Resort Review - Blue Lagoon

The spa was created in 1992 by Blue Lagoon Limited, which focused on the research and development of the water’s primary elements: silica, algae, and minerals. In 1999 they opened the spa and, in 2005, a clinic hotel for the treatment of psoriasis and has received two patents for the unique chemical composition of the silica and blue-green algae found in the lagoon’s ecosystem.

When you book online, the spa has two basic options - Comfort and Premium - priced at $68 and $87 USD respectively. The lower price offers you a simple visit to the to the spa, and one face mask you apply in the water. The higher price includes quite a bit more, but is still a ridiculous mark up. You are able to borrow a robe and a towel, you're given flip flops to keep, two free drinks, and three masks, not one. I figured the flip flops would make a good souvenir, so I opted for an unnecessary premium.

My arrival from the long and winding walk from the car drop-off and parking to the entrance of the spa was intense with the gloom and heavy rain, but once I entered the spa building I was shocked by the view from the glass facade visible at the entrance, where you could see the blue lagoon against the dark gray sky - fog and steam blending into a surreal landscape. After a quick change, I went into the lagoon and stayed happily for three and a half hours (the Blue Lagoon mentions the average is lagoon stay is about 3 hours - and once you’re in you can stay as long as you’d like).

The main benefits of the spa are in its high levels of silica, which is a compound of silicon and oxygen that combines with the hot geothermal seawater two thousand meters underground. When the water reaches the surface, the silica molecules become the white mud, which is said to alleviate sufferers of psoriasis. While in the spa, I enjoyed a tiny smoothie as part of my free drink upgrade, and there were alcoholic options as well. I waddled over to the mask bar in the water where someone plops a mask right into your hand, each one with its own directive, and you smear it on for the allotted time, in the right order.

After three and a half hours, I left the lagoon feeling relaxed and extremely heavy from being in the water for so long, which was an incredible and strange sensation. I headed to my dinner reservation where I was also pleasantly surprised by the quality and taste of the meal. I opted for the chefs tasting menu and enjoyed some of the best bread, freshest arctic charr, followed by solidly good salmon, and an okay dessert of skyr flavored ice cream and pineapple. Prices for almost everything are astronomical in Iceland, so the chef’s tasting (about $90 - without wine) didn't feel too outrageous. Wine pairing would have added about $75 to the bill, but luckily I’m not a drinker, but what I saved in wine I spent on Icelandic skincare to take home.

Bottom line:

The spa was a great experience, but I can imagine during peak tourist season it could be a bit of a nightmare. During my visit, there weren’t any lines to get a drink at the wet bar, or to get a mask from the mask bar. Speaking of the masks, I wasn’t sure if it was due to the sulfurous water or the products in the masks, but I was shocked when I saw my almost pore-less skin the next morning, so that was a definite plus, but the sulfur also affected my hair leaving it dry and clumpy for the next few days. I was verbally warned against putting my hair in the water and should have taken the warning more seriously. It took about 4 washes with clarifying shampoo to get my hair back to normal.

I took home a kit of all their 5 masks, and unfortunately, they did not have the same results once at home, and I did get a bit of an allergic reaction to the black lava mask. I recommend going to the spa during the colder months when it's not busy, enjoying the chef's tasting, but not getting sucked into purchasing the products.