Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Puffin Excursion

The big appeal here is the two-part wildlife outing. You head into the Atlantic for humpback and minke whales, then switch to a smaller boat for a closer look at puffins around nearby islands. It gives you two very different sea experiences in one booking.

I like the special puffin boat, which is designed to get near the islands, and the practical extras: onboard binoculars, free WiFi, and complimentary seasickness tablets. The main caution is the sea itself. Rough weather can affect the puffin boat, and anyone prone to motion sickness should think carefully before booking.

Key points to know before sailing

• Two separate departures: You choose either the 9:00 whale trip with the 12:30 puffin trip, or the 13:00 whale trip with the 17:00 puffin trip.
• Different boats for different wildlife: Whale watching uses a larger vessel, while the puffin outing uses a smaller boat for closer access to the islands.
• Whale trips vary in length: The larger-boat outing takes about 2 to 3.5 hours, while the puffin cruise lasts about 1 hour.
• Binoculars are supplied for puffin watching: You can focus on the birds without needing to bring your own pair.
• A no-sighting return ticket is included: If whales are not spotted, you receive a free ticket to try again.
• Weather matters: At least one recent outing had the puffin trip affected by poor conditions, even though whale sightings were excellent.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for the Atlantic

Your day begins at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. You need to arrive 30 minutes before departure, a sensible rule for a boat trip where boarding times matter more than they do for a city walking tour.

The harbor gives you a quick change of scene. One minute you are in central Reykjavik, and soon you are looking out across open water with the city and Icelandic coast behind you. The trip is not a bus transfer to a distant fjord. You sail directly from the capital, which makes this a practical choice if you have only a short stay in Reykjavik.

The guides speak English and stay with you during the wildlife search. Their role is more than pointing at a fin. They explain animal behavior and habitat, helping you understand why a whale surfaces in one place and disappears in another. That context matters, since wildlife watching is not a staged show with guaranteed timing.

The boat operator may sometimes share a vessel with another activity partner for environmental reasons. The idea is to reduce the number of boats on the water and help keep the area in good condition. That may mean the exact onboard setup is not identical on every date, but the purpose is clear: fewer boats can mean less pressure on the marine environment.

Whale watching on the larger boat

The whale portion is the longer half of the day, lasting about 2 to 3.5 hours. You choose the whale departure when booking, not the puffin departure. The available pairings are:

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

The larger vessel gives you more room than the puffin boat and is used for the longer run into the Atlantic. The target species are humpback whales and minke whales, both seen in their natural habitat rather than in a controlled setting.

I like that a free return ticket is included if no whales are seen. This does not make a missed sighting convenient, but it does make the price easier to accept. Wildlife is unpredictable, and a return option gives you some protection against an empty search.

You should keep your expectations realistic. Even a strong whale trip may produce fewer sightings than you hoped for. One recent note pointed out that there could have been more whales, while another described seeing many whales. Both experiences fit the nature of the outing: conditions, animal movement, and luck all matter.

One particularly positive outing included many whales and puffins, with enthusiastic guides. Another had excellent whale sightings and singled out a guide named Daniel for making the experience special. I would take those details as encouragement to pay attention to the guide’s explanations, not as a promise of a particular number of animals.

The scenery is part of the reward. As you move out from the harbor, the urban view gives way to open Atlantic water and Iceland’s coastal setting. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole trip staring at a screen. Whale sightings can be brief, and the first sign may be a blow, a dark back, or a small change in the water.

The puffin islands and the smaller boat

The puffin outing lasts about an hour and uses a smaller boat specially designed to get as close as possible to the nearby islands. This is a different experience from whale watching. The whale trip is a broad search across open water, while the puffin trip focuses on colonies gathered around rocky island habitat.

Puffins are small, quick, and easy to miss at a distance. The smaller boat should help you view the islands from a more useful position, and binoculars are provided onboard. Bring your own binoculars if you like, but you do not need them for the basic experience.

The coastal backdrop adds scale to the visit. You are not simply looking at birds against a blank horizon. You see the puffin colonies in relation to the islands, cliffs, and sea around them. That makes the stop worthwhile even for someone who already has plenty of puffin photos.

The shorter duration is also a practical advantage. If you want a wildlife outing but do not want to spend an entire day at sea, the puffin portion keeps the schedule manageable. At the same time, you should not confuse one hour with unlimited close-up viewing. The boat gets near the islands, but the birds remain wild.

Weather is a real factor here. One recent outing went ahead with excellent whale sightings, but the weather was too poor for the boat used for the puffin trip. That is a useful warning for anyone booking mainly for puffins. The whale and puffin portions are separate tours, so conditions can affect one without affecting the other.

How the two-part schedule works

The early option starts with whale watching at 9:00 and gives you the puffin trip at 12:30. The later option starts with whale watching at 13:00 and returns for puffin watching at 17:00.

You are booking a combo, but you are not staying on one boat for four continuous hours. You take two different trips with two departures. The whale boat is larger and stays out longer. The puffin boat is smaller and lasts about an hour.

That separation matters when planning the rest of your day. The schedule includes a gap between outings, but the exact amount of free time depends on how long the whale trip takes and how the harbor schedule runs. I would avoid booking another fixed activity too tightly against the return.

The listed experience duration is four hours, while the whale portion alone can take up to 3.5 hours and the puffin trip lasts about one hour. In real terms, allow room for the transfer between boats, boarding, and the time between departures. The schedule is clear, but you should not treat the four-hour figure as a promise that every minute will fit into a rigid block.

No hotel pickup is included. You make your own way to Geirsgata 11, then arrive 30 minutes early. If you are staying in central Reykjavik, the Old Harbour meeting point is convenient. If you are farther out, allow extra time for getting there.

What to wear and what to bring

Iceland’s weather can change quickly, and an open-water trip makes cold and wind feel stronger than they may on land. Bring warm clothing and waterproof outer layers. A waterproof camera or a reliable protective case is wise, since sea spray and rain are both possible.

The operator provides complimentary seasickness tablets, but you should still plan ahead if you know you are sensitive to motion. The activity is specifically not suitable for people prone to seasickness. The larger whale boat may feel steadier than the smaller puffin boat, but no vessel can remove ocean movement.

Useful items include:

• Warm layers and waterproof clothing
• A waterproof camera
• Binoculars, if you prefer using your own
• Motion sickness prevention
• A small amount of cash or a card for snacks and drinks

Snacks and beverages are sold onboard, but they are not included in the price. Free WiFi is available, which is a handy extra, though the main value of the trip is being able to watch the water rather than stay connected.

Pets are not allowed, and smoking is not permitted. Those rules are simple, but they are worth knowing before you arrive at the harbor.

Is $153 a fair price?

At $153 per person, this is not a budget harbor cruise. You are paying for two guided boat trips, two types of wildlife, professional crew, the smaller puffin boat, binoculars for the puffin outing, WiFi, and a free return ticket if the whale search produces no sightings.

The value depends on your plans. If you already intend to take a whale trip and a puffin trip separately, combining them can save planning time and create a neat wildlife-focused day. The price is harder to justify if you only have a passing interest in birds or whales and would be satisfied with a short harbor cruise.

The no-sighting policy improves the value, but read it in the right way. It provides a free chance to join again if whales are not seen. It does not guarantee a sighting on the first trip, and it does not turn the puffin tour into a guaranteed backup.

I also like that you are not paying extra for binocular rental on the puffin boat. Small practical details like this matter on a wildlife tour, since they reduce the number of things you need to pack and remember.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this combo if you want a full wildlife day from Reykjavik without arranging separate transport outside the capital. It suits people who enjoy nature but also want a guide to explain what they are seeing.

Families may like the variety, especially if a single whale trip feels too long. The two boats break up the experience and offer two different ways to see Iceland’s marine life. Still, anyone prone to seasickness should choose another activity.

This is also a good fit for photographers, provided you understand that wildlife photography here is unpredictable. Bring protection for your equipment and be ready for quick sightings. The waterproof camera advice is not decorative. It reflects the conditions of being on open water.

I would be more cautious if you have only one free morning and puffins are your main goal. Poor weather can affect the puffin boat, and the trip cannot control where birds gather or how active they are. If whales are your priority, the larger boat and free return option make the outing a more secure choice.

Booking details that matter

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is useful in Iceland, where weather can influence outdoor plans.

When you book, select the whale watching departure. The puffin time is tied to that choice. Check the pairing carefully so you know if you are selecting the 9:00 and 12:30 schedule or the 13:00 and 17:00 schedule.

Plan to reach the Special Tours ticket office 30 minutes early. Since there is no pickup service, you are responsible for getting to the Old Harbour. The tour is conducted in English, and professional guides provide the commentary during the outings.

Should you book the Reykjavik whale and puffin combo?

I would book it if you want two wildlife experiences in one Reykjavik outing and you are comfortable with open-water conditions. The strongest reasons are the close approach to the puffin islands, the chance to see humpback and minke whales, and the free return ticket if the whale search comes up empty.

I would skip it if seasickness is a serious concern or if your schedule cannot handle two separate departures. Also think twice if puffins are your only priority, since the smaller boat can be affected by bad weather.

For most nature-minded visitors with a flexible day, the combo offers good variety and useful practical extras. Just pack warmly, leave room for the sea to set the pace, and remember that a wild whale or puffin is never on a timetable.

FAQ

Where does the whale and puffin excursion meet?

The meeting point is the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. You should arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Are the whale watching and puffin trips on the same boat?

No. Whale watching takes place on a larger vessel, while the puffin outing uses a smaller boat specially designed to get close to the islands.

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.

How long does each part of the experience last?

The whale watching trip takes approximately 2 to 3.5 hours. The puffin trip lasts about 1 hour. The combo is listed as a four-hour activity, but the two tours have separate departures.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are provided on the puffin tour. You can also bring your own if you prefer.

What happens if no whales are seen?

You receive a free ticket to join the whale watching trip again in case of no sightings. Whale sightings are not guaranteed on any particular departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Pickup service is not included, so you need to make your own way to the Old Harbour meeting point.