Whale Watching in Reykjavik by Speedboat

Reykjavik wildlife gets much closer at speed. This two-hour trip uses a rigid inflatable boat to cover more water than a standard vessel, with a small group of no more than 12 people. I like the suspension seats, which make the fast ride more comfortable, and I like the chance to see dolphins, whales, seabirds, and puffins from a low boat. The main drawback is simple: wildlife is never guaranteed.

You meet your captain at Reykjavik Old Harbour, suit up in warm overalls, and head out with a professional guide. I also like the return route, which brings you past the Sun Voyager sculpture and Harpa Concert Hall from the sea. At $200 per person, this is a fairly costly two-hour outing, but the speedboat ride itself adds real value if you enjoy active adventures.

Key points at a glance

• Small boat, big search area: A rigid inflatable boat can travel quickly across Icelandic waters, giving the crew more room to look for marine life.
• Only 12 people: The small group makes it easier to see around the boat and hear the guide.
• Puffins from May through August: The tour makes a short stop near puffin breeding grounds during the nesting season.
• Suspension seats matter: These shock seats are designed to improve comfort and safety while the boat moves at speed.
• Wildlife is not guaranteed: Past trips have seen minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, and even a shark, but some outings have produced only a distant whale or dolphins.
• A second chance if needed: If no whales are spotted, you receive a complimentary ticket for another ride.

Starting at Reykjavik Old Harbour

Your meeting point is at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavik Old Harbour. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before departure, since you need time for check-in, the safety briefing, and warm clothing.

This is a handy place to begin a sea trip. The harbor puts you close to central Reykjavik sights, restaurants, and the waterfront. You make your own way there, though, because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The crew supplies warm overalls and all required safety equipment. Wear closed-toe shoes, and leave luggage or large bags at your accommodation. The boat has limited room, and a large backpack will only get in the way.

The boat carries up to 12 people. That number is small enough to keep the experience personal without making it feel like a private charter. You should also have a clearer view than you would on a large sightseeing vessel, where passengers often gather along crowded rails.

The fast RIB ride out of the harbor

The boat is a rigid inflatable boat, or RIB. It is low on the water, powerful, and built for speed. That changes the tone of the trip right away.

A traditional whale-watching boat gives you a broad deck and a steadier ride. This RIB gives you motion, spray, and a closer feeling to the sea. Several people who loved the experience described the speedboat ride as an adventure in its own right, even before wildlife appeared.

The new suspension seats are an important feature here. They help reduce the shock of sudden movement, though they do not turn the ride into a smooth ferry crossing. You are still heading into the open North Atlantic, and the boat may move sharply in rough water.

If the sea is calm, the front row can be especially exciting. One account praised the front seats for giving a more open view and making the rider feel almost alone on the boat. That position also puts you closer to spray and the boat’s movement, so it is best for people who enjoy the active part of the experience.

The captain handles the driving while the wildlife guide explains what you are seeing and where to look. The crew’s tone matters on a trip like this. Reports of captains and guides being friendly, careful, and informative come up repeatedly, with guides such as Elsa and Raoul receiving specific praise.

Searching the waters for whales and dolphins

Once you leave the harbor, the crew searches a broad area for marine life. The RIB’s speed allows the captain to move between possible sighting areas more quickly than a slower boat.

That does not mean you will see whales on demand. The animals are wild, and a two-hour trip can produce very different results. Some outings have included minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises. One especially fortunate trip included a humpback breaching and dolphins jumping beside the boat. Other departures have seen only the back of one minke whale, or no whales at all.

This is the central tradeoff. You choose the RIB because it can get closer and cover more ground, but you also accept a more physical ride and the uncertainty that comes with nature. The crew may travel a long way from the harbor if signs of wildlife appear, which can improve your odds but leaves less time for sightseeing near the city.

Dolphins can be a highlight because they may travel beside the boat, jump, or follow its path. Still, you should not book this trip expecting a guaranteed performance. A guide can locate animals, but cannot control what they do once the boat arrives.

The wildlife guide adds useful context. You are not simply scanning the horizon in silence. The guide helps you understand what to watch for and gives information about the animals and the area. One guide, Elsa, was praised for being both warm and able to answer questions, while another guide, Raoul, was singled out for a friendly approach.

Puffin islands from May through August

From early May to the end of August, the tour makes a short stop near puffin breeding grounds. These islands sit near Reykjavik Old Harbour and provide a chance to see seabirds in their nesting season.

Puffins are a seasonal bonus, not the main reason to choose this trip outside the breeding months. If your visit falls between May and August, keep your eyes open at the beginning of the tour. The puffin stop comes before the main whale search, so it gives the outing a nice early wildlife moment.

Puffins can be small against the open water, and the stop is described as short. You may find the whale and dolphin search more exciting, but seeing puffins near their breeding grounds adds a distinctly Icelandic touch. The tour also looks for other seabirds, so the wildlife is broader than the title suggests.

The exact quality of the puffin sighting will depend on conditions, distance, and the birds’ behavior. Treat it as part of the day’s natural experience rather than a guaranteed close-up encounter.

Reykjavik from the water on the return

The return journey changes pace. Instead of looking only for animals, you cruise along Reykjavik’s shoreline and see the city from offshore.

The Sun Voyager sculpture is one of the city’s best-known waterfront sights. Seen from the sea, its abstract ship shape has a different setting than it does from the promenade. You also get views of Harpa Concert Hall, whose glass facade is especially easy to recognize from the harbor.

The shoreline includes colorful fishing huts, restaurants, and other waterfront attractions. This short sightseeing section helps round out the trip, especially if wildlife is limited. It also gives you a fresh view of Reykjavik after spending time facing open water.

Some captains add a playful spin in the harbor before returning to the starting point. This is not the reason to book the tour, and it depends on the captain and conditions, but it can make the final minutes lively.

After roughly two hours, you return to the Old Harbour. The tour does not include food or drinks, so plan to eat before or after. Reykjavik’s harbor area makes it easy to continue with a meal or a walk along the waterfront.

How the $200 price makes sense

At $200 per person, this is not the budget choice for whale watching in Reykjavik. You are paying for a small group, a fast boat, warm overalls, a professional captain, a guide, and the ability to search a wide area in two hours.

The value depends on what you want from the outing. If your priority is the lowest price and a calmer ride, a larger boat may make more sense. If you want the thrill of a RIB, a lower viewpoint, and the possibility of moving closer to wildlife, the extra cost is easier to justify.

The small group is another part of the value. With no more than 12 people, you are less likely to lose the view behind a crowd. You also have a better chance of hearing the guide and moving your gaze around the boat when an animal appears.

The complimentary return ticket if no whales are spotted softens the risk. It does not fix a tight itinerary, since you need time for another attempt, but it shows that the company recognizes the uncertainty of wildlife trips.

The strongest value comes on a good-weather day with calm water and active animals. One trip included minke whales, a humpback, porpoises, and dolphins. Another saw dolphins riding beside the boat. Those are memorable encounters, but they are fortunate outcomes, not promises.

Weather, comfort, and who should skip it

I would treat weather as a serious part of your decision. A trip was once canceled even though conditions looked fine on land, because the sea was not safe. The staff explained the difference and arranged a departure for the next day.

That is a useful reminder in Iceland. Reykjavik may look comfortable from the harbor while open-water conditions are much rougher. A cancellation can disrupt your plans, but it is better than forcing a small boat into unsafe seas.

The tour is intended for children aged 10 and older who are at least 145 centimeters tall, or 4 feet 8 inches. It is not suitable for younger or shorter children, pregnant women, or people with back problems.

The height rule is practical because passengers must fit safely into the suspension seats and safety equipment. The back warning also deserves attention. Even with shock seats, this is a fast boat on open water, not a gentle harbor cruise.

Wear closed-toe shoes. The operator provides warm overalls, but you should still dress sensibly for Icelandic conditions. Do not bring large bags or luggage, and keep your hands free for the safety equipment and the boat ride.

Best seats and practical planning tips

Arrive 30 minutes early. That gives you time to get ready without rushing the safety briefing.

If you want the most dramatic ride and the clearest forward view, ask about a front-row seat when you arrive. The front is likely to feel more exposed, so choose it only if you are comfortable with movement and spray.

If you care most about spotting animals, listen closely to the guide and keep scanning rather than staring at one point. Whales may surface briefly, and dolphins can appear beside or behind the boat.

Book this trip early in your Reykjavik schedule if possible. The small capacity means fewer seats than a large boat, and a weather delay may require you to use another departure. The activity offers several start times, but availability changes.

The tour operates in English. If you need another language, this is not the right choice based on the information provided.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility helps when Iceland’s weather may affect your plans.

Should you book this Reykjavik speedboat tour?

Book it if you want a lively sea adventure, prefer a small group, and are willing to accept that wildlife sightings vary. The RIB is the main attraction, not simply transportation between whale sightings. You may see dolphins racing beside the boat, whales surfacing nearby, puffins around the islands, or only a brief glimpse of marine life.

I would especially recommend it to active adults, older children who meet the height rule, and anyone who finds a fast ride as appealing as the wildlife. It also suits a short Reykjavik stay because the entire outing takes about two hours and begins in the central Old Harbour.

I would skip it if you want a slow, stable boat, have back problems, are pregnant, or cannot tolerate uncertain results at a high price. For everyone else, the complimentary return ticket reduces some of the gamble.

The best reason to choose this tour is the mix: a high-speed RIB ride, a small group, Icelandic seabirds, possible whales and dolphins, and a return past the city’s most recognizable waterfront sights. That combination gives you more than a standard harbor cruise, but you should book with realistic expectations. Nature decides how much you see.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching speedboat tour meet?

The meeting point is Reykjavik Old Harbour at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavik.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts roughly two hours on the water.

What wildlife might I see?

You might see whales, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, and seabirds. Past sightings have included minke whales, humpback whales, and a shark, but wildlife is not guaranteed.

Can I see puffins on this tour?

You may see puffins from early May through the end of August. The tour makes a short stop near their breeding grounds during that period.

Is the boat suitable for children?

Children must be at least 10 years old and at least 145 centimeters tall, or 4 feet 8 inches.

What should I bring?

Bring closed-toe shoes. Warm overalls and the necessary safety equipment are provided.

Can I bring luggage or a large bag?

No. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on the boat.

What happens if no whales are spotted?

If you do not see any whales, the captain provides a complimentary ticket for another ride.