Hellissandur, Rif and Olafsvik (Ólafsvík)
Hellissandur, Rif and Olafsvik (Ólafsvík)
Driving around the tip of the Snaefellsnes peninsula you’ll pass the fishing villages Hellissandur, Rif, and Olafsvik, which are all worth a visit.
Off the tip of the peninsula are rich fishing grounds, which have been exploited since the settlement of Iceland. In fact, during the 15th century, this was the busiest place in Iceland where people flocked from all over the island for the profitable seasonal fishery.
Hellissandur’s small Maritime Museum boasts an impressive collection of whalebones from whales stranded on the rocky shore of the peninsula.
There's a replica of a turf fisherman's hut outside, while the indoor exhibition focuses on the history of the fishing industry in the region. You'll be puzzled to see that the village has no port - its rocky shore has no suitable natural harbor so the village uses its neighbor Rif's port. You'll see the inhabitants' small fishing boats parked outside their houses! The petrol station has a village shop and sells hand-knitted Lopi wool sweaters.
The Rif has its own theatre company performing in Frystiklefinn ‘The Freezer’ - their productions get rave reviews.
From Olafsvik, Laki Tours operate whale watching trips in summer to view orca, humpback, minke and sperm whales, white-beaked dolphins and sometimes other species.
Olafsvik has a lovely modern church and a small museum, housed in a restored historic warehouse - it's the black timber building on the main road through the village.
East of Olafsvik, the road skirts the cliffs of Bulandshofdi headland (325m) where you can draw off the road to enjoy the view. In clear whether there is a good view of Snaefellsjokull from here.