Relaxing at the Blue Lagoon
In this article, you’ll be heading about 40 minutes southwest from Reykjavík to the most relaxing place on earth – The Blue Lagoon
Now we know what you may be thinking. “I came here to explore waterfalls and climb mountains – why would I want to float around in a lagoon?” My friend, when you experience what it’s like to soak for hours in one of the most comfortably heated pools in the world, you will never want to leave!
Plus, you probably didn’t know this because no where on the internet will you find this fact except here on Camping Iceland, but did you know the Blue Lagoon in Iceland has more Google reviews than the Great Wall of China? See for yourself here:
Blue Lagoon google reviews. At 14,033 reviews, and a 4.5 star rating
Great Wall of China reviews. At 12,232 reviews, and a 4.2 star rating
Our guess is that tourists would rather enjoy themselves by soaking up the mineral rich water than hike a wall where thousands of slaves died building something that didn’t keep the bad guys out any way!
Okay, you’re curious now – what is the Blue Lagoon?
The Blue Lagoon is a large body of geothermal seawater rich with minerals that is naturally heated by the volcanic landscape it sits on. The water temperature consistently stays heated at over 100 degrees, so it’s like soaking in the world’s largest hot tub.
Why do so many people visit the Blue lagoon?
These heated waters have many powers to offer for those who soak in them. A few benefits to relaxing in the Blue Lagoon are: Nurtures your skin Because the waters are seawater, they contain high levels of silica – a substance that our bodies love and need to be healthy. In fact silica is so important to ensuring healthy skin nurturing, that it is sold in body lotions and packets in processed, less organic ways. At the Blue Lagoon, these waters offer natural silicone that settles at the bottom of the waters, and can be used by guests to rub on their face and bodies.
Relaxing for your bones
Because the water is heated to a comfortable temperature of 100 degrees, it allows people with aching bones or joint discomfort to relieve their tension and loosen up any hurting nerves. If you are an avid hiker and explorer, chances are you may suffer from back pains, knee pains or other joint pains from time to time. If so, you need to kick back in the Blue Lagoon for a couple of hours or more (you really won’t want to leave after you’ve soaked in the water for a few minutes).
Soothing for your brain
This is especially true for explorers who are traveling from other countries to Iceland. Leading up to your vacation, you have been stressing out about plane tickets, packing the right clothes, having enough in your budget – the list goes on. Now that you’re here in Iceland, it’s time to let those anxious emotions slide off. You’re here to rejuvenate – so don’t waste any time!
What you can expect during your visit
Before arriving, be sure you book your visit online first. You can do so by visiting the Blue Lagoons website at bluelagoon.com. The Blue Lagoon offers many different amenities. Many tourists choose to ride the bus there, but you can easily drive there on your own from Reykjavík within 40 minutes.
Arrival and checking in
When you arrive, you’ll check in at the front desk with a receptionist where you’ll have the option to pay for extra items such as swimwear (in case you forgot yours at home) bath towel, robe, flip flops, etc.
You’ll be given a cool bracelet that securely clips onto your wrist. You’ll need to keep this bracelet on you at all times during your stay. After checking in, you can go to the locker and shower rooms. In order to provide a safe hygienic experience, the facility does ask each person to shower without a bathing suit using one of the many private shower stalls available before entering the lagoon waters. Body wash and shampoo are provided without any extra cost to you.
Once you’ve showered and dressed in your bathing suite, you can go and step out into the lagoon waters and began to wash away those worries and aches!
While in the waters, there are a number of extra items you can enjoy. You can pay to have a special massage right in the lagoons waters, or you can also step away to the sauna for a bit.
Stationed along side the pool, you’ll find little wooden boxes with facial mask and body cream to apply. This helps add more nutrition to your skin, and after you’ve let it sit for 20 minutes, you can rinse it off, leaving your skin with a smooth feel!
Everything about the Blue lagoon is about making you feel comfortable without you ever having to leave the water. That’s why they also offer a wet bar in the water where you can swim up and order a beer to enjoy. Remember the bracelet you checked in with? You can use that to scan at the bar every time you purchase a beer. It acts as a convenient tab that you can easily pay for later when you check out.
When you’re ready to call it a day, you’ll check out at the front desk, turn your bracelet in and pay for any accrued purchases. If you’re hungry and have loads of extra cash, and want to enjoy some contemporary Icelandic food before heading out, you can stop at the Bryggjan restaurant in Grindavik, just 10 minutes drive away to taste the famous lobster soup or enjoy the Moss Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon (their food is amazing, but be warned, it comes with a price!) Or if you’d settle for just a good authentic cup of Icelandic coffee, you can stop at the Blue Lagoon Café.
