Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Puffin Excursion

The best part of this outing is the two-part wildlife plan: first, you search the open Atlantic for humpback and minke whales, then you switch to a small boat that can get close to puffin islands. It gives you two very different views of Iceland’s sea life in one day.

I like the separate boats because each is suited to its job. The whale vessel offers a longer ride of roughly two to three and a half hours, while the puffin boat lasts about an hour and is designed to approach the islands closely. I also like the free repeat whale-watching ticket if no whales appear. The main catch is simple: wildlife follows its own timetable, and rough weather can cancel or alter the puffin portion.

Key points at a glance

• Two departures make up one booking: Choose either whale watching at 9:00 followed by puffins at 12:30, or whale watching at 13:00 followed by puffins at 17:00.
• Humpback and minke whales are the main targets: Sightings are never promised, but the crew offers a free return whale-watching ticket if none are seen.
• A smaller boat handles the puffin trip: It is built to get close to the nearby islands, and binoculars are provided.
• The tours leave Reykjavik’s Old Harbour: Meet at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, arriving 30 minutes early.
• Weather matters: One recent outing went ahead with excellent whale sightings, but the puffin boat could not operate because conditions were too rough.
• The price is $153 per person: That is fair if you want both activities, but less attractive if you only care about whales or puffins.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

Your day begins at Geirsgata 11, the Special Tours ticket office in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. You need to arrive 30 minutes before departure, so give yourself time to find the office and get organized before the boat call.

You choose the whale-watching departure when you book. There are two pairings:

• Whale watching at 9:00, followed by puffin watching at 12:30
• Whale watching at 13:00, followed by puffin watching at 17:00

The booking lasts about four hours in total, but the whale trip itself can run from two to three and a half hours. The puffin trip lasts about one hour. The time between activities is useful because it gives you a break and allows for the return to the harbor, changing boats, and any schedule differences.

This is not a single boat ride with a quick puffin detour. It is two separate tours with two departures. That detail matters. If you want a relaxed day, the gap between trips is welcome. If you are trying to fit several Reykjavik sights into the same day, the combined timing takes up a substantial block.

There is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to the harbor. The meeting point is central to the activity, but you should still check your route before departure morning. Arriving early also gives you time to buy a drink or settle your seasickness plan before the boat leaves.

The whale search in the Atlantic

The first trip uses a larger vessel and heads out from Reykjavik toward the Atlantic. You will have coastal views as the boat clears the harbor, then spend much of the ride watching open water for the telltale signs of a whale.

The targets are humpback and minke whales. Humpbacks can offer the most dramatic sightings, but no wildlife cruise can control what appears, how close it comes, or how long it stays at the surface. Minke whales may be harder to spot, which makes the guide’s help important.

Your English-speaking guide explains whale behavior and habitat while you scan the water. Pay attention to the instructions about where to look. A guide who spots a distant blow or fin can save you from staring at the wrong patch of sea.

Guide Daniel received especially warm praise for his work on one outing, with his energy and personality adding to the day. That does not mean every departure has the same guide, but it does suggest that the crew puts real effort into making the search informative, not just a quiet wait for a fin.

The whale trip can last anywhere from two to three and a half hours. That range reflects the conditions at sea and the search itself. You may spend long stretches watching empty water, then suddenly see a whale surface. Bring patience. The reward is a sighting in open water, rather than an animal performing on a fixed schedule.

Recent results have varied. One outing produced many whales and puffins, while another person wished there had been more whales. That contrast is a useful warning: a high rating does not turn nature into a guarantee. The free ticket to join again helps reduce the risk if the crew records no sightings, but it does not help much if you are leaving Iceland soon.

Why the whale boat can feel demanding

The larger vessel gives you more room than the puffin boat, but the Atlantic can still be uncomfortable. The activity is not recommended for people prone to seasickness, and you should take that warning seriously.

Warm clothes are essential. Iceland’s air can feel cold on the water even when Reykjavik feels mild, and you may spend time outside watching the horizon. Bring waterproof layers and protect your camera. A waterproof camera is listed among the suggested items, and that is sensible advice around spray and changeable weather.

Seasickness tablets are available at no extra charge, which is a useful touch. If you already know that boats bother you, bring your preferred motion sickness prevention as well. Try to avoid arriving hungry, but do not count on a full meal onboard. Snacks and beverages are sold, not included.

Free WiFi is available on the boat. It is handy for checking plans or sending a quick message, but I would not choose this trip for its internet connection. The point is to keep your phone ready for whale blows, not to spend the ride staring at a screen.

The smaller boat and Reykjavik’s puffin islands

After the whale trip, you return for the second part at the scheduled time. The puffin outing uses a smaller boat, specially designed to get close to the nearby islands. That change in size is important. It suits the shorter, more focused trip and gives you a better angle on the rocky island colonies.

Puffins gather around the islands during the season when they are present, and the boat takes you close enough to watch them against Iceland’s coastal setting. Binoculars are provided, which makes it easier to pick out birds on the rocks or in flight.

The puffin trip lasts about one hour, so it is a concentrated outing rather than another long cruise. You should expect time to pass quickly. The attraction is not only the birds themselves, but also the view of low islands and seabirds from the water.

The smaller craft may feel more exposed to weather than the large whale boat. A recent outing had good whale conditions but weather too poor for the boat used for puffins. This is the clearest practical reason to keep your plans flexible. The two parts are related in subject, but they do not share identical weather limits.

If the puffin tour cannot operate, the information provided does not promise a replacement or refund for that specific situation. Ask the operator directly about current weather procedures if the puffins are your main reason for booking.

The value of $153 per person

At $153 per person, this is not a cheap harbor ride. It can still be good value if you want both activities and would otherwise book separate whale and puffin tours.

The price covers the professional guides, the whale-watching cruise, the puffin trip, onboard WiFi, seasickness tablets, and binoculars for the puffin portion. It also includes the specially designed smaller boat for approaching the islands. The free repeat whale ticket adds value when the sea produces no sightings.

The strongest value comes from the variety. You get a long search for large marine animals and a short, close look at seabirds. Those experiences feel different enough to justify the combined format.

The value weakens if you have only one priority. If whales are your only goal, the puffin portion adds time and cost. If puffins are the reason you are interested, you still have to book around a whale-watching departure and spend much of the day on the larger vessel.

There is no pickup, food, or drink included. Snacks and beverages are sold onboard, so add those costs if you do not want to pack something for before or after the boat trips. The tour does allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve-now, pay-later booking can help if your Iceland plans are still shifting.

What to pack for a better day

Your comfort will shape the experience more than any extra gadget. I would bring:

• Warm, waterproof clothing
• Motion sickness prevention
• A waterproof camera or waterproof phone protection
• Binoculars, if you prefer using your own
• A little food or money for snacks and drinks

Binoculars are provided on the puffin trip, but bringing your own can still help during the whale search. The supplied binoculars are specifically noted for the puffin portion, not the entire day.

Wear layers rather than one bulky coat. You may feel comfortable inside the larger vessel, then want a warmer outer layer when you step outside. Waterproof footwear is also sensible, even though the tour does not give a required shoe type.

Pets are not allowed, and smoking is prohibited. The available language is English, so you should be comfortable following spoken guidance in English.

Wildlife luck and weather limits

The best evidence from the outings is mixed in the way real wildlife trips are mixed. One person saw many whales and puffins and found the two-part format especially worthwhile. Another saw excellent whales but no puffin tour because the weather was too rough. Someone else felt the whale count could have been higher.

That is not a flaw unique to this company. It is the basic tradeoff of seeing wild animals at sea. You are paying for access, a capable boat, and a crew that knows where to search, not for a staged encounter.

The free repeat ticket is a meaningful safety net for whale sightings. If no whales appear, you can join again without buying another ticket. This is most useful if you have several days in Reykjavik. If your schedule is tight, check the forecast and keep your expectations realistic.

Puffins can be especially sensitive to the conditions that affect a smaller boat. You might have a great whale trip and still lose the bird portion to wind or waves. The itinerary’s two departures give you structure, but they cannot remove that risk.

Who should book this combo

I would recommend it to you if you want a full marine wildlife day from Reykjavik and like the idea of seeing two species in two settings. Families, bird lovers, photographers, and first-time visitors who want a simple harbor-based activity may find the plan easy to understand and worthwhile.

It also suits you if you have enough time in the city to let the day unfold. The morning pairing is 9:00 and 12:30, while the afternoon pairing is 13:00 and 17:00. Neither option is a quick side trip.

I would think twice if you get seasick, dislike cold and windy conditions, or have only one free morning. The activity itself says it is not suitable for people prone to seasickness, and the time on the water is long enough for that problem to become the main memory of the day.

Should you book the whale and puffin combo?

Book it if you want variety, can handle a boat ride, and have room in your schedule for two separate departures. The larger whale vessel, smaller puffin boat, expert English-speaking guides, free repeat whale ticket, and included binoculars make the $153 price easier to justify.

Skip it if your Iceland schedule is packed or if you only want one type of wildlife. The sea decides what you see, and rough weather can remove the puffin portion even when whale watching works well. For the right person, though, this is a practical way to pair Reykjavik’s whale search with a close look at puffin islands without arranging two unrelated bookings.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

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

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive 30 minutes before the meeting time.

What departure combinations are available?

You can choose whale watching at 9:00 followed by puffin watching at 12:30, or whale watching at 13:00 followed by puffin watching at 17:00.

Is this one tour or two separate tours?

The booking includes two separate tours with two departures. You first join the whale-watching trip, then return for the puffin trip.

How long does whale watching last?

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.

What animals might I see?

The whale trip searches for humpback and minke whales. The second trip visits nearby islands with puffin colonies.

Are binoculars provided?

Binoculars are provided on the puffin tour.

Is food included?

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

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. You must make your own way to the meeting point at Geirsgata 11.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve-now, pay-later booking is also available.

Is the tour suitable for people prone to seasickness?

No. The activity is not suitable for people prone to seasickness, though complimentary seasickness tablets are available onboard.