The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
I've been dreaming about visiting the Blue Lagoon for quite some time. It's one of those places that always looked too good to be true which is why I knew I had to see it for myself.
"In 1976 a pool formed at the site from the waste water of the geothermal power plant that had just been built there. In 1981 people started bathing in it after the discovery of its healing powers for psoriasis. In 1992 the Blue Lagoon company was established and the bathing facility was opened for the public. The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and the water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 98–102 °F. The Blue Lagoon also operates a research and development facility to help find cures for other skin ailments using the mineral-rich water. The lagoon is a man-made lagoon which is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant, Svartsengi, and is renewed every two days. Superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through heat exchangers to provide heat for a municipal water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in." (wiki)
In other words, the lagoon is intriguing and gorgeous and full of mystery which brings tourists flocking from all over the globe to soak in its warm, milky blue waters.
To get into the Blue Lagoon, it costs roughly 50 USD, but we indulged and booked an overnight stay at the hotel which is just a stone's throw away from the lagoon and includes unlimited access to the lagoon, as well as breakfast and an entirely separate, private lagoon just for the hotel guests.
Our room had an incredible view of the lava field and giant, black rocks covered in moss sat just outside our window. The room was cozy and quiet; perfect for our last night in Iceland.
In the locker rooms, there are signs everywhere reminding you to bathe completely naked before entering, "WITHOUT SWIMWEAR." They mean business. The bigger Blue Lagoon locker room was pretty packed, but I had a bit more privacy and didn't feel the need to lock anything up in the locker room at our hotel's private lagoon.
We stayed roughly three hours the first day at the main lagoon. It was much bigger than I thought it was going to be, with tons of room to explore. The water feels like a really comfortable hot tub, and sometimes you even find hotter spots as you're floating around, but nothing too hot that your body can't handle. It's lovely! Your feet slip and squish along the bottom as the soft sediment sinks between your toes. There are silica mud buckets placed in a few different locations around the lagoon with spoons for scooping. Applying it to your skin is the fun part. :) We even ordered a drink at a little floating bar situated right inside the lagoon. You don't even need to get out of the water to order! You pay using a blue bracelet they scan that all visitors must wear to enter and you worry about the real bill later. There are steam rooms, waterfalls, and sections within the lagoon where you can pay for a full body massage. The Blue Lagoon is a true paradise and the most amazing spa I've ever been to. We left feeling pruny, relaxed, and all kinds of happy.
In the morning, we ate breakfast in our big white robes and enjoyed the beautiful views of the lagoon from our table. Feeling like royalty every now and then sure is nice! No complaints here. ;)
We spent the remainder of our time relaxing in the private lagoon before getting our things together and heading off to the airport to catch our flight back to the states. I'm so happy we decided to stay at the hotel. It gave us more time to relax and really appreciate the spa.
Adam and I have been talking about our next trip and we're already trying to figure out a way to squeeze in a stopover in Iceland just so we can take another dip in the Blue Lagoon! We were sad to leave, but I know we'll be back soon.