A welcoming dining table and a variety of nature experiences bring village camaraderie in Oqaatsut and the daily life of fishermen into close view.
VILLAGE LIFE IN OQAATSUT
Village life in Oqaatsut is about sustaining a small community that loves to be close to the sea. The few houses are scattered across a rocky terrain yet never very far from the harbor. Out here in this roadless village, cars are useless but fishing boats are the most prized possessions. Every summer morning, fishermen charge themselves anew with the sun that shone all night and thoughts of how many halibut and sharks they will bring home by the day’s end.
In winter Oqaatsut life persists, only it trades the small boat for a pack of raring sled dogs and add more candlelight and good friends around the dinner table to relieve the polar darkness. Greenlanders in Oqaatsut embrace village life because it is in the Inuit blood, but more importantly, it is a chosen lifestyle. Oqaatsut is home.
VISIT OQAATSUT
As a traveler, visiting Oqaatsut is your opportunity to experience the beat of village culture. Here the environment and one’s own internal clock prevail over standard concepts of time, but don’t for a second interpret that as ‘sleepy’.
The midnight sun in Oqaatsut virtually gives you time and energy to try a bit of everything. Explore the Oqaatsut backcountry spotted with lakes, and if your feet are up for a half day scenic walk follow the marked hiking trail between Ilulissat and Oqaatsut.
Or, take the easy route – a boat trip to the Ilulissat Icefjord or into town for souvenir shopping before sailing back to Oqaatsut. The aroma of lamb on the barbecue for a weekend grill fest will guide the way.
Follow the Inuit culture and go deep sea fishing any time the opportunity presents itself. Oqaatsut has a prime position on Disko Bay where cod, catfish, and redfish are abundant. To kick it up a notch, get an extreme fishing permit and go after all the halibut and Greenlandic shark your angling passion desires.