Getting There & Around
Many travelers tour the Westfjords by flying to Ísafjörður and renting a car from there.
By Car -- The condition of the main road to Ísafjörðurhas improved substantially in the past few years and is now paved all the way to the Ring Road, but the terrifyingly steep and unfenced drops remain, and the secondary roads remain quite rough. With forbearance and caution, however, drivers in regular cars can get around as much as elsewhere. Drivers coming from north Iceland have a choice of shortcuts from the Ring Road over to Route 60, which follows the south coast of the Westfjords. Currently the best link is Route 59, but paving has begun on Route 605, which will become the preferred route (via Rte. 61).
By Ferry -- The car ferry Baldur (tel. 433-2254; www.seatours.is/ferrybaldur) links Stykkishólmur (on Snæfellsnes peninsula) to Brjánslækur (on the south coast of the Westfjords) in a 2 1/2-hour trip with a stop at Flatey island; a restaurant is on board. Drivers headed from Reykjavík straight to the Westfjords do not save time by taking the ferry, but can enjoy the Breiðafjörður views and bypass some bumpy roads. Drivers coming from Snæfellsnes may save a short amount of time. From June 10 to August 22, the ferry departs Stykkishólmur daily at 9am and 3:45pm, returning from Brjánslækur at 12:15pm and 7pm. For the rest of the year, the ferry departs Stykkishólmur at 3pm Sunday to Friday and 11am some Saturdays, returning from Brjánslækur 3 hours later. One-way tickets are 5,250kr adults, 4,200kr seniors, 2,625kr children 12 to 15, and free for children under 12, plus 5,250kr per car. Passengers with cars are advised to reserve in advance. Winter prices are about 20% less.
By Bus -- Straeto (tel. 540-2700; www.straeto.is)connects Reykjavík and Króksfjardarnes (3 1/2 hr; 5,200kr) or Hólmavík(3 3/4 hr; 6,000kr), at the eastern base of the Westfjords, 3 or 4 days per week, extending another 50 minutes to Reykhólar on Sundays. This route is a dead-end in terms of public transport, however.
Daily from June through August, Westfjords Adventure (tel. 456-5006; www.westfjordsadventures.com) runs a bus from Ísafjörður to the Látrabjarg cliffs and back, with stops at Brjánslækur, Patreksfjörður, and Örlygshöfn (Látrabjarg Peninsula). The bus continues to Látrabjarg if passengers book in advance; otherwise, it turns back at Patreksfjörður. The full route, which is 4[bf]1/2 to 5 hours each way, can be taken as a round-trip day tour from Ísafjör[b6]ur (9,500kr), with 90 minutes to walk along the cliff top. The bus stops at Brjánslækur at 12:15pm (on the way to Látrabjarg) and 6:45pm (on the way back) for ferry connections. Hótel Breiðavík can supply van transport around Látrabjarg Peninsula for guests.
Trex (tel. 587-6000; www.trex.is) connects Reykjavík and Króksfjarðarnes (2 1/2 hr.; 4,200kr/$67/£34), at the base of the Westfjords, 5 days per week, extending another 50 minutes to Reykhólar on Tuesdays and Sundays. This route is a dead-end in terms of public transportation, however.
From June through August, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, Stjörnubílar (tel. 456-5518; www.stjornubilar.is) runs a bus from Ísafjörður to the Látrabjarg cliffs and back, with stops at Flókalundur (junction of Rte. 60 and Rte. 62), Brjánslækur (ferry terminal), Patreksfjörður, and Örlygshöfn (Látrabjarg Peninsula). The bus continues to Látrabjarg only if passengers book in advance; otherwise, it turns back at Patreksfjörður. The full route, which is 4 1/2 to 5 hours each way, can be taken as a round-trip day tour from Ísafjörður (10,000kr/$160/£80), with 90 minutes to walk along the clifftop and a lunch at Guesthouse Breiðavík included. The bus stops at Brjánslækur at 11:30am (on the way to Látrabjarg) and 6pm (on the way back) for ferry connections. Guesthouse Breiðavík can supply van transport all around Látrabjarg Peninsula for overnight guests.
Torfi Elís Andrésson (tel. 456-2636 or 893-2636) runs a short "flybus" route between Patreksfjörður and Bíldudalur airport to meet Eagle Air flights, with stops at Patreksfjörður, Tálknafjörður, and Bíldudalur in both directions.
Trex's Full Circle and Westfjords Bus Passport, valid from June through August, costs 35,300kr ($565/£282) and includes a complete circuit of Iceland, including the ferry across Breiðafjörður and the Stjörnubílar bus to Látrabjarg Peninsula.
By Plane -- Eagle Air (tel. 562-2640; www.eagleair.is) flies between Reykjavík and Bíldudalur, a village on the southwest coast of the Westfjords, every day but Saturday. Flights take 40 minutes and one-way fares start at 17,200kr. Although flights to Ísafjörður are generally cheaper, flying to Bíldudalur in conjunction with the Westfjord buses could allow for a visit to Látrabjarg en route to Ísafjörður without as much back-tracking.
Visitor Information
The tourist information office in Ísafjörður can provide help for any destination in the Westfjords. On Látrabjarg Peninsula, information is provided at the Egils Ólafsson Folk Museum (tel. 456-1511; June-Sept 10 daily 10am-6pm). The local pools in Patreksfjörður (tel. 456-1301) and Tálknafjörður (tel. 456-2639; mid-June to Aug Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm; Sept to mid-June Mon-Fri 5-9pm, Sat-Sun noon-6pm) double as tourist information centers.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
