REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Lava ripped through the dark hours of Wednesday morning on the Reykjanes Peninsula, forcing an overnight evacuation of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and briefly unsettling guests in one of the country’s most visited regions.
Hidden Iceland has become a buzz phrase among road-trippers who would rather funnel their cash toward diesel and doughnuts than shell out triple-digit fees at the famous Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon. As reported by the Daily Mail, one veteran driver who has circled the island twice says a shoestring approach not only protects the “hip pocket” but also unlocks sights most visitors never see. You will cover roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) if you make the complete circuit and detour into every fjord, fishing village and farmland track described below.
The aquamarine waters of Comino’s Blue Lagoon have long been a postcard for the Maltese Islands. Still, the tiny cove is now battling a surge of popularity that many locals call unsustainable. According to crowd estimates, up to 10,000 day-trippers pour onto the 1.4-square-mile islet on the busiest summer days. That flood of flip-flops and selfie sticks has pushed Malta’s government to impose a capacity cap and rethink how the archipelago markets itself.
The Blue Lagoon, Iceland's iconic geothermal spa, has closed temporarily following the eruption of a nearby volcano on November 20, located near Reykjavik. This marks the volcano's 10th eruption in three years, underscoring the region's heightened volcanic activity.
As a precaution, the Blue Lagoon has evacuated all visitors and suspended operations at its facilities. The closure is expected to remain in effect until at least November 24, at which point the situation will be reassessed.
Even under the best conditions, managing Iceland's Blue Lagoon, a top tourist destination, is challenging. The threat of volcanic eruptions has added complexity, leading to several evacuations since late 2022. Despite this, the Blue Lagoon is advancing ambitious plans to enhance its geothermal spa and expand its hospitality footprint.
Iceland's renowned Blue Lagoon is set to expand its hospitality offerings with the introduction of a second Retreat-branded hotel in the Icelandic highlands by 2027. This new addition will be situated near the Highland Base at Kerlingafjöll, a resort that opened last July, aiming to attract adventure-seekers with its diverse lodging options and geothermal baths.
Reykjavik, Iceland - The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland's most renowned geothermal spas, has temporarily closed its doors following a series of approximately 1,400 earthquakes within 24 hours on the Reykjanes peninsula. This seismic activity has raised concerns about a potential volcanic eruption in the area.
