Reykjavik: Premium Whale and Puffin Watching Evening Tour

The best part of this Reykjavík tour is the timing. You head into Faxaflói Bay during the long Icelandic evening, when the sun still hangs over the water and the city glows behind you. A fast 12-person RIB boat gives you a better chance of covering ground than a large sightseeing vessel, with whales, dolphins, and puffins all on the lookout list.

I like the small group and the lively ride out of the Old Harbour. I also like the thoughtful wildlife approach: the boat aims for close views without hounding the animals or crowding them with other boats. The main drawback is the ride itself. A RIB is stable, but it is still a fast open-water trip, so this is not a good fit for pregnant women or anyone with back, knee, or mobility problems.

Key points to know before you book

• The evening light is the star: The bright Icelandic summer night lets you fit whale watching into a full day of sightseeing.
• Only 12 people share each boat: You get a more personal ride and a better chance to hear the guide.
• Puffins are seasonal: Look for them from about May 15 through August 20, not outside that period.
• Summer sightings are strong: Whales are seen on more than 95 percent of summer tours, though wildlife is never guaranteed.
• The boat covers ground quickly: Its speed helps the crew search a wider area of Faxaflói Bay.
• You get a backup option for whales: If no whales appear, a complimentary ride on a larger boat is offered before you leave.

Leaving Reykjavík’s Old Harbour in a RIB

You meet at the ticket office at Ægisgarður 5, in Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. That extra time matters because the crew needs to get you suited up, check safety equipment, and prepare the group before the boat leaves.

The tour lasts two hours, including the harbor departure and return. The RIB carries no more than 12 people, a useful limit in a setting where a large boat can make wildlife viewing feel distant and impersonal. With fewer people aboard, you can move your gaze quickly from one side of the boat to the other and hear the English-speaking guide more easily.

Before departure, you receive warm overalls and all required safety equipment. Still, bring warm layers, a hat, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. The overalls help, but they do not replace sensible clothing. The sea air can feel cold even during a bright Icelandic night, and one July rider was especially glad to have layers, gloves, and a hat.

Do not bring luggage or large bags. Loose clothing is also not allowed, which makes sense on a fast boat where straps and flapping fabric can get in the way. Pack only what you need for the ride.

The boat itself is a rigid inflatable speedboat. That means a firm hull, inflatable sides, and a design built for speed and stability. You will feel the motion more than you would on a classic whale-watching boat, but the small craft can reach areas more quickly and search a wider stretch of bay.

The fast run across Faxaflói Bay

The opening ride is part of the entertainment. Once the RIB clears the harbor, the captain can pick up speed, and Reykjavík begins to fall behind. You are not simply being carried to a viewing platform. You are moving through the bay, watching the water and scanning for signs of life.

That speed has a practical purpose. Whales and dolphins do not wait beside the harbor, so the crew needs to cover water. A high-performance boat can move between likely areas faster than a large vessel, giving the guide more time to search during the two-hour outing.

It also creates a tradeoff. A fast boat can be exciting, but it may feel rough when the water is unsettled. The activity is suitable for children over 10 who are at least 145 centimeters tall, but it is not designed for everyone. If you have a history of back or knee problems, or if mobility is limited, choose a larger, slower boat instead.

The crew includes a professional captain and a wildlife guide. Specific guides named in recent outings include Maria and Miquel, both praised for making the experience engaging and helping riders understand what they were seeing. The tour is conducted in English.

Puffin islands and the summer cutoff

One early aim is to loop around the wind-beaten islands in the bay and look for puffins. This is one of the most appealing parts of the trip because you see the birds in their natural setting rather than at a city attraction.

Puffins are small, quick, and easy to miss. A report of hundreds of puffins shows how dramatic the sight can be when the boat reaches a good area, but you should be ready for a less certain encounter. The puffin season runs approximately from May 15 to August 20. If you book outside those dates, the whale and dolphin portion remains the main reason to go.

The birds add variety to the trip. A whale may appear for only a few seconds, while a puffin colony can give you repeated chances to watch the water and the air around the islands. You may also see seals, as one particularly full outing included puffins, dolphins, seals, and humpback whales.

Bring binoculars only if they are compact and easy to manage. The boat is small, and large personal items are not permitted. In practice, your best tools are warm hands, a clear view, and attention to the guide’s directions.

Searching for whales and dolphins offshore

After the island loop, the boat heads into open water to search for whales and dolphins. The exact animals vary, but humpback whales have been seen close to the boat, sometimes on more than one occasion during the same trip. Dolphins can add fast-moving action between whale sightings.

Summer is the strongest season for this tour, with whales seen on over 95 percent of excursions. That is an excellent rate, but it is not a promise. Wildlife follows its own schedule, and the captain cannot call an animal to the boat.

This is where the small RIB can make a difference. The boat’s speed lets the crew search beyond one fixed spot, and the small group makes it easier for everyone to watch at once. You may get a close view of a humpback’s body or back, then lose it as quickly as it appeared. Keep your eyes on the water even after the first sighting. The best moments may come a few seconds later, in another direction.

The strongest praise for this tour centers on the wildlife encounters. Humpback whales have appeared close enough to create a surreal experience, while dolphins have been seen nearby. One evening outing brought multiple whales into view under the setting sun. Another had a group of riders watching a whale on two separate occasions.

Just as important is the way the boat handles those encounters. The trip is built around viewing wildlife, not chasing it at any cost. One recent outing had the boat practically alone at sea, with no crowd of vessels pressing in. That can make the sighting feel calmer and more respectful.

Why the midnight sun makes this tour useful

The evening departure solves a common Reykjavík problem: trying to fit too much into one day. You can spend your daytime hours on museums, cafés, the city center, or a longer excursion, then head to the harbor for the boat ride.

In summer, the evening does not feel like ordinary night. Iceland’s midnight sun keeps the sky bright for long hours, giving the water a soft, extended light. The exact mood changes with the weather and time of departure, but the late timing can produce striking views of whales against a bright horizon.

The long light also makes an evening wildlife trip feel less rushed. You are not returning in darkness after a brief afternoon outing. Instead, the bay, islands, and Reykjavík shoreline remain visible as the tour winds down.

Do remember that the word evening describes the departure time, not darkness. If you are hoping for a night cruise with stars or city lights as the main event, this is not that kind of trip during the bright summer season. It is an evening wildlife search in near-daylight.

The shoreline return past Harpa and Sun Voyager

The ride back finishes with a different view of Reykjavík. After the open-water search, the captain follows the city shoreline, giving you views of the Sun Voyager sculpture and Harpa Concert Hall.

This final stretch is a smart touch. You have spent most of the outing looking outward for animals, and now the city becomes the subject. Harpa’s glass façade and the Sun Voyager’s stark metal form look especially striking from the water, while the Old Harbour area brings you close to colorful fishing huts, restaurants, and other waterfront sights.

It also gives the two-hour trip a proper ending. You are not simply dropped back at the dock after the last whale sighting. The shoreline ride creates a short city tour from the bay and helps you reconnect with Reykjavík before leaving the boat.

What the $200 price gets you

At $200 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for whales from Reykjavík. The value comes from the small boat, the shorter two-hour format, and the ability to move quickly across the bay.

You are paying for a more focused outing rather than a basic transport ride. The professional captain, wildlife guide, warm overalls, and safety equipment are included. The 12-person limit is important here. If you prefer a quieter, more personal experience and want a better chance of hearing the guide, the premium may be justified.

The price makes less sense if you mainly want a casual boat trip or if you are comfortable on a larger vessel. A classic boat usually offers more room and a gentler ride. It may also be a better choice if you are worried about cold, motion, or the physical demands of an open RIB.

There is also some protection against a disappointing whale search. If no whales are spotted, you receive a complimentary ticket for another ride on a larger boat before you leave. That does not guarantee a sighting later, but it gives the whale portion a second chance and softens the risk of spending $200 without seeing a whale.

Food and drinks are not included, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off. Plan to reach the Old Harbour under your own arrangements, and eat before or after the trip.

Who should choose the RIB, and who should skip it

I would choose this tour if I wanted to combine wildlife with speed and a small group. It suits adults, older children, and active visitors who like being on the water and do not mind a brisk ride. It is especially useful if your Reykjavík schedule is full during the day and you want to use the bright evening hours.

It also suits anyone who cares about the quality of the wildlife encounter. The crew does not appear to treat animals as a stage show. The aim is close viewing without a crowd of boats pushing in, which can make a brief sighting feel more natural.

I would skip it if you have back or knee problems, are pregnant, have mobility impairments, or simply dislike fast open-water rides. Children must be over 10 and at least 145 centimeters tall. A larger whale-watching boat will be a safer and more comfortable match for those needs.

The puffins should not be your only reason to book. Their season ends around August 20, while whale and dolphin sightings remain the main focus. If you visit late in the season, you might still see whales and dolphins but should not count on puffins.

Practical booking advice for your Reykjavík schedule

Book the tour early in your stay if possible. The activity requires at least two passengers to operate, and if that minimum is not reached, the operator offers a reschedule or full refund. More importantly, placing it early leaves room to try again if weather or wildlife does not cooperate.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if your Iceland schedule is still shifting.

Arrive 30 minutes early at the Old Harbour ticket office. Wear warm layers beneath the provided overalls, and bring gloves and a hat even if Reykjavík feels mild on land. Closed-toe shoes are required.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 28 reviews, with every supplied review giving five stars. The most praised features are close humpback sightings, dolphins, large puffin groups, the guides, and the feeling of being away from a crowd of boats. Treat those as strong signs of a well-run trip, but keep the normal wildlife rule in mind: no sighting can be guaranteed.

Should you book this evening whale tour?

Book it if you want a high-energy, small-group wildlife trip that fits neatly into a Reykjavík day. The midnight-sun timing, fast RIB, strong summer sighting rate, and shoreline return make it more than a standard boat ride.

I would be most eager to book between May 15 and August 20, when puffins add another target to the search. I would also book it early in my visit, wear more clothing than I thought necessary, and leave room for the complimentary larger-boat ticket if whales do not appear.

Skip it for physical comfort, not because the experience lacks value. The RIB is fast and exposed, and the boat asks more of your body than a standard vessel. For the right person, though, two hours can bring humpbacks, dolphins, puffins, seals, open water, and Reykjavík’s glowing shoreline into one memorable evening.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour meets at the ticket office at the Old Harbour of Reykjavík, Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík.

How long does the whale and puffin tour last?

The experience lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

What wildlife might I see?

You might see whales, dolphins, puffins, and seals. Humpback whales have been seen close to the RIB, and puffins are part of the experience during their seasonal period.

When is puffin season?

Puffin season runs approximately from May 15 to August 20.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. Warm overalls and all necessary safety equipment are provided.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is suitable for children over 10 years old who are at least 145 centimeters tall. It is not suitable for children under 10.