Reykjavik: Premium Whale and Puffin Watching Evening Tour

The best part of this tour is the timing. You leave Reykjavík in the bright Icelandic evening, when the sun hangs low but darkness never really arrives, and race toward Faxaflói Bay in a small 12-person RIB boat. I like the chance to cover more water than a classic boat, and I like the return along the shoreline, with the Sun Voyager and Harpa Concert Hall glowing beside the harbor. The small boat also gives the outing a lively, close-to-the-water feel.

The tradeoff is comfort. The RIB is stable, but it is still a fast open boat, and the sea air can be cold. You need warm layers, a hat, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. This is not a good choice if you have back or knee problems, are pregnant, or find rough motion difficult.

Key points to know before booking

• Evening wildlife search: The midnight sun lets you fit a two-hour whale trip into the end of your Reykjavík day.
• Small boat, small group: Only 12 people ride in each RIB, giving you more room than a large sightseeing vessel.
• Whales and dolphins: The captain covers a broad stretch of Faxaflói Bay while looking for humpbacks, dolphins, and other marine life.
• Puffin season is limited: Puffins are usually present from about May 15 to August 20, so do not book this mainly for puffins outside those dates.
• Warm overalls are supplied: You still need your own hat, gloves, layers, and sturdy closed-toe shoes.
• A wildlife guarantee of sorts: If you do not see a whale, you receive a complimentary ticket for another ride on a larger boat.

Why the evening departure works so well

In summer, Reykjavík does not settle into a proper night. The long light makes an evening departure a smart use of your schedule. You can spend the earlier part of the day visiting museums, walking downtown, or taking another excursion, then meet at the Old Harbour for a fast trip onto the bay.

The light also gives the ride a special look. Instead of racing out under a plain midday sky, you may return with the sun low over the water and Reykjavík lit in soft evening color. The exact conditions will vary, but the timing is one reason this tour feels different from a standard daytime whale trip.

I also like the practical length. Two hours is enough time to get beyond the harbor, search the bay, and return without giving up half your day. It is a useful fit for a short Reykjavík stay. You are not committing to a full-day outing, and you can still make dinner plans afterward, though I would leave a little breathing room in case the boat returns later than expected.

The bright sky does not make the wildlife less active. Whales do not follow the human clock, so the evening departure can offer the same general chance of sightings as a daytime trip. Summer whale sightings are listed at more than 95 percent of tours, but you should still treat that as a strong possibility, not a promise. Wildlife moves on its own schedule.

Leaving Reykjavík’s Old Harbour

Your meeting point is the ticket office at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. That extra time matters because you need to check in, get fitted with warm overalls, and prepare for the boat ride.

The Old Harbour is an easy place to reach from central Reykjavík, and it gives you an immediate sense of the city’s working waterfront. Fishing huts, restaurants, and harbor buildings frame the start of the trip. You do not need hotel pickup, so plan your own way to the harbor.

Large luggage and big bags are not allowed aboard. Pack only what you need for the outing. Loose clothing is also not suitable because it can flap in the wind and get in the way as the boat moves quickly.

The boat is a rigid inflatable boat, or RIB. It combines an inflatable outer structure with a solid hull, making it both stable and capable of high speed. That does not mean it feels like a calm ferry. The ride is active, and you should expect wind, spray, and motion as the captain accelerates away from the harbor.

The RIB ride across Faxaflói Bay

The boat’s biggest practical advantage is speed. A smaller, powerful vessel can cover a wider area during the two-hour trip, which gives the captain more water to search. That matters because whales and dolphins may be spread out across the bay rather than gathered in one fixed spot.

The small group also changes the feel of the outing. With a maximum of 12 people, you are not sharing the boat with a huge crowd. You should have a better chance of turning to follow an animal, taking in the view, and hearing the English-speaking guide without a loud crowd around you.

The boat is described as extremely stable, but stability is not the same as a smooth ride. Anyone with a history of back or knee problems should skip this experience. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility impairments. Children must be at least 10 years old and 145 centimeters tall.

The supplied warm overalls help with the cold, but do not rely on them alone. Bring a warm base layer, hat, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. Recent passengers have found the cold easy to underestimate, especially when the boat is moving quickly. If you are comfortable, you can focus on watching the water instead of thinking about your fingers.

Puffin islands and the short viewing season

One early part of the route takes you around the wind-beaten islands in the bay, where puffins can be seen in their natural setting. The birds are small, quick, and easy to miss if you expect them to look large from the boat. Hundreds may gather in the area, but the number you see depends on the date and conditions.

Puffin viewing is seasonal. The usual season runs from about May 15 through August 20. If you are booking in late August or outside that period, whales and dolphins should be your main reason for going. Do not assume that the name of the tour means puffins are available all summer or all year.

The puffin stop adds variety to the trip. You are not only looking for a whale’s back or a dolphin fin in open water. You also get a chance to watch seabirds around the islands before the captain heads farther into the bay.

This part may be less satisfying for anyone who wants a long, quiet bird-watching session. The RIB is built for range and speed, not for staying still beside one island for an extended time. I would think of the puffins as one part of a fast-moving wildlife outing.

Searching open water for whales and dolphins

After the island loop, the captain takes the boat toward open water. The guide watches for signs of whales and dolphins, then adjusts the route as needed. The experience is not a fixed parade of stops. It is a search, and that makes the animal encounters exciting but unpredictable.

Humpback whales are a major possibility. Recent trips have included close views of humpbacks, with some sightings occurring more than once during the same outing. Dolphins, seals, and puffins have also appeared on successful trips. You might see several species, or you might spend more time scanning the water between sightings.

The RIB can get closer than a larger boat, but the captain’s handling still matters. The strongest wildlife experience is not simply being near an animal. It is being near it without a noisy crowd of boats pressing in from every side. One recent outing was especially appreciated for giving the animals space and leaving the boat nearly alone at sea.

That point matters to me. Wildlife watching should not feel like a chase scene. The goal is a respectful view, and the small boat can help the guide choose a quieter position when conditions allow. Still, you should not expect to control how close a whale comes or how long it remains visible.

The listed summer sighting rate is excellent, but no operator can guarantee a whale on a particular departure. If you are unlucky, the captain provides a complimentary ticket for another ride on a larger boat before you leave. That does not make a missed sighting disappear, but it gives you a useful second option.

The return view of Reykjavík

The ride back is more than a simple trip to the dock. The route ends with views along Reykjavík’s shoreline, including the Sun Voyager sculpture and Harpa Concert Hall. After open water and wildlife watching, the city comes back into view in a gradual, attractive way.

The shoreline also shows a different side of Reykjavík from the inland streets. You pass fishing huts, restaurants, and harbor attractions, with the city arranged beside the water. The return gives you a chance to settle after the faster part of the trip and take in the city from offshore.

If the weather is clear, the evening light should make this a memorable finish. If wind and cloud move in, the view may be more subdued. Iceland does not promise perfect conditions, so keep your expectations flexible.

Is $200 a fair price?

At $200 per person, this is a premium two-hour activity. You are paying for the fast RIB, the small group, the wildlife guide, the captain, safety equipment, and warm overalls. The price is higher than a basic large-boat whale cruise, so the choice comes down to what kind of outing you want.

I think the cost makes more sense if you care about group size and time. Twelve people is a sharp contrast to a large vessel, and the RIB can cover more water in a short trip. If your Reykjavík schedule is tight, the evening timing gives you a worthwhile wildlife outing without using most of the day.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a cheap way to get onto the bay or prefer a slow, sheltered ride. You also pay for an experience that depends on wild animals. Even with a high summer sighting rate and a replacement ticket for a missed whale, you are buying a chance, not a guaranteed show.

The recent feedback is especially strong on close humpback and dolphin encounters, the quality of guides, and the feeling of being alone at sea. Maria and Miquel were praised by name on one recent trip for being helpful and well informed. Another outing included whales under the evening light, while a July trip brought puffins, dolphins, seals, and humpbacks. Those details explain why the price can feel worthwhile when the conditions and wildlife line up.

Who should choose this boat?

I would recommend this tour to an active visitor who wants a compact, fast wildlife trip rather than a quiet harbor cruise. It suits couples, friends, and families with older children who can handle the boat’s motion and meet the height requirement.

It is also a good match for anyone who likes photography but understands the limits. The smaller boat and closer position may give you better chances for a memorable image, but whales move quickly and the boat is not a stable platform for every shot. Keep your camera secure and spend some time watching without it.

This is not the right pick for a relaxed, indoor-style excursion. You are exposed to the elements, and the boat is designed to move quickly. It is unsuitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, and people with mobility impairments.

English is the tour language. If you need another language, this experience does not list one. The minimum operating requirement is two passengers. If that minimum is not met, you receive a reschedule option or a full refund.

What to bring and how to prepare

Wear warm layers before you arrive, even though overalls are provided. Add a hat, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. I would avoid loose scarves, wide jackets, or anything that can shift around in the wind.

Leave luggage and large bags at your accommodation. The boat has no place for bulky belongings, and you will be happier with your hands free. Arrive 30 minutes early at the Old Harbour ticket office so the departure does not feel rushed.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Check the available departure time when booking, since the schedule can vary.

Should you book the Reykjavík evening whale tour?

Book it if you want a small-group, high-energy trip with a real chance of seeing humpbacks, dolphins, and seasonal puffins. I especially like the combination of the midnight sun, the quick RIB ride, and the shoreline views at the end. The compact two-hour schedule is also easy to fit into a Reykjavík visit.

Skip it if you need a gentle, sheltered boat, have physical concerns, or are visiting outside puffin season mainly to see puffins. At $200, the tour needs to deliver more than a basic boat ride, and its value depends on your interest in the small group, speed, and close wildlife viewing.

For the right passenger, this is one of the sharper ways to use a bright Icelandic evening. Bring serious layers, arrive early, and think of the whales as wild companions rather than scheduled performers.

FAQ

How long is the whale and puffin tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

Where does the tour depart from?

It departs from the ticket office at the Old Harbour of Reykjavík, Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík.

What animals might I see?

You might see whales, dolphins, puffins, and seals. Humpback whales are among the animals seen on recent trips.

When can I see puffins?

Puffin season runs approximately from May 15 to August 20.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. Warm overalls and safety equipment are provided.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is suitable for children over 10 years old who are at least 145 centimeters tall. Children under 10 cannot join.