Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Puffin Excursion

The best part of this Reykjavik outing is the change of scale. You start on a larger vessel scanning the Atlantic for humpback and minke whales, then switch to a smaller puffin boat built to get close to the islands. It gives you two very different views of Iceland’s wildlife in one day.

I like the two-part format and the practical extras, especially the free WiFi, binoculars for the puffin ride, and a free return whale-watching ticket if no whales appear. The main caution is the sea itself: rough weather can cancel or alter the puffin portion, and this trip is not a good fit if you are prone to seasickness.

Key points

• Two separate boat trips: You choose the whale-watching departure, then attend a later puffin tour.
• Whales in the Atlantic: The larger boat searches for humpback and minke whales in their natural habitat.
• Close island views: The smaller puffin boat is designed to approach the nearby islands closely.
• Useful onboard help: WiFi and complimentary seasickness tablets are available, while binoculars are provided on the puffin tour.
• Weather matters: A bad forecast can affect the smaller boat, as happened during one August outing when the whale trip ran but the puffin boat did not.
• Best for wildlife fans: The $153 price makes the most sense if you want both whale watching and puffin viewing rather than a quick harbor cruise.

Two kinds of wildlife from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

This is not one long cruise with a puffin sighting tacked onto the end. It is a combo of two separate tours, using two different boats and two departure times.

Your day begins at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11. You should arrive 30 minutes before departure. From there, the whale-watching trip heads out from the Old Harbour and into the Atlantic Ocean. The larger vessel gives you a better platform for a longer search across open water.

After the whale trip, you return to the harbor and later join the puffin tour. That second ride lasts about one hour and uses a smaller boat made to get close to the islands where puffins gather. The change is important. Whale watching is about patience and scanning a wide area, while puffin watching brings you nearer to rocky island colonies and the birds’ coastal setting.

The available pairings are fixed:

• Whale watching at 9:00 and puffin tour at 12:30
• Whale watching at 13:00 and puffin tour at 17:00

When you book, you are choosing the whale-watching departure time. The puffin trip is tied to that choice, so check both times before paying. The morning pairing leaves three and a half hours between departures, while the afternoon pairing leaves four hours. Since the whale trip can last from two to three and a half hours, the morning schedule offers less breathing room if the boat returns late.

The whale trip: patience, open water, and big rewards

The whale-watching portion lasts about two to three and a half hours. That range tells you something useful: this is an active search, not a fixed sightseeing loop. The crew heads into the Atlantic and looks for signs of humpback and minke whales in their natural setting.

A humpback may appear with a broad back, a powerful tail, or a sudden burst of movement. Minke whales are smaller and can be less dramatic, so you need to keep watching the water rather than expecting a guaranteed show at one exact spot. The guides explain whale behavior and habitat as the trip unfolds, which helps you understand what you are looking for.

The larger boat is a sensible choice for this part of the day. You have more room to watch the sea, and the longer ride gives the crew time to search. Still, wildlife is never scheduled like a museum exhibit. One August outing produced an especially strong whale experience, while another person wished there had been more whales. Both outcomes are possible on a wildlife cruise.

That uncertainty is softened by the free ticket to join again if no sightings occur. It does not turn a quiet sea into a successful first trip, but it gives you a useful safety net if your schedule allows another attempt. You should ask about the return option directly if the whale search is your main reason for booking.

Guide Daniel received specific praise for his work during one whale trip. The supplied information does not name the other guides, but the tour is led in English by an experienced professional team. Their role matters here. A good explanation can make a distant back or brief surfacing worth watching, rather than leaving you to stare at empty water.

The puffin boat gets you closer to the islands

The puffin portion is shorter, at roughly one hour, but it has a different appeal. The specially designed boat can approach the nearby islands more closely than a larger vessel. That puts you nearer to the puffin colonies and gives you a better chance to watch the birds against Iceland’s coastal setting.

Binoculars are provided on this trip. That is a real help, since the birds may still be spread across rocks or ledges rather than sitting beside the boat. Bring your own binoculars if you have them, but you do not need to buy or rent a pair just for this outing.

Puffins are the visual stars here, but the value is also in seeing how the islands shape the experience. You are not simply looking at birds in a display. You are watching a colony from the water, with the boat working around the shoreline and the guides explaining the animals’ behavior and habitat.

The small boat has a tradeoff. It can get closer to the islands, but it is also more exposed to rough conditions. One August trip went ahead for whale watching but could not use the puffin boat because the weather was too poor for that vessel. The whale portion still delivered excellent sightings, but the puffin trip did not happen.

This is the most important practical point in the whole package: the puffin tour is more weather-sensitive. If puffins are your top priority, check the forecast and understand that the smaller boat may be affected even when the larger whale-watching vessel operates.

How the schedule works in real life

The listed duration is four hours, but the two tours are separate and the whale portion itself can last up to three and a half hours. Treat the schedule as a half-day plan with a break between boat rides, not as a single four-hour activity from start to finish.

For the morning option, you leave at 9:00 for whale watching and return in time for the 12:30 puffin departure. For the afternoon option, whale watching begins at 13:00 and the puffin boat leaves at 17:00. The afternoon pairing gives you a slightly longer gap and may feel easier if you prefer a slower start.

You are responsible for getting to the meeting point. Pickup service is not included, so plan your route to Geirsgata 11 and arrive 30 minutes early. The information provided does not promise hotel transportation or a transfer between separate bookings, so keep yourself near the harbor after the first boat returns.

The price is $153 per person. That is not a low-cost harbor ride, but it covers two marine excursions, professional English-language guides, the whale-search guarantee of a free return ticket when no sightings occur, and binoculars for the puffin tour. Free WiFi and complimentary seasickness tablets add convenience, though snacks and drinks cost extra onboard.

I see the strongest value for someone who already wants both wildlife experiences. Buying two separate outings could take more planning, and this package gives you a clear pairing. If you only want a short puffin ride or only care about whales, the combo may be more than you need.

Preparing for Icelandic water

The Atlantic can be cold and rough even when Reykjavik feels comfortable on land. Wear warm clothing and bring waterproof protection for yourself and your camera. A waterproof camera is specifically recommended, and it is sensible advice when spray, rain, and moving boats are part of the day.

Seasickness deserves serious attention. The activity is not suitable for people prone to motion sickness, although complimentary tablets are available onboard. If you know you react badly at sea, do not rely only on the tablets provided. Bring your usual motion-sickness prevention and ask a medical professional if you need advice before the trip.

Smoking and pets are not allowed. Snacks and beverages are sold onboard, so you can buy something during the outing, but do not assume food is included in the price.

Free WiFi is useful if you want to share a quick update or check your plans between trips. It should not replace a camera, though. Wildlife sightings can be brief, and a phone connection will not help much if your device is unprotected from spray or cold.

What makes this combo worth the time

The strongest feature is variety. Whale watching asks you to look across open water for large animals that may surface only briefly. Puffin watching puts you near island colonies on a smaller craft, with binoculars and a closer shoreline view.

The combo also spreads your chances across different wildlife. If the whale search is quiet, the puffin trip still offers another subject. If bad weather affects the small boat, the larger whale vessel may still operate, as shown by the August trip that produced excellent whale sightings despite the canceled puffin portion.

The free repeat ticket is another worthwhile detail. Wildlife trips carry an honest risk of disappointment, and the provider recognizes that. You still pay for your time and boat ride, but you have a chance to return if no whales appear.

The less appealing part is the lack of control. You cannot choose the puffin departure independently, and you cannot guarantee that both species will appear. The itinerary also depends on the sea, so you need a flexible attitude and enough room in your Reykjavik schedule for changes.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want a full wildlife half-day from Reykjavik and can handle uncertain sightings. Families with older children may enjoy the contrast between whales and puffins, though anyone sensitive to motion should think carefully before booking.

It also suits photographers who want two settings: open Atlantic water for whales and island scenery for puffins. Bring waterproof gear and be ready to watch for long stretches rather than expecting constant action.

I would be more cautious if you have only one narrow window in Reykjavik and must see puffins at a precise time. The weather can affect the smaller boat, and the whale trip may use most of the time before the next departure. I would also skip it if seasickness is a known problem.

Book at least 24 hours ahead if you want the option of a full refund for cancellation. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps when Iceland plans are still shifting. The key choice is the whale departure time, so compare the 9:00 and 13:00 options with the matching puffin time before you commit.

Should you book the whale and puffin combo?

Book it if you want two distinct wildlife trips, appreciate expert English-language guidance, and accept that nature may not follow the timetable. The combination of humpback and minke whale searching, a close approach to puffin islands, onboard binoculars, and a free repeat whale ticket gives the $153 price a fair value.

Skip it if you want a guaranteed animal encounter, dislike small boats, or are prone to seasickness. For everyone else, this is a well-planned way to put both whales and puffins into a Reykjavik day, with enough practical support to make the uncertain parts easier to manage.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour area. You should arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Does the booking include one tour or two?

It includes two separate tours with two separate departures: whale watching on a larger vessel and puffin watching on a smaller boat.

What departure times are available?

You can choose the 9:00 whale-watching departure with the 12:30 puffin tour, or the 13:00 whale-watching departure with the 17:00 puffin tour.

How long is the whale-watching trip?

The whale-watching portion lasts approximately two to three and a half hours.

How long is the puffin tour?

The puffin tour lasts approximately one hour.

Are puffin binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are provided onboard the puffin tour.

What happens if no whales are seen?

You receive a free ticket to join the whale-watching tour again if there are no sightings.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Pickup service is not included, so you need to make your own way to Geirsgata 11.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Snacks and beverages are sold onboard but are not included in the tour price.

Is the tour suitable for people prone to seasickness?

No. The activity is not considered suitable for people prone to seasickness. Complimentary seasickness tablets are available onboard, and motion-sickness prevention is recommended.