Two-In-One: Whale & Puffin Watching Tours from Reykjavik

The best part of this Reykjavik outing is the contrast: first you watch puffins from a small boat near their island colonies, then you head into open Faxaflói Bay on a larger vessel to search for whales. Two separate boat trips give you two very different views of Iceland’s sea life.

I like the heated indoor saloon and loaner protective clothing, especially when the wind turns sharp. I also like the whale sighting guarantee, which lets you ride again free if your three-hour search produces no cetaceans. The main catch is simple: puffins and whales are wild, and puffins may be smaller and farther away than photographs suggest.

Key points at a glance

• Two boats, two experiences: A small one-hour puffin cruise is followed by a larger three-hour whale-watching trip.
• Lundey is viewed from the water: You do not land on the island, so binoculars or a strong zoom camera matter.
• Faxaflói Bay takes time: The whale boat may spend much of its three hours reaching the search area and working patiently once there.
• Warmth is built in: Protective clothing, heated indoor seating, large windows, and onboard WiFi make rough weather easier to handle.
• The guides do real spotting work: Live English commentary helps you know where to look and what behavior to watch for.
• The $140 price buys a full half-day: You also get the wildlife exhibition and a free repeat whale trip if no cetaceans appear.

Two separate trips, not one combined cruise

This experience works best when you picture it as a small marine wildlife program spread across half a day, not as one boat circling an island before heading straight to the whales. The puffin trip and whale trip use different boats, with a break on land between them.

A common schedule places the puffin cruise first, around 1 p.m., and the whale trip around 3 p.m., though your exact departure times may differ. Allow roughly four to six hours from start to finish, including the time between boats. That gap is useful rather than wasted. You can eat at the Old Harbour, walk along the waterfront, or simply warm up before the longer ride.

The distinction matters at check-in. Make sure you receive information for both parts of the outing. The staff at Elding Whale Watching, at Ægisgarður 5c in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, handles the departure point, but you still need to understand which boat leaves when.

The maximum group size is listed as 30 people. That is small enough for clear instructions, though the puffin boat can feel crowded when everyone moves outside at once. The larger whale boat offers more room and better shelter.

Puffins near Lundey and the other breeding islands

The first boat heads toward Lundey or one of two nearby islands that host large puffin colonies during breeding season. The ride lasts about an hour. You stay aboard and view the birds from the water, rather than walking onto the island.

That sounds obvious, but it sets a fair expectation. Puffins are not large animals, and they move quickly. Some sit on the water, some fly low, and many remain on the island slopes. From a boat, they can be hard to see without help.

Elding provides binoculars, although bringing your own pair can make a real difference. A zoom camera is useful too. A phone may record the moment, but it is unlikely to give you a satisfying close image when the birds are far off or moving quickly.

The small boat can get closer to the island than a larger ship could, which is the point of using it. Still, closer does not mean close enough for a portrait. The most rewarding part is often watching the colony as a whole: dark birds lifting from the water, white bellies flashing in flight, and groups bobbing on the sea.

The puffin trip has a few practical drawbacks. Seats inside may not all offer a clear window view, and the best outdoor positions can fill quickly. Reaching an upper deck may involve a ladder, so this portion can be awkward for anyone who has trouble climbing or standing in a crowd.

I would treat the puffin cruise as a chance to see the birds in their own setting, not as a guaranteed close-up encounter. If your main goal is detailed puffin photography, bring proper optical equipment and choose the season carefully. The birds are present in greatest numbers during breeding season, while late summer sightings may be thinner.

The Old Harbour break is part of the appeal

Between the two trips, you have about an hour and a half, sometimes closer to two hours depending on the day’s schedule. That is enough time for a proper meal if you move promptly, though I would not plan an elaborate restaurant visit.

The Old Harbour is a handy place to pause. You can ask the Elding staff for food suggestions, pick up coffee or lunch, and return to the meeting area without crossing Reykjavik. There is also free parking nearby, according to the tour information, which helps if you are driving into the city for the activity.

Bring food or plan to buy it before the whale boat departs. Snacks and drinks are available onboard, but the selection may not replace lunch. One useful detail is the restroom code at the Elding reception desk. Ask for it before or between trips.

This interval also gives you a chance to change layers. Even on a pleasant Icelandic day, the open water can feel much colder than Reykjavik’s streets. The whale boat provides protective outer clothing, but a warm base layer remains sensible.

Searching Faxaflói Bay for whales and dolphins

The second trip lasts about three hours and heads into Faxaflói, the large bay west of Reykjavik. The usual targets include minke whales, humpback whales, porpoises, and dolphins. You may also see seabirds and other marine life.

The boat’s size makes this portion more comfortable than the puffin cruise. You get a heated indoor saloon with large viewing windows, room to move around, and a café area selling coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks. Free WiFi is included, though you will probably spend more time watching the water than checking your phone.

A three-hour whale tour is not three hours of constant whale action. Part of the trip is spent reaching the feeding areas, then the crew works the water carefully. You might see a whale surface once and vanish, or you might get repeated appearances from a humpback. The best sightings can be over in seconds, so keep scanning even after the boat slows.

The guides help here. Their live English commentary explains where to look and what you might see. The marine biologist guides also add useful context about puffins, whales, and Icelandic waters, rather than simply pointing at an animal and naming it.

A humpback mother and calf have occasionally come close enough to create an extraordinary sighting, while other trips produce a few brief blows or a distant fin. Minke whales may breach, dolphins may travel in a pod, and porpoises can be even harder to spot because of their low profile. You need patience and a willingness to accept an imperfect view.

The captain and crew aim to respect the animals’ space. That means the boat may not pursue a whale aggressively just to force a closer photograph. I consider that a strength, even if it sometimes leaves you wishing the animal had surfaced nearer.

The whale guarantee lowers the risk

The sighting guarantee is one of the most useful features of the package. If you do not see a cetacean on the whale trip, you can take the whale tour again free of charge on another day.

That does not guarantee a close encounter, a particular species, or a calm sea. It does give you a second chance, which matters when weather, water conditions, and animal behavior refuse to cooperate.

For that reason, I would book this activity early in your Reykjavik stay if your schedule allows. A repeat trip is only useful if you still have time in the city. The guarantee applies to the whale portion, not to a guaranteed puffin sighting.

If you see dolphins but no whales, ask the staff how they apply the guarantee, since the stated promise concerns cetacean sightings and the tour seeks several kinds of cetaceans. Either way, keep your expectations grounded: nature decides what appears.

Comfort in Icelandic weather

You receive protective clothing and can use the heated indoor saloon on the whale boat. Large windows let you watch from inside, while outdoor decks give you a better chance to follow a whale once the crew points it out.

The clothing is valuable because wind is the real nuisance on the bay. Even if the air temperature feels mild at the harbor, open water can feel raw. Wear layers, secure hats and scarves, and keep your camera ready but protected from spray.

Children under 13 must wear life vests for the full duration of the tour, as required by Icelandic law. Service animals are allowed, and the tour information says most people can participate. The upper-deck ladder on the puffin boat is worth keeping in mind if you have limited mobility, and you should ask Elding directly about any personal access concern before booking.

The tour is offered in English. Commentary is live, which makes it easier to ask a question or get a quick explanation when an animal appears.

What $140 gets you

At $140 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a half-day in Reykjavik. It is also more than a simple harbor cruise. You are paying for two boat operations, protective gear, binocular use, indoor heated seating, live guiding, the wildlife exhibition, and the possibility of a free repeat whale trip.

The value is strongest if you want both puffins and whales and prefer one booking with a built-in break. The package also saves you from arranging two separate departures and guessing how much time to leave between them.

The value is weaker if you mainly want close puffin photographs. The puffin boat may feel crowded, and the birds can remain too distant for easy viewing. In that case, you might prefer to spend your money on the whale cruise alone, or compare it with a different puffin format.

The whale portion is the stronger part for many people because the larger boat is more comfortable and the sighting guarantee reduces the sting of a quiet day. Still, a full three-hour search can feel long if you dislike open water or become seasick. Elding has provided seasickness tablets to visitors before, but food and drinks are not included, so plan ahead.

Timing, weather, and the best season

Puffin numbers are linked to the breeding season, and whale activity varies with conditions. Summer, especially June through August, offers the clearest reason to combine these two outings, though no date guarantees a full show.

August can work very well, but late-season conditions may produce fewer puffins or less active wildlife than you hoped. Poor weather can also cancel the entire experience. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

The cancellation rule is straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

I would avoid placing the tour on your final few hours in Iceland. Weather can shift plans, and the whale guarantee needs an open day for a return trip. Early booking is wise, since the activity is often reserved well ahead of time.

Who should book this combination

I would recommend the tour to you if you enjoy being on the water, want a guided introduction to Icelandic marine life, and can accept that wild animals do not perform on command. Families can appreciate the two-part format, especially with the indoor seating and a break between rides.

It also suits photographers who bring the right equipment and care more about being in the animals’ habitat than collecting guaranteed close-ups. The guides’ directions are particularly useful when several people are scanning different parts of the bay.

I would hesitate if you need a close, easy puffin view, dislike boats, or have little flexibility in your schedule. The puffin portion may disappoint if you expect to land among the birds, and the whale portion can be quiet despite the crew’s best efforts.

Should you book it?

Book this two-in-one experience if you want a well-organized half-day that combines a short puffin cruise with a serious whale search. The heated saloon, protective clothing, useful commentary, and whale guarantee make the $140 price easier to justify.

Just make the right mental bargain before you go: you are buying time in the wild, not a staged animal encounter. Bring binoculars, dress warmly, eat during the harbor break, and book early enough to use the free repeat whale trip if the bay stays empty.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland, in the Old Harbour area.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The combined experience takes approximately four to six hours, including the break between the two boat trips.

Are the puffin and whale tours on the same boat?

No. The puffin cruise uses a smaller passenger boat, while the whale trip uses a larger boat.

How long is the puffin tour?

The puffin-watching portion lasts about one hour.

How long is the whale-watching tour?

The whale-watching portion lasts about three hours.

What animals might I see?

The tour searches for puffins, minke whales, humpback whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Other wildlife and seabirds may also appear.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are available to borrow, and you may also bring your own pair or a camera with a strong zoom.

What happens if I do not see a whale?

The tour includes a whale sighting guarantee. If you do not see a cetacean, you can take the whale-watching tour again free of charge on another day.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the price, but you can buy snacks and drinks onboard. The break between tours also gives you time to eat at the Old Harbour.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience includes live commentary in English.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can children join the tour?

Most people can participate, and children can join. Anyone under 13 is required by law to wear a life vest for the entire tour.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

No. Pickup and drop-off are not included, though they may be arranged for an additional fee.

How far in advance can I cancel?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded or accepted.