Birding Again Around Akureyri

After failing to find breakfast in Grundarfjörður (it really was a tiny little place!), we headed out for Stykkishólmur, where we had at the last minute snagged tickets on a boat tour to see puffins. We stopped at a bakery on the way into town where Mike bravely tried another Icelandic donut, only to be disappointed once again.

The boat tour took us out among the islands around Stykkishólmur, where lots of bird colonies nest over the summer months. Our timing worked out well because we were there within the last week of when it would be possible to see puffins before they migrated further south! See the photos below showing how focused we were on birds for this little excursion. :) The tour had a sense of humor, too, though–it was advertised as a “Viking sushi cruise”, and featured a brief trawl of the bay floor, bringing up tons of scallops, urchins, and more that the crew served up for a fresh meal, complete with wasabi, soy sauce, and white wine (for purchase).

Our afternoon that day was spent driving to Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest town. We loved our AirBnb there and found the town really charming. It was situated along a fjord, and the waterside rooftop restaurant we ate dinner at brought memories of Zurich.

The next morning we explored town a little and visited the botanical garden before heading out to see more waterfalls (the famous Goðafoss plus Dettifoss and Sellfoss), Mývatn Lake, and volcanic landscapes. The views changed significantly that day, showing just how much of Iceland has been shaped by volcanoes… and the vast quantities of water they have tucked about everywhere! We stopped at a geothermal spa in the afternoon, getting our second incredible soak with an infinity pool edge overlooking the lava fields.