Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Puffin Excursion

Humpback whales, minke whales, and puffins all feature in this two-boat wildlife outing from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The whale trip reaches the Atlantic, while the puffin boat works closer to the islands, giving you two very different views of Iceland’s sea life.

I like the separate boat design, since a large vessel suits the open-water whale search and a smaller craft can get nearer the puffin islands. I also like the free return ticket if no whales are seen, plus free WiFi and motion-sickness tablets on board.

The main catch is that this is not one continuous cruise. You choose a whale departure, then return for the puffin tour later, and rough weather can affect the smaller boat. Pack warm, waterproof clothing and leave room in your day.

Key points at a glance

• Two departures make two distinct tours: Choose either whale watching at 9:00 and puffins at 12:30, or whale watching at 13:00 and puffins at 17:00.
• The whale boat spends up to 3.5 hours at sea: Humpback and minke whales are the main wildlife targets, but sightings can never be promised.
• The puffin trip uses a smaller boat: Its design helps it approach the islands closely, and binoculars are supplied.
• Guide Daniel has drawn special praise: His lively approach can add useful context to the wildlife search.
• No hotel pickup is included: You meet at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, 30 minutes before departure.
• The price covers two wildlife outings: At $153 per person, the value depends on how much you want both whale watching and puffin viewing in one booking.

Two wildlife trips from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

This experience works best if you think of it as a paired wildlife day, not a single four-hour boat ride. You start with whale watching on a larger vessel, then take a separate puffin trip on a smaller boat at a later scheduled time.

The meeting point is the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11. You need to arrive 30 minutes early, which gives you time to check in without turning the start into a frantic dash along the harbour.

No pickup service is provided. That matters if you are staying outside central Reykjavik or have a tight connection with another activity. You will need to make your own way to the Old Harbour and return there between the two trips.

The booking choices are fixed:

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

When you book, you are selecting the whale-watching departure time. The puffin departure is paired with it, so check the full schedule rather than looking only at the first boat.

The whale watch on a larger Atlantic vessel

The first part uses a larger boat suited to the open sea. The trip lasts about two to three and a half hours, depending on the operation and conditions. That range is worth noting. You are not buying a tightly timed harbour cruise, and the search for whales may take time.

The boat heads out from Reykjavik toward the Atlantic, with coastal scenery around you as the city falls behind. The setting is part of the pleasure, but the real reason to book is the chance to see humpback and minke whales in their natural habitat.

Humpbacks are the more dramatic possibility. Their size and surface movements can make for striking sightings, though you may need patience between appearances. Minke whales are smaller and can be harder to spot, so keep watching the water rather than focusing on one fixed point.

The guides explain whale behavior and habitat during the trip. That turns empty stretches of sea into useful viewing time. You learn what to watch for, how the animals use the water, and why a sighting is never guaranteed on a wildlife trip.

That last point is important. One August outing produced many whales and puffins, while another person wished there had been more whales. Both outcomes fit the nature of the activity. The free ticket to join again in case of no sightings gives you some protection, but it cannot make wildlife appear on command or fix a tight holiday schedule.

Guide Daniel received especially warm praise for his handling of one whale trip. You cannot request a particular guide from the information provided, but the named mention suggests that the quality of the guiding can add real energy to the time at sea.

Puffin islands from a specially designed smaller boat

The puffin trip lasts about one hour and uses a smaller boat. This is not simply a shorter version of the whale cruise. The boat is specially designed to get as close to the islands as possible, which suits puffin watching far better than a large open-water vessel.

The islands provide a coastal setting for the colonies, and you use binoculars supplied on board. Bring your own pair if you have one, but you do not need to buy or rent binoculars for this trip.

Puffins are appealing subjects because they are small, quick, and often gathered in colonies. The shorter format keeps the focus on the island visit rather than a long search across open water. You may find this part more immediately satisfying if close views and bird photography matter more to you than spending several hours at sea.

The smaller boat also brings a tradeoff. It is more exposed to motion than a large vessel, and bad weather can affect its operation. One scheduled puffin outing could not go ahead because conditions were too poor for the boat being used, while the whale trip still delivered excellent sightings.

That is a useful planning lesson. If puffins are the main reason you are booking, avoid placing the activity on the only day when your schedule cannot bend. The provided information does not promise a replacement time or a specific weather policy, so you should allow some flexibility.

How the split schedule shapes your day

The 9:00 whale departure pairs with a 12:30 puffin departure. The 13:00 whale departure pairs with puffins at 17:00. These gaps are not dead time. They are part of the design, and you should plan around them.

The morning combination gives you the earlier start and leaves more of the day available afterward. The afternoon combination lets you begin later, but the puffin tour finishes at 18:00 at the earliest based on the stated one-hour duration.

The whale boat may last only two hours or as long as three and a half. That means the time between tours can vary in practical importance. You may have time to eat, walk around the harbour, or return to your accommodation, but do not assume a precise break until the operator confirms the day’s schedule.

Food and drinks are sold on board, but they are not included. I would bring water and a small snack if permitted by the operator, while remembering that the activity information specifically says snacks and beverages are available for purchase. The two boats and the long gap make this more important than it would be on a short harbour ride.

Free WiFi is available on board. It is a handy extra for checking plans or sending a quick message, though I would treat it as a convenience rather than a reason to book. Wildlife viewing works best when your attention is on the water.

Weather, motion, and what to pack

Icelandic sea conditions can change the feel of a boat trip quickly. The operator provides complimentary seasickness tablets, and motion-sickness prevention is listed among the items to bring. If you are prone to seasickness, this activity is specifically marked as unsuitable.

Take that warning seriously. The larger whale boat may feel steadier than the smaller puffin craft, but the itinerary includes both. Someone who handles a broad vessel well may still find the island boat uncomfortable.

Wear warm clothing and bring waterproof layers. A waterproof camera is also recommended. Even if the day looks calm at the ticket office, you will want protection from cold air and spray once the boat leaves the harbour.

The whale trip lasts much longer than the puffin trip, so comfort matters. Choose layers you can adjust, and avoid treating this as a casual city cruise. You are going offshore in search of animals, not simply taking a scenic ride around the harbour.

Pets and smoking are not allowed. The guide language is English, and the activity is led by a live English-speaking guide.

What the $153 price really covers

At $153 per person, this is a substantial activity cost, but you are paying for two separate outings rather than one short boat trip. The price includes the large-vessel whale watch, the one-hour puffin tour, professional guides, binoculars for the puffin trip, WiFi, and motion-sickness tablets.

The strongest value comes from convenience. You can arrange two of Reykjavik’s best-known marine wildlife activities through one booking, with departures built into a single schedule. You also avoid paying separately for puffin binoculars or a second booking process.

The value is weaker if you mainly want one type of wildlife. If whales are your sole priority, the puffin portion may feel like an expensive add-on. If puffins are your main goal, the longer whale trip becomes part of the cost even though it may not be what you most want.

The free return ticket in case of no sightings improves the deal for people with flexible plans. It does not remove the basic uncertainty of wildlife watching, but it shows that the operator recognizes the difference between a boat ride and a guaranteed animal encounter.

Environmental sharing is another detail worth understanding. At certain times of year, the trip may use a shared boat with another activity partner so fewer boats are on the water. That could mean the exact onboard setup is not always identical, but the reason is clear: reduce the number of vessels operating in the same marine area.

How this compares with booking separate activities

The combo makes sense if you want both whales and puffins and can spare most of a day. It gives you a simple plan: one large boat for open water, one small boat for island viewing.

Booking separately could make more sense if you need to choose based on weather or if one activity matters far more than the other. The supplied details do not give separate prices, so I cannot say the combo is cheaper than two individual bookings. Its known advantage is the paired schedule and the inclusion of both activities.

There is also less control over timing. You cannot choose the whale trip at 9:00 and then freely select any puffin departure. The listed combinations are fixed, and you are booking two departures.

If you are arranging other Reykjavik plans, write down both times. The four-hour label can be misleading because the tours are separate and have a gap between them. Read it as roughly four hours of boat activity spread across a larger part of the day, not four uninterrupted hours on one vessel.

The best fit for this experience

I would choose this for someone who wants a full marine wildlife day and accepts that nature sets the timetable. It suits couples, families, and solo visitors who are happy to watch, wait, and dress for the sea.

It is especially useful for a short Iceland visit. Instead of deciding between whales and puffins, you get both in one planned outing from central Reykjavik.

I would hesitate if you get seasick easily, dislike cold outdoor conditions, or need a guaranteed finish time. I would also think twice if your Iceland schedule is packed with fixed reservations, since the whale trip can run from two to three and a half hours and the puffin tour has its own departure.

The experience is not built around luxury. It is about access, wildlife, and practical boat design. The larger vessel gives you a platform for scanning open water, while the smaller boat brings you toward the islands. That division is the smartest part of the plan.

Should you book the whale and puffin combo?

Book it if seeing both whales and puffins is high on your Iceland list, you can spare the morning or afternoon schedule, and you are comfortable with uncertain wildlife sightings. The combination of two boat types, supplied puffin binoculars, experienced English-speaking guides, and a free return option after no sightings gives the $153 price a reasonable case.

Skip it if you are prone to seasickness or if puffins alone are your priority. And if weather flexibility matters, keep your plans loose enough to handle a change, especially for the smaller boat.

For the best chance at a satisfying day, arrive early, dress warmer than you think you need, take motion-sickness precautions, and remember that the goal is a natural encounter, not a guaranteed animal performance.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

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

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure at the meeting point.

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 continuous boat tour?

No. The combo includes two separate tours with two separate departures. Whale watching uses a larger vessel, while puffin watching uses a smaller boat.

How long does each part last?

The whale-watching trip lasts approximately two to three and a half hours. The puffin tour lasts about one hour.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are provided on the puffin tour.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Pickup service is not included, so you need to reach the meeting point yourself.

What happens if no whales are seen?

You receive a free ticket to join the whale-watching trip again in case of no sightings. The information provided does not state how or when that return trip must be scheduled.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.