Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

A RIB boat gives you a very different whale-watching ride from a large harbor cruiser. You sit low over the water, reach the feeding grounds at up to 32 knots, and can turn quickly when the guide spots birds, dolphins, or a whale. The open-air view of Reykjavik’s coast is part of the fun, but the ride itself has a rollercoaster edge.

I especially like the small-boat feel and the spring-mounted seats, which take some punishment out of the chop. I also like that the tour includes both a summer stop near Akurey’s puffin nesting grounds and entry to the Whales of Iceland Museum. The main catch is simple: wildlife follows its own schedule, and some departures spend a long time searching or see only distant whales.

Key points to know before you book

• Fast RIB ride: The boat can cruise at 32 knots, making the trip exciting and helping you reach distant feeding areas quickly.
• Suspension seats: Special shock-absorbing seats make the ride more manageable, though this is still an active boat trip.
• Warm safety gear included: You receive flotation suits, life vests, gloves, and goggles, but extra layers remain a good idea.
• Wildlife changes by season: Minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and puffins have all been seen, but no sighting is guaranteed.
• Akurey in summer: The boat pauses near the island to look for puffins and their nests during breeding season.
• Museum ticket included: You can visit the Whales of Iceland Museum in Reykjavik after the boat trip.

A whale hunt from Reykjavik’s harbor

You meet at the operator’s ticket office at Ægisgarður 5E in Reykjavik’s harbor district. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the marina. This is easy to fit into a day in central Reykjavik, especially if you are already visiting the harbor, Grandi, or the nearby Whales of Iceland Museum.

The boat tour lasts two hours. That is long enough to reach Faxaflói Bay, spend useful time in the feeding grounds, and return without turning the outing into a half-day commitment. You should still allow extra time around the scheduled departure for check-in and gearing up.

Before boarding, you put on the supplied warm flotation suit. The operator also provides a life vest, gloves, and goggles. The goggles may look like a small detail, but they help when the RIB is moving quickly and spray comes over the bow. Wear warm clothes underneath the suit. One visitor found the provided overalls helpful but still recommended extra layers because open water feels cold even on a pleasant day.

The crew decides whether to sail based on weather and sea conditions. That can mean a rescheduled departure, as happened on one outing when rough weather pushed the trip to the following day. This is not a flaw in the experience. A small, fast boat needs sensible conditions, and the captain’s judgment matters more than sticking rigidly to the clock.

What the RIB ride feels like

The RIB is not a sedate sightseeing boat. It accelerates across the bay, and the ride can be bumpy. The suspension seats help by absorbing some of the impact, while the saddle-style position and front handhold give you something to brace against.

I would describe the ride as a blend of boat trip and mild amusement-park ride. One person compared it to a rollercoaster combined with nature. Another found the boat more comfortable than expected despite being concerned about seasickness. Still, if you dislike speed, jolts, or wind-blown spray, this may not be your ideal whale tour.

The low seating position gives you a close view of the water. A small boat can also shift direction more quickly than a large vessel when the crew spots activity. That does not guarantee better sightings, but it does give the guide more flexibility when dolphins surface or a whale appears briefly.

Group size can vary. One October departure had only six people, which made it easy to see in every direction without a crowd blocking the view. Smaller groups also make it easier to hear the guide and ask questions. You should not assume every departure will be that intimate, but the RIB format is generally more personal than a large whale-watching ship.

Searching Faxaflói Bay for whales

Once clear of Reykjavik, the boat heads into Faxaflói Bay. The trip is not a straight ride to a fixed viewing platform. The crew reads the water, watches for feeding birds, and searches for signs of marine life.

This is where patience matters. Some trips have produced several minke whales, groups of humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises. One outing found four humpbacks together, then two more with dolphins. Another followed a humpback feeding for about an hour. A particularly fortunate departure saw a mother and young humpback, while another witnessed a whale breach twice.

Those moments are spectacular, but they are not the standard promise of the tour. On some days, the boat takes a while to find whales. You might see only a minke at a distance, or the main wildlife may be dolphins. One trip did not find whales at all, though the boat ride and scenery still made the outing worthwhile.

That uncertainty is part of any wild-animal tour. The guide can take you to likely feeding areas, but cannot call a whale into position. Go expecting a search for wildlife, not a guaranteed show. If you need a more certain result, no boat tour can honestly provide it.

Your guide adds real value here. Guides including Rebekka, Rebecca, Patrick, Joel, Daniel, Alice, Eva, and others have been praised for explaining whale behavior, pointing out birds, and keeping the group alert. A good guide helps you understand what you are seeing, from a distant blow to a tail slap, rather than leaving you to guess at a dark shape on the water.

The crew may also encourage the captain to stay longer near active animals when conditions and timing allow. That flexibility helped one departure spend extended time with a feeding humpback and another stay with a curious young minke. The actual time at any sighting will depend on the animal, sea conditions, and captain’s judgment.

Minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises

Minke whales are among the most regular possibilities on this outing. They are smaller and often surface quickly, so you need to watch the water rather than stare at one fixed spot. A minke may give you a short glimpse before disappearing again.

Humpback whales offer the more dramatic sightings. Their size makes even a distant surfacing memorable, and lucky groups have seen tail slaps, flipper slaps, feeding behavior, and breaches. You might see one whale alone, several together, or none at all.

Dolphins can be just as entertaining. Several departures have encountered white-beaked dolphins moving alongside the RIB, jumping near the boat, or swimming against it for several minutes. A pod of about 15 dolphins has been seen from the boat, and one group watched dolphins put on an extended display.

Porpoises are another possible sighting. They are less showy than dolphins and often harder to spot, but seeing one adds another species to the trip. The guide’s sharp eyes matter, especially when wildlife appears only for a few seconds.

Bring realistic expectations and a bit of patience. The best moments may come after a long quiet stretch. You can also make the search easier by scanning broadly, listening for the guide’s direction, and keeping your camera ready without letting it take over the experience.

Akurey and the summer puffin stop

During the summer breeding season, the RIB visits the area around Akurey to look for puffins and their nesting grounds. This adds a useful second focus to the tour. Even if the whales remain distant, the puffin stop can give you close wildlife to watch.

Puffins gather around the island during the breeding season, and sightings have included adults hunting as well as young pufflings. The stop may be brief, though. One person wished for more time near the puffins, so think of Akurey as a short wildlife pause rather than a dedicated puffin excursion.

The island also breaks up the whale search. You get a change of subject, a look at seabirds, and another reason to keep your eyes on the water and rocky shore. Outside the summer nesting period, this part of the outing is not available in the same way.

Reykjavik’s coast from the water

The coastline looks different from Faxaflói Bay than it does from city streets. You see Reykjavik from a low, moving viewpoint, with the harbor behind you and open water ahead. The ride out and back gives the tour a scenic purpose even during a quiet wildlife day.

Because the boat moves quickly, you cover more water than you would on a slow cruise. That can help the crew reach feeding grounds, but it also means the ride itself becomes a major part of the experience. You are not simply sitting on a boat waiting for a whale. You are moving through changing views with wind, spray, and the occasional sudden turn.

The open design also means you should dress for exposure. The provided gear handles much of the problem, but it does not make the sea warm. Gloves and goggles are included, and I would use both. Extra wool or fleece layers underneath the flotation suit are sensible.

The Whales of Iceland Museum after the boat

Your ticket includes entry to the Whales of Iceland Museum in the Grandi harbor district. You can visit after the boat trip and use the indoor exhibits to put the sightings into context.

The museum covers Atlantic whale species, whale biology, migration, and conservation. Its large-scale displays help you understand the size difference between a minke, a humpback, and the larger whales you might encounter in the North Atlantic.

This is a useful addition rather than a throwaway extra. On a lucky day, it gives you more background on animals you have just watched. On a quiet day, it gives the outing a stronger finish and helps make the admission part of the $194 price feel more worthwhile.

You should plan the museum for after the boat trip, since the ticket is included but transportation and meals are not. The museum is in the same general harbor area, making it a practical pairing with the excursion.

Is $194 a fair price?

At $194 per person, this is not Reykjavik’s budget whale tour. You are paying for a two-hour guided RIB outing, high-speed transport into Faxaflói Bay, protective gear, a small-boat format, and museum admission.

The price makes more sense if the ride itself appeals to you. A large vessel may suit you better if you want a steadier deck, more indoor space, or a calmer day on the water. The RIB is for people who value speed, close maneuvering, and a stronger sense of being out in the elements.

The included museum ticket adds value, especially if you already plan to visit the harbor district. The tour also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which gives you some flexibility when Iceland’s weather is unsettled.

I would not judge the price only by the number of whales seen. Wildlife is unpredictable. Judge it by the full package: the boat ride, the guide, the time spent searching, the possibility of dolphins and puffins, and the museum visit afterward.

Who should choose this whale tour?

I would choose this tour for an active adult who wants wildlife plus a fast ride. It suits people who enjoy small groups, open-air views, and the chance to move quickly between sightings.

It is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, or anyone shorter than 140 centimeters. The operator also advises against treating the trip as a gentle cruise. Even with suspension seating, the boat can bounce.

This is a particularly good choice if you have already taken a large-boat whale tour and want a more agile alternative. It also works well for a short Reykjavik visit because the entire boat outing lasts two hours and departs from the city harbor.

Should you book the Reykjavik RIB whale tour?

Book it if you want the boat ride to be part of the adventure, not just transportation to a whale-viewing spot. The combination of fast cruising, suspension seats, warm gear, summer puffins, and an included museum ticket gives you plenty to enjoy even when the animals keep their distance.

Skip it if you want a quiet, stable platform or if fast, bumpy rides make you uneasy. Also skip it if seeing a humpback is the single purpose of your Iceland trip, since no responsible operator can promise a particular species.

For the best chance of enjoying it, wear warm layers, accept that the search may take time, and keep your eyes open for more than whales. Dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, Reykjavik’s coast, and the RIB ride itself can turn an ordinary wildlife day into a memorable one.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik RIB whale-watching tour?

The guided boat tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Where does the tour leave from?

You meet at the local operator’s ticket office at Ægisgarður 5E, 101 Reykjavik, in the harbor area. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What equipment is provided?

The tour provides warm flotation suits, life vests, gloves, and goggles. You should still wear extra warm layers underneath.

Can I see puffins on this tour?

During the summer breeding season, the boat visits the puffin nesting grounds near Akurey. Puffin sightings are seasonal, and the stop may be brief.

What whales and other animals might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and puffins. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, and some trips see only distant animals or no whales.

Who cannot take this RIB tour?

The activity is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, or people under 140 centimeters tall.