Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Puffin Excursion

The appeal here is the two-part wildlife outing: first, a larger boat heads from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into the Atlantic in search of humpback and minke whales; later, a smaller boat visits nearby islands where puffins gather. You get two very different views of Iceland’s coastal wildlife in one booking.

I like that the puffin trip uses a boat designed to get close to the islands, with binoculars provided on board. I also like the free return ticket if the whale trip has no sightings, a useful safeguard when wildlife sets the schedule, not the boat.

One thing to plan around: this is two separate tours with two departures, not one continuous cruise. The smaller puffin boat can also be affected by rough weather, so the whale trip may go ahead while the puffin outing does not.

Key points to know before booking

• Two boats, two outings: Whale watching takes about 2 to 3.5 hours on a larger vessel; puffin watching takes about an hour on a smaller boat.
• Choose the whale departure: The available pairings are 09:00 whale watching with 12:30 puffin watching, or 13:00 whale watching with 17:00 puffin watching.
• Puffins from a purpose-built boat: The smaller vessel is designed to get as close to the islands as possible, and binoculars are provided.
• A second chance if whales are absent: You can join another whale-watching trip for free if there are no sightings.
• Meet at the Old Harbour: Check in at the Special Tours ticket office, Geirsgata 11, and arrive 30 minutes before departure.
• Budget for a half-day outing: The listed price is $153 per person. Snacks and drinks cost extra, and pickup is not included.

Starting from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

Your meeting point is the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. Arrive 30 minutes before the whale-watching departure. That buffer gives you time to check in and get ready without starting the day in a rush.

The package price is $153 per person, and it buys two distinct outings rather than one long cruise. The first trip uses a larger whale-watching boat; the second uses a smaller boat for the puffin islands. That change of vessel is part of the appeal: each trip is set up for a different kind of wildlife viewing.

There is no pickup service, so you’ll need to make your own way to the harbour. Snacks and drinks are sold on board, but they are not included in the price. If you prefer to bring your own supplies, plan ahead rather than counting on the tour to provide them.

The scheduled combinations are 09:00 whale watching followed by puffin watching at 12:30, or 13:00 whale watching followed by puffin watching at 17:00. When you book, you choose the whale departure time, so check the matching puffin departure carefully. The stated activity duration is four hours, but the two tours have their own departures and the whale trip itself can last from about two to 3.5 hours. Treat this as a half-day plan and leave breathing room around it.

First, scan the Atlantic for whales

The whale-watching trip sets out from the Old Harbour into the Atlantic. Humpback and minke whales are the main species named for the outing, and the guide shares information about the animals’ behavior and habitat as you search. It is a wildlife trip, not a performance on a timetable, so sightings can vary.

The larger boat is the practical choice for this part of the day. You have room to watch from on board as the coast slips away and the guide helps you understand what you might see. The experience is as much about looking carefully and learning as it is about the moment a whale appears.

The free return ticket is a meaningful part of the value. If the trip produces no sightings, you can join again without paying for another whale-watching ticket. It does not promise a whale encounter on a particular day, but it reduces the sting of an empty search.

A recent outing had plentiful whale sightings and a guide named Daniel who was praised for his work. That is a good reminder of what can make the time at sea more rewarding: a guide who keeps the group engaged and explains the animals rather than simply pointing them out. Guide names and sightings will vary, of course.

The trade-off is that no one can guarantee how many whales you’ll see. One person can hope for more, while another trip may turn up several. If your main goal is a guaranteed close encounter, this is not the right kind of wildlife activity. If you enjoy the search and can accept uncertainty, the free return option makes the gamble easier to take.

Then change boats for puffin islands

The puffin outing is a separate trip on a smaller boat and lasts about an hour. It visits nearby islands to view puffin colonies against Iceland’s coastal scenery. The vessel is specially designed to get as close to the islands as possible, and binoculars are provided on board.

That smaller scale changes the feel of the second outing. Instead of searching the open water for whales from a large vessel, you focus on the island edges and the birds gathered there. The binoculars help you pick out activity at a distance, while the boat’s design aims to bring you nearer to the colonies.

The puffin trip adds a different kind of wildlife viewing, not simply more time at sea. It also makes the combo appealing if you want to compare two habitats and two species in a single visit to the harbour. The puffins may be the highlight for anyone keen to see the birds up close, while the whales offer the larger, more unpredictable encounter.

Weather deserves special attention here. On one outing, conditions were too poor for the boat used on the puffin tour, even though the whale trip went ahead and produced excellent sightings. That illustrates why the two parts should be treated as separate outings: the smaller boat may be unable to operate when conditions are unsuitable.

There is also an environmental note worth knowing. At some times of year, the provider may share a boat with another activity partner to reduce the number of boats on the water. The aim is to limit pressure on the marine environment, though the exact arrangements may differ from one departure to another.

What the $153 price gets you

At $153 per person, this is not a low-cost harbour ride. The value comes from combining two guided wildlife trips, with different boats and viewing settings, rather than paying only for a whale cruise. You also get free WiFi on board, complimentary seasickness tablets, and a free chance to repeat the whale trip if there are no sightings.

For the puffin outing, binoculars are included. That matters because the birds and their colonies may not always be right beside the boat, even when the vessel can approach the islands closely. The guide’s explanations add context to both outings, so you are not left to guess what you are looking at.

The price does not cover snacks or beverages, and there is no pickup service. Those are modest but useful details when comparing the package with other plans. You should also account for the time needed to reach the harbour and the possibility that weather changes the puffin portion.

If you want only one wildlife outing, the combined price may feel high. But if both whales and puffins are on your Iceland wish list, pairing them saves you from arranging two separate bookings and gives you a fuller half-day on the water. The free repeat ticket for a no-sighting whale trip adds further value, though it is most useful if your schedule allows you to return.

Staying comfortable on the water

Dress warmly and bring waterproof camera protection. Even when the harbour looks calm, this is an Atlantic outing, and the supplied guidance is clear: prepare for chilly, wet conditions rather than relying on a sunny forecast.

Seasickness is the main comfort concern. The activity is listed as unsuitable for people prone to motion sickness, and tablets are available on board. If you know you are sensitive, bring your preferred motion-sickness prevention and think carefully about whether a multi-hour boat trip is a good fit.

Binoculars are worth bringing if you have a pair, though they are supplied on the puffin tour. The tour also offers free WiFi, but connection is a convenience, not a reason to keep your attention on a screen. The wildlife is the point, and you’ll want your hands free when something appears.

Pets and smoking are not allowed. The live guiding is in English, so you should be comfortable following explanations in that language.

Who will get the most from this outing

This combo suits you if you want a varied wildlife day without arranging separate operators yourself. It is especially appealing if you’re interested in both whale behavior and puffin colonies, and you have enough flexibility to fit the paired departure times into your Reykjavik plans.

It is also a good choice for people who like guided context. The guides share information about animal behavior and habitats, and a particularly enthusiastic guide can make the search feel worthwhile even between sightings. One outing featured Daniel, whose clear enthusiasm added to the day, though you should not expect the same guide every time.

The combo is less suitable if you dislike boats, are highly prone to seasickness, or need exact control over how long the trip takes. Whale watching can last anywhere from about two to 3.5 hours, and conditions can disrupt the puffin outing. It is also not the best match if you can only spare a short window and cannot adapt to the two separate departures.

For families or wildlife fans, the combination offers variety, but the best choice depends on comfort at sea and patience with uncertain sightings. You may see many whales, few whales, or none on a particular outing. The puffin trip gives you another chance to see wildlife, but weather can affect that boat too.

Should you book the whale and puffin combo?

I’d book this if seeing both whales and puffins ranks high on your Iceland list and you can give the day a flexible half-day slot. The switch from a larger whale boat to a smaller island boat gives the outing a useful change of pace, and the guides, binoculars, WiFi, seasickness tablets, and no-sighting return ticket make the $153 price easier to justify.

I’d think twice if rough seas make you unwell or if you need a firm guarantee of wildlife sightings. The best reason to choose this trip is not certainty; it is the chance to look for two iconic kinds of Icelandic wildlife with guides who can put the encounter in context. Keep warm, arrive early, and treat the schedule as two connected outings rather than one continuous cruise.

FAQ

How long does the whale and puffin activity take?

The stated duration is four hours. The whale-watching trip lasts about 2 to 3.5 hours, and the puffin trip lasts about one hour. They are separate tours with separate departures.

What departure combinations are available?

You can choose whale watching at 09:00 with puffin watching at 12:30, or whale watching at 13:00 with puffin watching at 17:00.

Which departure time do I choose when booking?

You choose the whale-watching departure time. The corresponding puffin tour has its own departure.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, Reykjavik’s Old Harbour.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive 30 minutes before the whale-watching departure.

What language is the tour guide?

The live guide speaks English.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are provided on the puffin tour.

What happens if no whales are seen?

You receive a free ticket to join another whale-watching trip if there are no sightings.

Are seasickness tablets available?

Yes. Complimentary seasickness tablets are available on board. The tour is listed as unsuitable for people prone to seasickness.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.