The prude guide to the Blue Lagoon

The truth is that swimming in warm water is always good. Blue Lagoon is one of the best known tourist destinations in Iceland. Many say it is almost a MANDATORY visit. How disgusting that sounds! No, nobody is obliged to anything, especially on their vacations. The place has its charm, with its silica masks while soaking in the cozy water, like corn in pozole, for a few hours. It is within the 25 Wonders of the World according to National Geographic and is said to have therapeutic properties. The Lagoon was formed in 1976 as a by-product of the Svartsengi geothermal plant. It is reported that in 1981, the first bather, Valur Margeirsson, revealed that bathing there improved skin conditions. And by 1987, it would be opened to the public as a spa.

There are several entry prices to enjoy the lagoon, which differ in what they include and access to different relaxation experiences. For more information check the packages on this site. I think that, if it is just to know, the cheaper version is a good option. One of the great attractions of the other packages are the options for greater comfort and privacy, especially for the pruder swimmer. What you can do, if you really feel bad about showing skin, is bring your own robe, especially if you, like me, are one of those who take your food in a Tupperware to the beach instead of paying for eating in the nearby restaurants to save a few coins. If you are not, then don’t bring anything, walk in balls and do not complicate yourself. You can also save some money if you decide to eat somewhere more accessible than the in-site restaurant. NOTE: you have to book in advance, Blue Lagoon is not an option for spontaneous and last minute visits.

First of all, it depends on your level of disgust. I would advise you to bring everything you need, because personally I distrust (today even more) these places. But, without reaching extreme levels, to begin with, good flip-flops (preferably that you recognise them from a distance) are essential. Go as light as possible, although the lockers are a decent size, depending on how many people there are, it may or may not be a bit of a hassle to walk around with that much stuff on you. So it is much easier to manoeuvre with your personal items if you go with a few things. Do not wear jewellery and if you can walk without glasses, it is better not to wear them. I cannot see without my glasses, I entered the lagoon wearing them and absolutely nothing happened to them, but it is worth mentioning. Now, the Blue Lagoon is a spa, the idea is that you relax. In that sense, I would recommend you to leave your cellphone in the locker or not take it. If you really can't live without the calls of your job or if you want to capture that magical moment of swimming in the turquoise waters, I recommend that you buy a waterproof case beforehand. They sell some in the place, but you could go prepared so that the extra expense does not surprise you. If you have long hair, bring some hairbands, so that your hair does not come into contact with the water. If you are eco-friendly and you are concerned about the care of our planet, you can take some waterproof bags to store your wet swimsuit. Plastic bags are available on site, in case you were wondering. Very important, you have to be prepared to pay some good cash of your fortnights, especially if you want to eat there. And it does not hurt to tell you to bring your swimsuit 🤣, they sell in the place, but I insist, preparation is key!

Upon arrival, they give you a bracelet, which is smarter than oneself. With it you can open and close the locker to store your belongings, as well as charging in your account your drinks in the lagoon or extra masks, so you don't have to worry about carrying your coins or your credit card.

Here we come to the part for which I have called the prude guide, to differentiate it from the guides that I have read on the internet that are "complete", "fundamental" or "definitive". This is not the case because we do not have the means to offer a complete or fundamental verdict, and each experience is personal and individual. As an example, the first time I visited, I fell horribly on a stone, on this second visit, I realised that the stone no longer exists. There are things that we cannot foresee, but we could anticipate what could be coming. Many of the guides describe things like “you have to shower naked, but they are private, don't worry!”, But they don't tell you in detail what the protocol is like. The first time I visited the lagoon was a long time ago, so long that they still did not extend the main pool. And the second time was two weeks ago. The idea is you learn from my mistakes (starting by minding where you walk, especially if it is snowing)

Nudity would not be an issue for me, if the other's gaze weren't so obvious. I could explain it in detail, but trust me, of course people see you! The point is not that they do not see you, but how to make your visit a pleasant 360 ° experience. You arrive at the place and basically the procedure is to go to the bathroom (separated in men and women), put your belongings in a locker that you see empty, undress and bathe (naked), proceed to put on your bathing suit and enter the pool. But, for my prude readers, I am going to break down the process in detail, so that you know in advance that, yes, there is nothing to worry about, you just have to know what to do.

• Book at a time and day when there are not as many people (particularly the earliest hour and the latest)
• When you get to the bathroom, locate your preferred locker. I personally recommend walking to the bottom ones, since they are empty (and this is a modest guide)
• Next to the lockers there are some dressing rooms that, despite being obvious, I didn't even see them until I left! In those changing rooms you can undress and dress again in private, since you should not do it inside the cubicles of the toilets (allegedly). Take into account that, depending on the date you visit it, it may be an inconvenience due to the number of people there are. In my case, and perhaps because we are still in the time of the pandemic, there were not so many people, so there was no saturation problem in the locker rooms.
• From the dressing room to the shower is the journey to put your modesty to the test. If it really bothers you, a robe is your best ally, whether you bring it or pay in the package that includes it.
• There are two types of showers: the communal and the cubicles. Locate the one you prefer (this is a modest guide, I assume it will be the one with the doors, but you have free will). Take into account that the doors do not close completely.
• Here you have to wash everything, even if you come fresh from the hotel or airbnb. In general, this is a rule in swimming pools and other spas of this style in Iceland. It is requested that it be WITHOUT the swimsuit (in some places they even have a poster to recommend which areas of the body to wash with soap). In the place there is shampoo, soap and conditioner. The latter is recommended to be used before entering the lagoon to prevent your hair from being damaged, especially if you plan to put your head in the water.

From here, it is only a matter of entering the lagoon. Remember that it is better not to wear anything, other than your bracelet. The reviews and guides I read about the place speak of running out into the arctic cold to get into the Blue Lagoon. That is pure falsehood. From the covered part one can enter the lagoon and once inside the water, go outside to the main area, so we don't have to think much about whether we have to run, or that we have to expose ourselves to unworthy temperatures, or test our courage. No, relax! Everything is coldly calculated.

The Blue Lagoon is a place of relaxation, for calm and high vibes. And what better than to accompany it with a beer. But, I would like to emphasize that it is not for getting very drunk and swimming all devastated, since the consumption of alcoholic beverages is limited to three per person. Yes, here it is something relax.

The first time I went, the floor was different, you could feel the silica with every step you took. I could grab the silica inside and see that it was full of ... HAIR [laughs in Spanish]. This time I tried again, I understand that in 2016 they closed the spa to extend it and redesign the area to improve the experience (and I guess they cleaned the pool then), but there is still one or another hair. It seems to me a somewhat disgusting, but curious fact, which brings me to the next point. Be very careful with your hair. Interestingly, the first time I went, they weren't recommending anything about it. Nowadays they tell you at the entrance to try to avoid submerging your head, especially if you have dyed or delicate hair. I did it back then and nothing happened, I washed my hair with shampoo when I left and that's it! Mind you, my hair was radiant the next day. BUT this time I didn't want to try. On his behalf, A. has a strange hair length, which is still short to tie it, but long enough so that its ends were in contact with the water. When he washed his hair when we arrived back at home, as when we left the lagoon, he used a conditioner. The next day his hair was dry. What did we learn from this? I don't know, maybe it depends on how delicate your hair is, my recommendation is that you better not put your head in the water.

This is one of the things that convinces me it's worth it. The mask (the basic one), the two times I have visited, has left my skin much smoother and visibly repaired. I would like to comment on the other masks, but the truth is that it did not occur to me to try the others. I was thinking of buying the package in the gift shop, but honestly my wallet complained. If skincare is your thing, go for it!

Now, this is a strange piece of information. The day after going to the lagoon, I noticed that it was counterproductive for my skin. I noticed my skin was more irritated, and even, with more pimples than I normally have (and in places that rarely appear).My face was fine, on the contrary, the mask had a significant effect. I suspect that I am not made for such luxury and sophistication. I want to remind you that, when you get out of the water, take a good bath, use conditioner and, something that I thought was important, rinse your swimsuit well, since silica and minerals from the lagoon can damage the fabric.

I don’t know. In Iceland there are other pools and sites similar to this one, which have a lower price. It is quite a pleasant experience, but I don't know how much I would recommend it, considering the price of admission. There are those who say that the most luxurious ticket is worth it, but I could not give you an opinion on that (until I decide to pay for the experience 😂). I think it is a real shame that not only this, but other places have also become more expensive as the demand from tourists to find experiences similar to the Blue Lagoon has increased, which also limits Icelanders themselves from visiting these places, despite that swimming pools are an important part of their culture and way of socialising.