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

The clever part of this experience is that you get two very different boat trips in one booking. A smaller vessel takes you toward a puffin island for about an hour, then a larger, more comfortable boat heads into Faxaflói Bay for up to three hours of whale watching. Between them, you have time for lunch and a walk around Reykjavik’s Old Harbour.

I like the free whale rebooking promise if no cetaceans appear, and I like the practical comfort: warm indoor seating, large viewing windows, protective clothing, binoculars, WiFi, and a café onboard the whale boat. The guides also add useful context about the animals rather than simply pointing and shouting.

The main catch is simple: this is not one continuous cruise, and puffins can be hard to see well from the boat. They are small, quick, and often farther away than photographs suggest. The whale trip can also be quiet because these are wild animals, so you should book for the experience of being at sea, not for a guaranteed close encounter.

Key points to know before you book

• Two boats, two separate trips: The puffin cruise and whale cruise operate independently, with a break in between.
• Lundey is viewed from the water: You do not get off on the puffin island, so binoculars or a good zoom lens matter.
• Faxaflói Bay takes time: The whale boat may travel for about an hour before reaching the main viewing area.
• The whale guarantee has real value: If you see no cetaceans, you can try the whale trip again free of charge.
• Warmth is built in: Protective overalls, a heated saloon, and large windows make the longer cruise easier in Icelandic weather.
• Season and conditions matter: Puffin numbers are tied to breeding season, and wind or rough water can cancel or limit the tour.

Two cruises from Reykjavik, not one long outing

Elding Whale Watching runs this experience from Ægisgarður 5c in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The package costs about $140 per person and takes roughly four to six hours, depending on the schedule and time spent between departures.

That price is easier to understand when you view it as two paid excursions. You are getting a one-hour puffin cruise and a three-hour whale cruise, rather than a short add-on bird stop before a standard whale trip. You also get protective gear, binoculars, indoor seating, live English commentary, WiFi, and access to a wildlife exhibition.

Still, the package asks you to accept a certain amount of uncertainty. You may have a spectacular day with humpback whales, dolphins, and hundreds of puffins. You may also see a few distant birds and one brief whale surfacing. I would consider the price fair for people who genuinely enjoy time on the water, but less appealing if your only goal is a close puffin photograph.

The activity normally has a maximum of 30 participants. That is a manageable number for a guided wildlife trip, though the smaller puffin boat can feel crowded when everyone moves outside at once.

The puffin cruise toward Lundey

The first outing takes about an hour on a smaller passenger boat. The crew sails toward one of up to three islands used by thousands of puffins during breeding season, with Lundey named as the stop in this itinerary.

You stay on the boat. That detail matters. The crew brings you close enough to look toward the nesting areas, but you do not walk onto the island or stand beside the birds. Puffins may sit on the water, fly past, or gather on the island. Their movements are quick, and their bodies look surprisingly small against the open sea.

I would borrow the available binoculars, but bring your own if you have a good pair. The supplied binoculars are useful, yet some visitors found them less sharp than ideal. A phone camera may record a tiny dark shape rather than a recognizable puffin, so a camera with a strong zoom gives you a better chance of a satisfying picture.

This is also where expectations need adjusting. Some departures bring you close to large numbers of birds, while others offer only distant views. Puffin activity changes with the season, and late summer can be less reliable. If your main aim is to see puffins at close range, this boat trip may disappoint you. You are observing a colony from the water, not visiting a puffin enclosure.

The smaller vessel has another practical drawback. The upper viewing deck may require climbing a ladder, and seats inside may not all have a clear window. On a busy departure, people can gather along the outside rail, making it harder for anyone behind them to see. Older adults, young children, or anyone with limited mobility may prefer to remain in the lower seating area, though that can reduce the view.

The experience is at its best when you treat the cruise as a short wildlife outing with a fresh view of Reykjavik and the islands, not as a guaranteed close-up photo session.

Your Old Harbour break between boats

After the puffin trip, you usually have around an hour and a half, sometimes closer to two hours, before the whale cruise. This pause is one of the best features of the package because you are not trapped on a boat all day.

Use the time for lunch at the Old Harbour, where you will find several restaurants and cafés. You can also walk, stretch your legs, use the toilet, and check the departure details for the second cruise. The operator suggests asking staff for restaurant recommendations, which is useful if you do not want to waste time searching.

One small but important tip: confirm that you have tickets or confirmation for both parts of the experience. Since the puffin and whale trips are separate departures on separate boats, it is easy to assume the first ticket covers everything. Check with the ticket desk before walking away from the meeting point.

This break also helps with seasickness. You can eat before the longer cruise, pick up medication if needed, and avoid spending five or six hours continuously on moving water. On the other hand, if your two departures are rescheduled, you may have more free time than expected. Keep your afternoon flexible.

Three hours searching Faxaflói Bay

The whale portion uses a larger boat and lasts about three hours. The boat travels out into Faxaflói, the broad bay off Reykjavik, in search of minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other marine life.

Do not assume that the boat reaches the animals immediately. The journey toward the viewing area can take roughly an hour, which explains why the full outing lasts three hours. That travel time is part of the experience, but it also means the trip may feel long if the sea is quiet.

The larger boat is better suited to a long search. You can use the heated indoor saloon, look through large windows, or go outside in the supplied windproof and waterproof clothing. A café sells coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks. Food and drinks are not included, so eat during the harbour break if you want a proper meal.

The guides use live English commentary to explain what you are seeing and where to look. This is especially helpful because whales do not politely surface beside the boat on schedule. A guide may direct your attention to a blow, a dark back, a tail, or a sudden movement several metres away. If you keep watching only one side, you can miss the action.

The best reports from this outing include several humpback whales, a mother and calf, minke whales, pods of dolphins, porpoises, and even a sea lion. A few people saw a minke whale breach several times. Those moments can be outstanding, but they are not the normal baseline you should demand from every departure.

Some trips produce only one whale or a quick glimpse. One humpback may surface for a second and vanish before you have lifted your camera. The crew can search hard and follow a whale for a while, but it cannot control the animals. That is why the free return trip matters.

What the whale guarantee really gives you

If you do not see a cetacean on the whale cruise, Elding allows you to try again on another day at no extra charge. This does not guarantee a close whale encounter, and it does not apply to puffins, but it lowers the risk of paying for a completely empty wildlife trip.

The guarantee is most useful if you are staying in Reykjavik for several days. Book the experience early in your visit so you have time to return if needed. If this is your final afternoon in Iceland, the promise has less practical value.

Weather can also change the plan. The activity requires suitable conditions, and strong wind may lead to cancellation, rescheduling, or a full refund. Rough seas do not automatically mean cancellation, but they can make the outing uncomfortable. Seasickness tablets may be available before departure, and you should make use of the harbour break to prepare if you are prone to motion sickness.

Guides, wildlife care, and the feel onboard

The guides include marine biologists, and their role goes beyond spotting animals. They explain puffin behavior, whale species, and the waters around Iceland. That background gives the sightings more meaning, especially when the animal appears only briefly.

The crew also aims to keep a respectful distance from wildlife. You are not promised a dramatic chase or a boat pressed right against a whale. That restraint is a good thing for the animals, though it can mean photographs are harder.

The whale boat is generally the more comfortable part of the package. It has room to move, warm indoor areas, large windows, and a café. The puffin boat is more exposed and more sensitive to crowding. Think of the first cruise as a quick, close-to-the-water bird outing and the second as a longer, better-supported search.

Staff assistance at check-in is another strength. Clear signs and organized departures help, but you still need to pay attention because the boats and departure times differ.

Is $140 a good value?

At $140 per person, this is not a budget activity. The value depends on how you measure it.

You receive roughly four hours of wildlife cruising, plus the harbour break, equipment, commentary, and a whale rebooking option. If you were already planning to book separate puffin and whale trips, combining them can be convenient. You also avoid arranging transport between different operators because both parts begin and end at the same Old Harbour meeting point.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want puffins. The puffin portion is short, the birds can be distant, and the viewing conditions vary. In that case, you may feel that you paid for a full second excursion but received only a few hard-to-see birds.

I think the package offers its best value to visitors who want a full half-day on the water and who will appreciate dolphins, seabirds, changing views of Reykjavik, and the chance of seeing several whale species. You are paying for time and opportunity, not certainty.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to families, first-time visitors to Iceland, wildlife fans, and anyone who likes a guided boat ride with proper shelter. The indoor saloon and protective clothing make the whale trip workable in cool weather, while the break on land prevents the day from feeling like one long exposure to wind and waves.

It can also suit older children, but children under 13 must wear life vests by law for the full tour. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. Anyone with limited mobility should ask about the smaller boat and its ladder before booking.

I would hesitate if you dislike boats, get seasick easily, or need guaranteed close views. I would also avoid treating the puffin cruise as your only chance for excellent puffin photos. The birds are wild, quick, and viewed from offshore.

You receive free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather may lead to another date or a full refund.

My verdict: a strong whale outing with a less certain puffin add-on

I like the structure of this experience. The harbour break is useful, the larger whale boat is comfortable, and the free return trip gives you some protection against a quiet sea. The guides add real value by explaining animal behavior and helping you spot movement that you might otherwise miss.

The puffin cruise is more dependent on timing, bird numbers, boat capacity, and your viewing position. You may see hundreds of puffins, or you may struggle to make out a few at a distance. Go in expecting a water-level view of a wild colony, and you have a fair chance of enjoying it.

Book this combo if you want a full marine wildlife outing and can keep your expectations flexible. If whales are your priority, book early in your Reykjavik stay so the guarantee can help you. If close puffin photographs are the main goal, consider whether this boat-based view will be enough before paying the full $140.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and ends at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, in the Old Harbour.

How long does the full experience take?

The activity takes approximately four to six hours. The listed schedule includes a one-hour puffin cruise, about an hour and a half of free time, and a three-hour whale watching cruise.

Are the puffin and whale trips on the same boat?

No. They are two separate tours on two separate boats. The puffin trip uses a smaller passenger boat, while the whale cruise uses a larger boat.

Can I get off the puffin island?

No. The boat sails toward one of the islands where puffins breed, but the puffins are viewed from the water.

What animals might I see on the whale cruise?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Other seabirds and marine life may also appear, but sightings are not guaranteed.

What happens if I see no whales?

Elding offers a free return whale watching trip if you do not see any cetaceans. This is most useful if you have another day available in Reykjavik.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are available to buy onboard the whale boat. You can also use the break in the Old Harbour to have lunch before the longer cruise.

Is protective clothing provided?

Yes. Protective clothing is available, and the whale boat has a heated indoor saloon with large viewing windows. Binoculars are also available to borrow.

Can children join the tour?

Most people can participate, and children are allowed. By law, children under 13 must wear life vests for the entire tour.