Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Puffin Excursion

Whales and puffins make a fine Iceland double bill. From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, you get two distinct wildlife trips, one aboard a large whale-watching vessel and another on a smaller boat built for viewing puffin islands. I like the pairing because you see Icelandic wildlife in two very different ways, and I like the practical extras, including onboard WiFi, binoculars for the puffin trip, and free seasickness tablets. The main drawback is that the tours are separate departures, so timing matters, and rough weather can affect one outing even when the other goes ahead.

At $153 per person, this is not a cheap harbor cruise, but it can be good value if you want both experiences and would otherwise book them separately. Whale sightings are never guaranteed, though you receive a free ticket to try again if no whales appear. Guide Daniel has earned special praise for his warm, enthusiastic approach, a welcome touch on a chilly day at sea.

Key Points Before You Book

• Two boats, two departures: You choose the whale-watching departure, then join a separate puffin trip later that day.
• Whales come first: Choose 09:00 with puffins at 12:30, or 13:00 with puffins at 17:00.
• The puffin boat gets close: Its smaller design helps it approach the islands where puffins gather.
• Sightings are not promised: If whales do not appear, you receive a free ticket to join another trip.
• Weather can change the plan: One recent outing ran the whale trip but could not operate the puffin boat because conditions were too rough.
• Pack for the Atlantic: Warm layers, waterproof protection, and motion-sickness prevention matter more than stylish city clothes.

Starting at Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik

Your day begins at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, near Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. You should arrive 30 minutes before departure. There is no hotel pickup, so allow time to reach the meeting point on foot or by local transport.

The harbor setting is a fitting start. You are not being driven out to a distant marina. You walk from the city into an active working waterfront, then board for the open Atlantic. That keeps the outing easy to fit into a Reykjavik stay, but it also means you need to handle your own arrival.

The booking choice can be slightly confusing. You are selecting the whale-watching departure, not one single four-hour cruise. The available combinations are:

• Whale watching at 09:00, followed by puffin watching at 12:30
• Whale watching at 13:00, followed by puffin watching at 17:00

The first option gives you an earlier start and leaves the afternoon free after the puffin trip. The second lets you enjoy a slower morning, but the day stretches into the evening. The gap between departures is useful. It gives you time to return to the harbor, warm up, find food, or simply wait if the first trip arrives late.

The Large Boat and the Atlantic Search

The whale-watching portion uses a larger vessel and lasts roughly two to three and a half hours. That range is worth noting. At sea, the captain and guide need time to reach areas where whales may be active, and the length of the outing can vary with conditions.

The goal is to see humpback and minke whales in the open water. The trip is not a performance with animals trained to appear on cue. You scan the sea, watch for movement, and wait for a blow, a dark back, or a tail rising from the water. Some departures may bring repeated sightings. Others may require patience.

That uncertainty is part of the appeal, but it is also the biggest value question. You should not book this expecting a guaranteed close-up photograph. The free return ticket helps soften the risk if no whales are spotted, though you still need another open time in your schedule and suitable weather for a second attempt.

The guides explain whale behavior and habitat as you search. That turns quiet stretches into useful observation rather than dead time. A good guide can help you understand why the boat is pausing, what kind of movement to watch for, and how to tell a real sighting from a wave or seabird.

Recent outings have produced very different results. One visitor saw so many whales and called the guide Daniel excellent. Another still gave the experience the highest rating while wishing for more whales. That contrast tells you exactly how to think about this activity: the crew can create a good outing, but nature controls the headline event.

What the Whale Trip Feels Like

The larger vessel offers more room than the puffin boat, which matters during a long period on the water. You can move around to look for whales, then retreat indoors if the wind turns sharp. Free WiFi is available onboard, though I would treat it as a backup convenience rather than the reason to book a sea trip.

The operator provides complimentary seasickness tablets. Still, you should bring your own prevention if you know you react badly on boats. The activity is specifically not suitable for people prone to seasickness, and a tablet cannot remove every risk from several hours in Atlantic conditions.

Dress for exposure. Bring warm clothing and waterproof protection, and keep your camera protected from spray. A waterproof camera is listed as a useful item, which is sensible even when the forecast looks calm. You may spend much of the trip outside, and Iceland’s weather can make the water feel colder than the city.

Do not forget the viewing angle. Whales may surface on either side of the vessel, so you will want to stay alert instead of fixing yourself in one spot. The guides are there to help direct attention, but you still need patience and a little luck.

The Puffin Islands by Smaller Boat

The puffin portion lasts about one hour and uses a smaller boat specially designed to get as close to the nearby islands as possible. This is a different kind of wildlife outing. The whale trip covers open water and searches for large animals. The puffin trip focuses on rocky islands and colonies packed with small birds.

Puffins are easy to love, but they are not always easy to photograph. Their size, quick movement, and distance from the boat make binoculars especially useful. Binoculars are provided onboard, so you do not need to bring your own to get a better look.

The coastal setting adds much of the charm. You see puffin colonies against Iceland’s rugged shore rather than in a zoo or enclosed exhibit. The boat is designed to approach the islands closely, but the crew still has to respect the birds and local conditions. Expect a close view, not a guaranteed portrait-perfect encounter.

The smaller craft can feel more personal and nimble, yet it may also feel rougher in poor weather. That is an important tradeoff. A recent trip was able to run the whale-watching portion but not the puffin outing because conditions were too bad for the boat used for puffins. The guide’s decision protects the experience and the birds, but it means you should keep weather limits in mind when weighing the combo.

Why the Two-Part Format Matters

The combo works well because each tour has a clear purpose. You are not spending four hours doing the same thing. The large vessel gives you a better platform for a long search across the Atlantic, while the smaller boat brings you near puffin islands for a shorter, more focused visit.

The separate departures also make the experience less tidy than a single cruise. You need to leave one boat, manage the break, and return for the second departure. If you prefer a simple, continuous itinerary, book one activity rather than the combo.

For most people, the pause is manageable. With the morning schedule, you have three and a half hours between the whale departure and puffin departure. With the afternoon schedule, you have four hours. That is enough time to eat, but snacks and drinks are not included. Food and beverages are sold onboard, so you can buy something during the trips, though bringing suitable water and snacks may be useful if allowed by the operator.

You also need to keep track of the correct departure. The whale trip comes first in both combinations. Do not assume that booking the package means you can choose any puffin sailing later in the day. The specified pairings are 09:00 and 12:30, or 13:00 and 17:00.

Guides, Wildlife Lessons, and the Human Side

The guides speak English and explain the animals’ behavior and habitats as the boats move through the water. This matters because wildlife watching can otherwise become a long session of staring at empty sea.

The strongest praise has gone to the guides’ enthusiasm, with Daniel receiving particular approval after a whale trip. That kind of energy is useful here. A guide who keeps scanning, shares context, and responds calmly to changing conditions can make a quiet outing feel worthwhile.

Still, you should separate guide quality from animal luck. A cheerful guide cannot produce a whale or improve poor visibility. The best mindset is to value the time on the water, the coastal views, and the chance to see wildlife, while accepting that the exact sightings are out of anyone’s control.

Environmental limits are also part of the operation. At certain times of year, the trip may share a boat with another activity partner so fewer boats operate on the water. That may mean the setup is not exactly the same on every date, but the reason is practical: reducing the number of vessels helps keep the marine setting in better condition.

Price, Timing, and Overall Value

At $153 per person, the price makes sense mainly for visitors who want both whale watching and puffins. You receive a large-vessel whale trip, a one-hour puffin boat, live guiding, binoculars on the puffin outing, WiFi, and seasickness tablets. The free return ticket for a no-sighting whale trip adds useful protection.

The value is weaker if you are only interested in puffins or only want a quick whale cruise. In that case, a single activity may better match your budget and schedule. The combo is strongest for a first Reykjavik visit when you want to make one harbor stop serve two wildlife goals.

The four-hour stated duration should be read with care. The actual tours are separate, and the day’s schedule includes a gap between them. The whale outing itself may last from two to three and a half hours, while the puffin trip lasts about one hour. Plan around the departure times, not just the headline duration.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking make the commitment easier. Even so, I would avoid placing a tight airport transfer, major museum booking, or other fixed plan immediately after the whale trip. At sea, timing and conditions can shift.

Who Will Enjoy This Most

I would recommend this to wildlife fans, first-time visitors to Iceland, families who can handle boat conditions, and photographers who care more about the chance of a memorable sighting than a guaranteed image. The two boats keep the day varied, and the guides give the animals context.

It suits people who are comfortable with uncertainty. You may see many whales and puffins, as one strong outing did, or you may get fewer sightings. The free repeat ticket helps with the whale portion, but it cannot promise that the second attempt will be better.

I would think twice if you are prone to seasickness, dislike cold weather, or have only a narrow window in Reykjavik. The operator specifically says the activity is not suitable for people prone to seasickness. You should also reconsider if you need guaranteed accessibility details, since none are provided here.

This is not a quiet scenic ferry ride. It is an active search for wildlife in exposed conditions. That makes the successful moments feel earned, but it also asks more of you than a short harbor cruise.

Simple Ways to Prepare

Arrive at Geirsgata 11 30 minutes early, with your whale departure clearly in mind. Wear warm layers and waterproof clothing, and bring motion-sickness prevention if you need it.

A waterproof camera is more useful than delicate camera gear. Bring binoculars if you have them for the whale trip, though binoculars are provided for the puffin tour. Keep snacks and drinks in mind because they are not included, even though purchases are available onboard.

Do not bring pets, and smoking is not allowed. Most important, leave room in your expectations for nature. The best trip may give you a dramatic whale sighting, a crowded puffin island, and a guide who helps you notice details you would have missed. It may also give you a long wait and a second chance.

Should You Book This Whale and Puffin Combo?

Book it if you want two different sea-based wildlife experiences from central Reykjavik and can accept changing weather and unpredictable sightings. The pairing is well designed, the guide support is a real plus, and the smaller puffin boat adds something the whale cruise cannot.

Choose the 09:00 whale departure if you want the afternoon free after puffins. Choose 13:00 if you prefer a slower morning and do not mind returning for the 17:00 bird trip. I would favor the combo for a flexible Iceland itinerary, especially because the free whale repeat ticket gives you some protection against an empty sea.

Skip it if seasickness is a serious concern or if your schedule cannot absorb two separate departures. For everyone else, $153 is a fair price for a full wildlife day, provided you see it as a chance to encounter Iceland’s animals, not a promise that they will perform on command.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.

What departure times are available?

You can choose whale watching at 09:00 with the puffin tour at 12:30, or whale watching at 13:00 with the puffin tour at 17:00.

Is this one continuous cruise?

No. The booking includes two different and separate tours with two 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 about two to three and a half hours. The puffin tour lasts approximately one hour. The full booking is listed as four hours, but you should also allow for the break between departures.

Are whales and puffins guaranteed?

No. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. If no whales are seen, you receive a free ticket to join another whale-watching trip.

Are binoculars provided?

Binoculars are provided on the puffin tour. You may also bring your own binoculars for whale watching.

What happens if the weather is poor?

Weather can affect the boats differently. The whale-watching trip may operate while the puffin boat is unable to sail in poor conditions. The operator may also use a shared boat with another activity partner at certain times of year to reduce the number of boats on the water.