Dyrhólaey, formerly known by seamen as Cape Portland, is a small promontory located on the south coast of Iceland, not far from the village Vík. In fact, Dyrhólaey is the southernmost point in mainland Iceland. It was formerly an island of volcanic origin, which is also known by the Icelandic word eyja meaning island.
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⛰️ Cliff spots 🏖️ Shore spots ⛰️ Hill spots 🏖️ Coast spots 🐾 Wildlife spots ❄️ Tundra spots 🚢 Lighthouse spots ️🏜️ Desert spots 🏖️ Beach spots ️🏜️ Natural arch spots 🌲 Plain spotsOn the south coast of Iceland, not far from the town of Vík, lies the peninsula of Dyrhólaey, Iceland.
At 120m high, Dyrhólaey is an ancient island with volcanic origins, which is why it still contains its volcanic arch. The peninsula offers a real diversity of landscapes: black sand beaches, glaciers, cliffs, a lagoon.
Dyrhólaey is popular for being a protected nature reserve. The reserve aims to protect certain bird species such as puffins, which come here at certain times of the year, usually between May and June. This is why the reserve is not accessible at this time, but you can still see the animals in the distance.
As explained earlier, the peninsula is located near a very small village: Vík. It is located south of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and is considered to be at risk due to potential eruptions from the Katla volcano.
You can start your stay by taking a few walks to the Dyrhólaey lighthouse and then to the cliff edge. From the top of the cliffs, you can enjoy a picturesque view of the black sandy beaches and Reynisdrangar, a group of stacks located at the end of the Reynisfjall cliffs, not far from the village of Vík. Legend has it that the stacks were once two trolls who were petrified by the sun after trying to bring a three-masted ship to shore.
Take advantage of your proximity to the village of Vík to visit it. This one is all the more interesting and incredible because it is so isolated from the rest of the country: there are no other villages or towns for at least 70km around, which is also what makes it so charming.
Passing by the small Reyniskirkja church and the imposing Reynisfjall cliffs, the village offers landscapes that are as atypical as they are charming.
Continue your journey and don't miss the opportunity to see the sumptuous Skogafoss waterfall located on the black sandy beach of Reynisfjara, but go a little further to discover other equally magnificent waterfalls like Gljúfrabú and Seljalandsfoss.
The south coast of Iceland offers a range of activities to do because of its diverse landscape. A breath of fresh air that will relax you and allow you to discover many things!
Dyrhólaey is about 2 hours from the capital Reykjavik. It is therefore possible to take a bus or rent a car to get to the peninsula.
Any time is a good time to visit Dyrhólaey.
In winter, you can enjoy beautiful scenery, especially with the Northern Lights, which usually appear between September and March.
In summer, you can see puffins in their natural state.
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