Ytri-Tunga Beach
A unique beach in Iceland
Located on the South coast of Snæfellsnes peninsula, Ytri-Tunga is a sandy beach with a little secret hidden away by the sea, behind the farmhouses… a seal colony! Seals love to spend their time on the rocks of this beautiful beach.
They are friendly and curious and will climb up on the rocks for you to spot them from a distance. The best time to see seals is during the summertime, from May to July when sea levels drop and seals bask on the rocks.
The most common species in Iceland are the grey seals and sea-calf seals. Do not expect them to be too visible, as their fur can be confused with the seaweed on the rocks.
So, you will spot them on the rocks, but you will need binoculars or a telephoto lens to look at them closer. Do not approach them too much, as they may be dangerous if frightened.
One interesting fact about Ytri-Tunga beach is that it has golden sand, not black sand, as all beaches in Iceland have. In time, seals were hunted for their meat and skin, but nowadays, people enjoy watching them instead of killing them.
You can watch seals at Ytri-Tunga beach on one of our tours in the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Seals are also related to Icelandic folklore, as people call them mysterious and beautiful selkies. Icelanders are the only Nordic population that considers seals beautiful, while other Nordic countries consider them evil creatures.
How to get there: You will find Ytri-Tunga beach on the south coast of Snæfellsnes peninsula on Route 54. Pay attention; on the road is a signpost that indicates when to turn off to get to the beach.
Book a tour of the Snaefellsness Peninsula.
