Djúpalónssandur Beach

Located at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, Djúpalónssandur is a beautiful Black Lava Pearl Beach. We have curated a complete travel guide to help you explore the destination.

Djúpalónssandur or Deeplagoonsand is a majestic black sand beach located in Snaefellsnes. Known for its rock formations, this beach is one of the most stunning places to explore in the west of Iceland. Everything about this place is captivating, especially the black sands and colossal rock formations, volcanic landscapes, and remains of the Epine GY7.

This Black Lava Pearl Beach is filled with black pebbles that are swept in by the ocean waves. These pebbles are protected, and the Icelanders prefer to have them at the beach itself. Hence, these pebbles are not permitted to be picked.

If you are traveling from Reykjavík, the Icelandic capital city, choose road number 1 toward Borgarnes. Once you get to Borgarnes, take road number 54, which ends up in Snæfellsnes. Along the way to Djúpalónssandur beach, you'll also pass two of the most popular former fishing villages Arnarstapi and Hellnar. Once you get to Djúpalónssandur, find a spot in the parking lot and get ready to hike around the coast and discover the picturesque location.

While this is a year-round destination, Djúpalónssandur is best to hike during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Winters are difficult to hike, and oftentimes, road tripping to the location can also become a challenge.

Similar to Búðir and Hellnar, Djúpalónssandur was once home to a well-flourished fishing village. The ancient lifting stones that can still be found at the location were used to test the strength of fishermen. These lifting stones weighed about 23 kg to 155 kg and have names for each of them based on their weight - Amlóði (useless), Hálfdrættingur (weakling), Hálfsterkur (half-strong), and Fullsterkur (full-strong).

As you explore the beach, you'll also spot a shipwreck on the shore. This was an English trawler Epine GY 7 from Grimsby. In 1948, the accident left fourteen dead with five survivors. Now, protected as an important monument, you can still see the rusty remains of the shipwreck.

Djúpalónssandur has numerous sites to explore out and about the area. For instance, Gatklettur rock is a peculiar rock with a hole in it that gives you a beautiful view of the Snæfellsjökull glacier. While you are exploring the best of Djúpalónssandur, don't miss out on the remains of the British trawler, the Epine GY7. In 1948, the fishing boat lost its grip because of the blizzard on the cold winter night and was wrecked east of Dritvík cove.

Another must-visit site is the Söngklettur - Singing Rock - the Church of the Elves. This distinctive and majestic lava rock on the beach is reddish in color and is known to be the Church of the Elves. The lifting stones, or Aflraunasteinar, are remnants of the fishing village from the past. These stones were used by the fishermen to measure their strength.

While all of the sites and land formations are awe-inspiring, this beach doesn't permit swimming or diving due to safety concerns. There are several warning signs placed within the vicinity to avoid accidents.

Djúpalónssandur is an immensely beautiful part of Iceland and is well worth adding to your travel bucket list.