Quarantine Day 4
It was back into the Golden Circle. You just have to keep your eyes open, there are so many photo opportunities here, with Churches, Sheep Sheds, Sheep, Horses, Waterfalls, Canyons. There is so much that you will not find listed in the tour guides. We visited Hjalpafoss Waterfalls and saw the Trout (may have been Salmon) leaping out of the water. I think that they were simply being thrown up by the water after coming down the falls. We also visited a rebuilt ancient Farm called Pjooveldisbaerinn which was in a lovely setting. Faxi falls is on this side of the circle as well and we finished the day with a visit to Porufoss.
Quarantine Day 5 – It’s over.
This was our final day and we had to go across Reykjavik and have our second Covid tests which was done by 10.30. The testing system is very efficient, and we were in and out in a few minutes. The quarantine rules required us to return to our quarantine address and wait for our test results. They would phone if the test was positive (ie we had Covid) otherwise a text message and email would be sent. The overrider being that if we heard nothing within 24 hours we were OK. We would also be notified on the Rakning C19 Trace App which we had installed prior to travelling. This app keeps a record of your movements on your phone, but if you test positive you are required to upload the data so that the authorities can trace people you may have come into contact with. This is not voluntary, you are expected to have the app and use it.
Anyway, we couldn’t go back to our quarantine address as we had already checked out. We did originally book for 6 nights which would have met the requirement but Icelandair cancelled our flight and flew us the following day so we lost the first night. So we went to pick up our Van from CampEasy. We booked a 4x4 Viking which we thought would get us where we wanted to go.
We left CampEasy by about 12.30 and started our road trip. Our first destination was to be the West Fjords. ON my two previous visits this area has been closed off to us by bad weather so we wanted to get there first while we still had a chance. We headed north and made our first camping stop at Búðardalur on the north west edge of the Snaefellnes Peninsula. Its not much of a camp site, being a car park outside the community centre. The showers require a bar code ticket to operate and you get these when someone comes to collect your money (1500ISK per person per night). No-one came that evening and it was only as we were leaving the following morning that someone turned up to collect. Also, the cooker has been removed so there are no cooking facilities.
So our quarantine period was easy and we did quite a lot. However, as we were clearing the apartment I picked up the leaflet we had been given at the airport but hadn’t read. The line stating that you are allowed to drive private and rented cars had been crossed out! So maybe we weren’t allowed to do what we did. The Covid.is web site still said we could so the rules are contradictory. They do change though, the Icelandic government closed all bars and restaurant in Reykjavik for the weekend because of an outbreak of new cases. So, best to check before you fly.
So to summarise what you need:
- 1. Book 6 nights in a fixed address such as a Hotel or apartment to fulfil the 5 days quarantine.
- 2. Order groceries on-line and have them delivered, you cannot click and collect or go into stores.
- 3. Check the regulations before you fly.
- 4. Download the Rakning C19 app before you travel.
- 5. Register and pay for your Covid test up to 48 hours before travelling. It costs more if you pay on arrival and will also delay you.
- 6. Work out a way to get to your accommodation as there aren’t any transfer buses into the City. Taxis are still running but check with your Hotel to see what they can do.
- 7. If you rent a car, leave the terminal by the back way (opposite end to the shuttle pick up) and walk to the Car Rental offices. It’s a 7-10 minute walk and you can see the offices from the terminal. Do not wait for a shuttle, it is not running.