Reykjavik: Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

Reykjavík’s puffin-and-whale combo gives you two very different sea trips in one outing. The small Old Skúli boat gets near the puffin colonies, while the larger Andrea heads into Faxaflói Bay in search of minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

I like the warm overalls, indoor seating, and free return ticket if no whales appear. I also like that you can choose the faster whale boat, which cuts travel time without cutting time in the whale-watching area. The catch is simple: whales are wild, and rough seas or shy animals can make the long boat ride feel like a lot for a brief sighting.

Key points to know before you book

• Two separate cruises: You return to Reykjavík’s Old Harbor between the puffin and whale trips, so the tours can also be taken on different days.
• Old Skúli gets close to puffin islands: Its shallow draught lets it approach the small islands where puffins breed.
• Choose classic or express whale watching: The Andrea classic trip lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours, while the faster option takes 2 to 2.5 hours but gives you the same time in the viewing area.
• Sightings are not promised: The puffin tour has a 100 percent sightings guarantee, while a whale-free trip earns you a free whale-watching ticket.
• Warmth is built in: You get indoor seating and supplied overalls, but you should still bring warm clothing and wet-weather gear.
• The best season is April through September: Whale sightings can be less likely outside those months.

Two boats, two very different wildlife trips

This tour works because the puffin and whale trips offer different kinds of wildlife watching. You are not simply repeating the same boat ride twice.

The puffin cruise uses Skúlaskeið, called Old Skúli, a small boat with a shallow draught. That design matters. It allows the captain to approach the small islands where puffins live without needing a large vessel to pass close by. The ride to the puffin area takes about 15 minutes, according to the stated trip details, and the whole puffin outing lasts about an hour.

The whale cruise is a larger operation. The classic trip uses Andrea, described as Iceland’s biggest whale-watching boat. It has spacious seating, indoor areas, a cafeteria, and an educational focus. If you prefer to get to Faxaflói Bay sooner, you can choose the express boat, which reaches the viewing area faster and spends the same amount of time there.

I like this choice because it lets you match the boat to your priorities. The classic Andrea trip gives you more room, a cafeteria, and a steadier-feeling platform for a longer outing. The express option is better if you dislike spending a large part of the tour simply getting out to sea.

What happens at Reykjavík’s Old Harbor

Both trips begin and end at the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor. Pay attention to the schedule, since the order changes depending on your departure.

The 9:00 AM departure begins with classic whale watching, followed by the Puffin Express at 12:30 PM. The 10:00 AM departure uses the express whale boat first, followed by puffin watching at 12:30 PM. The 12:30 PM departure starts with puffins and follows with express whale watching at 2:00 PM.

The harbor return between trips is useful. You have a short changeover period rather than being trapped on one vessel all day. It also means you should not treat this as one continuous cruise. You return to the meeting point, switch boats, and begin a second guided trip.

You can also take the two tours on separate days. That is worth considering if you want more flexibility, if the forecast looks poor for one part of the experience, or if you do not want to spend several hours at sea in one day.

Puffin watching aboard Old Skúli

The puffin trip is the more dependable half of the combo. Puffins gather around breeding islands, so you have a much better chance of seeing them than you do of finding a whale in open water.

Old Skúli’s shallow draught is the key feature. The boat can approach the colonies closely, although close does not mean you can reach out and touch the birds. Bring patience and use the supplied binoculars. Several people expect puffins to look larger than they do, but these are small seabirds moving quickly around the water and cliffs.

You may see puffins flying, bobbing on the sea, and moving around the colony. The trip can also reveal other bird life, including black guillemots. The guides explain the birds and their behavior, and the short ride keeps this part easy to fit into a busy Reykjavík schedule.

The puffin guide can make a real difference. Patrick, also known by the playful nickname Patrick Pirate Puffin, is noted for mixing science-based facts with jokes that work well for families. The guides on this operation use humor, but the main value is that they help you understand what you are looking at rather than simply pointing toward a distant bird.

The puffin trip carries a 100 percent sightings guarantee. That does not mean every bird will pose for a perfect photograph. It means the operator provides a guarantee that you will see puffins on the tour. Binoculars are included, and you should use them, especially if you want to identify behavior or bird markings.

Searching Faxaflói Bay for whales

The whale cruise heads out from Reykjavík toward Faxaflói Bay. The most common sightings listed for this area are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

Minke whales may appear briefly, often giving you a smaller target to follow. Humpbacks can provide more dramatic sightings, with visible tails, blows, or splashes. Dolphins may travel in groups, while harbor porpoises are smaller and easier to miss.

The boat crew does more than announce an animal and leave you guessing. Guides point out blows, tails, and movement and explain which species you may be seeing. On strong days, you might spend more than an hour near a group of whales. On quieter days, you may see only a few tails or sprays.

That difference is important. This is a wildlife search, not a staged show. You should not book it expecting a whale to leap beside the boat on command. A good trip may bring humpbacks, minke whales, and dolphins close enough for clear viewing. Another may offer a few distant signs of life.

The whale guarantee is handled differently from the puffin guarantee. If no whales are spotted, you receive a free ticket to try again. That helps protect the value of the booking, but it does not solve every problem. A day with one distant sighting can still feel disappointing, even if the trip technically counts as a sighting. The crew’s job is to search carefully and safely, not to promise a wildlife documentary.

Classic Andrea or the faster whale boat?

You have a useful choice here.

The classic whale-watching tour aboard Andrea lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours. It is the biggest whale-watching boat in Iceland, with a cafeteria, warm indoor seating, and plenty of space. For families, first-time whale watchers, or anyone who prefers a larger vessel, this is likely the easier option.

The classic trip takes longer overall because the boat spends more time traveling to and from the viewing area. That extra time may be worthwhile if you want a roomy boat and a full educational outing.

The express option lasts about 2 to 2.5 hours. It uses a faster boat, reaches the whale area sooner, and still allows the same amount of time there. This is the sensible pick if your Reykjavík schedule is tight or if you would rather spend less time in transit.

A faster boat does not mean a better chance of whales. It mainly changes how quickly you reach the search area. If the sea is rough, a smaller, faster vessel may feel more active. If you are prone to seasickness, consider the boat type carefully and ask the crew about available motion-sickness medicine. One outing had choppy conditions that affected several people, even though the vessel slowed down while searching.

Staying warm when Icelandic weather changes

The supplied overalls are a welcome feature. You can sit inside when the wind rises, and the crew provides warm clothing for the outdoor viewing areas.

Still, do not treat the overalls as a complete substitute for your own layers. Bring warm clothes and comfortable clothing, along with wet-weather gear. One useful practical lesson is that you may feel fine in the harbor and much colder once the boat is moving in open water.

The weather also affects whether the captain sails. Tours depend on safe sea conditions, and the captains decide based on their experience, passenger comfort, and safety. A cancellation or change caused by weather is not a flaw in the wildlife plan. It is part of operating responsibly at sea.

I like the fact that the boats offer indoor seating, but you will get the best views by moving outside when conditions allow. On a whale trip, do not stay fixed on one side of the boat. Animals can surface in different directions, and the guides help direct your attention.

Guides, facts, and the family factor

The guides are a major part of the experience. You get a live English-speaking guide on both tours, and the supplied app adds information in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.

Patrick is especially useful for families who want a guide with energy and humor. Rebecca is also identified as a whale guide who explains the animals clearly. Names can change with the day’s staffing, so do not book on the assumption that one particular guide will be present.

The best guide behavior here is practical. A guide points out where to look, explains whether you are seeing a minke whale or a humpback, and gives you a reason to care about the animal beyond getting a photograph. The conservation information at the end of one whale trip was a welcome touch.

This combo suits families well because the puffin trip is short and lively, while the whale boat has indoor space and a cafeteria. Children may enjoy the puffins immediately and find the longer whale search harder. Pack patience, especially if the sea is moving and the animals are quiet.

What the $148 price means

At $148 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. You are paying for two marine excursions, two guides, warm overalls, indoor seating, binoculars for the puffin trip, and the whale rebooking promise if no whales appear.

The value depends on how much use you make of the two trips. If you want both puffins and whales during a short Reykjavík stay, combining them saves planning time and gives you a full wildlife day. If you have already seen puffins elsewhere, the puffin portion may feel expensive for a roughly one-hour outing.

I would judge the price more favorably for the full combination than for either part alone. The whale trip is the main cost justification because it requires a larger boat, longer time at sea, crew, and a search across the bay. The puffin tour adds a distinct experience, but it is the part to question if your budget is tight.

The free whale ticket also matters. It does not guarantee better weather or more cooperative animals on the second attempt, but it means a completely empty whale trip does not end the value of your booking.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Check the available start times carefully, since the combo’s order and boat type depend on the selected departure.

The best season and the honest wildlife odds

April through September is the preferred period for whale watching in Iceland. Outside those months, sightings may be less likely.

Even in summer, you need to accept uncertainty. A good outing can bring several minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and puffins. Another can bring a few distant whale signs while the puffins provide the clearer success.

This is why I would place the trip in the middle of your Reykjavík plans rather than making it the one event your entire visit depends on. If you see a humpback close to the boat, it may become the highlight of your stay. If conditions are poor, you will be glad you also had the shorter puffin cruise and the option to return for whales.

The most authentic part is also the least controlled. The crew searches, explains, and keeps a respectful distance. You do not get a guaranteed performance, and that is exactly why a sighting feels special when it happens.

Who should book this Reykjavík combo?

Book it if you want a practical way to see two well-known Icelandic animals without arranging separate operators. It is especially suited to families, first-time visitors, wildlife fans, and anyone staying close to Reykjavík’s Old Harbor.

Choose the express whale option if you value time and want to reach Faxaflói Bay sooner. Choose the classic Andrea trip if you prefer a larger boat, more room, a cafeteria, and a longer overall outing.

Skip it if you dislike boats, feel strongly about guaranteed close whale encounters, or have already had an excellent puffin experience elsewhere. Also think twice if your schedule cannot absorb rough weather, a delayed return, or a second whale trip if the first one produces little.

For most visitors, I would book the combo during the April to September season, bring binocular-friendly patience, dress for wet wind, and treat the whales as a bonus rather than a promise. The puffins are the reliable charm; the whales provide the suspense.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

The tour begins at the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor and ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the full combo take?

The listed duration is 4 hours. The exact timing depends on the departure and whether you choose classic or express whale watching.

Can I take the puffin and whale cruises on different days?

Yes. The two activities are separate tours, so you do not have to take them on the same day.

What is the difference between classic and express whale watching?

The classic tour aboard Andrea lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours. The express tour uses a faster boat, lasts about 2 to 2.5 hours, and reaches the whale-watching area sooner while providing the same amount of time there.

Which whales and marine animals might I see?

Common sightings in Faxaflói Bay include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

Are puffin sightings guaranteed?

The puffin tour includes a 100 percent sightings guarantee. Puffins live around the nearby breeding islands, and Old Skúli can approach them closely because of its shallow draught.

What happens if I see no whales?

You receive a free ticket to try the whale-watching tour again.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls and warm indoor seating are provided. You should still bring warm clothing and comfortable clothes, and wet-weather gear is a useful choice.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide speaks English. The included app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.