Area closes when the eiders are nesting
Illugastaðir (pronounced ITL-uga-stathir) is an active farm with a large parcel of land along the ocean. This site has been developed to accommodate seal watching tourism with the construction of a large parking lot, a bathroom (please drop 200 krónur into the box on the wall outside if you use it), and a well-maintained, wheelchair accessible path out to the seal watching position. The path is about 800 m long but does not slope much. At the end of the wide path is a shelter called a blind or hide, from which visitors can watch the seals. Binoculars are provided there. Illugastaðir is one of the largest haul-out areas on Vatnsnes. The path is also designed to bring visitors along some of the beautiful coastal landscape, where the bird life is usually quite interesting to watch. From the blind, there are three skerries that are clearly visible and in the right conditions there are usually many seals there. To the south (left, if you are standing there facing the sea), there is a cove where seals are very often seen as well.
If visitors are quiet and move slowly (or stay still), seals in the water at this site will often approach very closely. This allows some excellent picture opportunities.
Please do not try to scare the seals into the water by shouting, throwing things at them, or flying drones. We want them to continue to feel comfortable hauling out here. If they are disturbed too often, they will eventually stop coming. Seals are quite afraid of drones, as are the local birds.