Flying into the Vestmannaeyjar Islands

Flying into the Vestmannaeyjar Islands in a friend’s small plane was nothing short of magical. As we soared over Iceland’s southern coast, the sea suddenly fractured into towering stacks and sheer cliffs rising from the Atlantic—like a secret world carved by fire and time. From the air, you can see the story of the earth itself: volcanic cones, lava flows, and rugged coastlines shaped by both eruption and erosion.

The Vestmannaeyjar archipelago is geologically young, born from a hotspot beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Most famously, the island of Heimaey was dramatically reshaped by a 1973 eruption that added new land and nearly consumed the town. It’s a place where geology is still very much alive.

As we looped low over the cliffs, the sea sparkled below us—and there they were: two humpback whales surfacing, their blows briefly visible before they vanished beneath the waves again. To witness that from above was something truly special.

Flying into these islands in a small plane isn’t just travel—it’s stepping into a living landscape where nature’s raw power and beauty are on full display. An unforgettable way to arrive in one of Iceland’s most dramatic corners.