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Subscribe to instantly receive discount codes for tours, car rental, camper van rental, and outdoor clothing rental. Thank you! ❤️ Jon Heidar, Editor of Stuck in Iceland Travel MagazineIceland leaves a lasting impression on those who visit. Whether it’s the raw natural beauty, the unique culture, or the adventure, first-time visitors often find themselves captivated. Chris Hobson, founder of Dragon Tree Communications, experienced Iceland for the first time last summer. As a seasoned communicator who runs an engaging podcast featuring successful communicators, he knows the power of storytelling. So, who better to share his own Icelandic travel story? Amongst other adventures, he talks about his time rescuing puffins in the Westman Islands.
Hey Chris, you run Dragon Tree Communications—can you tell us a bit about your consultancy?
Hi Jon, thanks so much for asking. At Dragon Tree Communications, we partner with social purpose organizations to provide content creation, marketing, and data analytics support. We create captivating, human-centered stories in the form of case studies and podcasts and provide performance metrics and tracking for a variety of companies, associations, and nonprofits.
What inspired you to visit Iceland, and what were your first impressions when you arrived?
I’d always heard about the beauty of Iceland – the stories of your country’s volcanoes, glaciers, and black beaches are legendary. But it wasn’t until my kids (who are fascinated by puffins) presented my wife and me with a simple yet compelling proposition that we traveled there. It was getting late in the summer, so would we consider visiting Iceland to observe the Atlantic puffins as they began their yearly migration out to sea?
Our kids told us that the Atlantic puffins are a bird species that live most of the year in northern latitudes like Ireland, Canada, and Iceland. But during the fall and winter months, after their pufflings (aka baby puffins) have hatched in their underground burrows, entire families of puffins move from the cliffs to the sea. They remain floating in the Atlantic for months until the warmer months when they return to land. So we decided to catch one last sight of this magical creature before they relocated for the winter. Little did I know we’d be catching more than just a glimpse of them!
What were some of the standout experiences from your trip?
Well, after we landed in Reykjavik in late August of last year, we rented a car and then proceeded to see an active volcano, an incredibly huge waterfall, a whale, and the Northern Lights within the first two days. And on top of that, we caught and released two puffins.
Westman Islands is the Land of OZ
Let me explain… The last three events I mentioned above happened en route to – and on – a small island chain just off the southern coast of Iceland called the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar). It is on these islands that the largest super-colony of puffins in the world gathers. So in many ways, for us as visitors, it was like stepping into the Land of Oz or a faraway kingdom shrouded in mist that you’re only half sure exists. Adding to the mythical nature of the islands, a whale served as our escort during the ferry ride there! And that was only the beginning of the magic.
Volunteering in a Puffling rescue mission
Almost the minute we arrived on land, we saw people carrying large cardboard boxes. As we parked and walked the main path along the shoreline, more people appeared toting large bulky boxes, and strangely, the boxes seemed to be rocking in their hands! We stopped a couple of friendly Westman Islanders and asked them what was going on.
Young puffins in Iceland are drawn to light, like moths to a flame
They kindly clued us in that there were young puffins inside each box! At night, adolescent pufflings (who have never made the migration out to sea before and are just practicing flying out to water) get confused by the city lights. Thinking it’s the moon’s reflection, they inadvertently fly right into the town’s harbor, where the ferry comes in. Some of them even get their wings covered in oil, and they can be taken to the Beluga Whale and Puffin Sanctuary in town to get cleaned up before being re-released. As a yearly tradition, after sundown, the residents of the Westman Islands take it upon themselves to use large boxes to corral these runaway puffins – many of the latter of whom can be seen running down roads and into alleys in the middle of the night. The locals told us that even schoolchildren joined in to capture the puffins.
Rescuing puffins rescue is a civic duty in the Westman Islands
Since the whole town is on board and knows it’s for a good cause, teachers are fine with the kids being sleepy in class the next day. So my wife drove the car while my children and I canvassed the late-night island streets. Eventually, we found two pufflings: one who was squeezed into a corner near the harbor and another who we’re convinced thought the car’s headlights were the moon. We managed to very delicately put them into a couple of boxes we found.
Soothing pufflings with guitar music from Youtube
The pufflings insisted on keeping me up most of the night until I played some soothing guitar music I found on YouTube. This somehow worked and kept them quiet until morning. At least our kids got some sleep! At daybreak, we drove to the cliffs on the southern part of the island and released the puffins. It was a lot of fun because a group of tourists like us had gathered to support a second group of folks, the latter of whom had spent all night capturing puffins. Huge applause and cheering broke out with each release! Our stay in the Westman Islands was truly magical and one amazing experience among many during our time there.
Iceland can be both an adventure and a place for relaxation. Did you find a balance between the two?
We didn’t build rest time into the schedule until the last two days of our trip when we drove to Reykjavik. Until then, we stomped our foot on the gas, metaphorically speaking: we hiked two dormant volcanoes, took a glacier cruise, saw Beluga whales in the sanctuary I mentioned, worked a shift on puffin patrol, drove through a rogue volcanic plume on the highway, saw an enormous geyser, sampled the amazing Icelandic cuisine.
Seeing the Lava Show is as exciting as rescuing puffins
Last but certainly not least, I experienced the Lava Show in Reykjavik (editor’s disclosure: I work at Lava Show as its Sales and Marketing Manager). The owners of the Lava Show, Júlíus and Ragga, literally melt volcanic rocks and send the molten flowing down a long metal chute before a live audience. It’s billed as the only live lava show in the world, and I believe it. The show is both a spectacle and an educational experience, as the husband-wife duo imparts their insightful knowledge about Iceland’s volcanoes to the crowd. In fact, it was one of Ragga’s Instagram videos that first convinced us to visit Iceland during one of the country’s recent active volcano events.
Pro tip: If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, try to see the Lava Show first. It will arm you with an incredible amount of knowledge and really enrich your trip. Editors note: I approve of this message!
What were your favorite places and activities in Iceland?
In case it’s not obvious by now, the Westman Islands were like something out of a dream. When it comes to the mainland of Iceland, apart from the things I mentioned above, we walked down the middle of a fault line between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This is located near Þingvellir Lake (anglicized as Thingvellir). It it’s part of a larger volcanic and fissure belt running across the Mid-Atlantic ridge. People have lived and governed there for over a thousand years, and all along the route, there are kiosks set up detailing the history of the area and where some of the main structures used to sit on the landscape.
As a history buff, I enjoyed how much Icelanders care about preserving their past. On that note, visiting places like the Caves of Hella, where Irish monks, Vikings, and others lived over a thousand years ago, was a highlight.
And there’s a great little cafe right outside the Caves built out of a…wait for it…American school bus! The insides have been stripped out, tables have been installed, and a barista waits at the back to take your order. It’s called the American School Bus Cafe. I found it quite a unique experience since taking buses to school was my main mode of transportation growing up. I also love museums, so the Perlan Nature Museum was a personal favorite. Also, don’t miss the Lava Centre (not to be confused with the Lava Show). This experience provides an in-depth look at Iceland’s geologic past.
What advice do you have for those visiting Iceland for the first time?
Rent a car in Iceland
I know it’s tempting to travel by bus, and there are some great travel companies in Iceland. But if possible, I highly suggest renting a car. People drive on the right side of the road in Iceland, so it’s convenient if you’re already used to that. It’s important to adhere to the speed limits to avoid fines.
Stop at designated stops on the road
Also, don’t pull off on the side of the road to take pictures. There are plenty of scenic stops where you can capture your Kodak moment. Driving gives you more flexibility. There are ferries that you can drive onto, park your car, buy a snack and a drink, and comfortably enjoy the sights from the deck! Aside from that, just be respectful of the land.
Put safety first at cliffs and on Reynisfjara Beach (Black Beach)
A couple of times we saw tourists taking questionable risks to photograph the wildlife. For example, we saw some people teetering near cliff edges to get a perfect shot of a puffin. We also saw people entering the water of Reynisfjara black beach, which has sneaker waves and dangerous ocean currents. There are warning signs on the beach, which has a history of pulling visitors out to the freezing Atlantic very quickly. Just like any country, as long as you follow the guidance provided, do some research, and respect the local customs, you’ll have an amazing time! I’m so glad we visited. For me, Iceland is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with fantastic people and remarkable, unforgettable experiences.
Chris Hobson on rescuing puffins and other Icelandic adventures