístico y dada la baja disponibilidad, las compañías de viajes en Islandia no pueden garantizar alojamientos específicos. Sin embargo, siempre podemos ofrecerle el mejor alojamiento disponible en el momento de su reserva. Debajo puede ver nuestras sugerencias en lo relativo alojamiento, Hótel Vatnajökull y Hótel Höfn. En el caso de que estos hoteles no sean una opción, se organizará una alternativa del mismo estándar.