- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
During the night, the ship sails along the southern coast of Iceland, dominated by Vatnajökull, Iceland's largest glacier. In the morning, the ship makes a call in the small, cozy port town of Djúpivogur.
Sheltered, but still very accessible from the ocean, the port is actually one of the oldest in Iceland, and the people from Djúpivogur take great pride in preserving some of the old houses. The town attracts creative folks and the art exhibitions are worth a visit, particularly the permanent Eggin I Gleðivík: 34 oversized bird eggs, carved out of granite. The Cultural Center is located in the beautiful red timber house, Langabúð, and opposite this on the other side of the small harbor is the old Hotel Framtid.
An optional excursion is available from Djúpivogur by Super Jeeps, the workhorse in modern Iceland.
In the afternoon, re-embark Ocean Atlantic and continue north along the dramatic coastline of the east fjords. The area has the lowest population in Iceland, and fishing is the big business. Sail past Mjóifjörður, "the narrow fjord," flanked by high mountains with steep cliff sides and numerous waterfalls and cascades.
By mid-evening, reach the fjord Borgarfjörður Eystri. Your destination is the small island of Hafnarhólmi, now connected to the mainland by a narrow pier. This little hilltop might well be the best place to observe the fascinating puffins. The birds arrive at Hafnarhólmi from their winter stay in mid-April, and nest on rock shelves or in the tufty grass slopes completely carefree from the many bird watchers that pass daily a few meters away on the wooden trails built into the hill. As well as the puffins, eiders, fulmar, and kittiwakes breed here on Hafnarhólmi.