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ReykjavikPuffin watching

Our most recommended Reykjavik Puffin watching

From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

1. From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

Climb aboard a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) equipped with special shock suspension seating for a smoother ride. Look for whales and other marine life in the wild. Travel aboard the 12-meter long boat to get extra close to whales in a way that is safe for passengers and the animals. Benefit from warm flotation suits, life vests, gloves and goggles to keep you cozy and safe, and avail of the services of an experienced guide who will provide information about the animals and bay in English.  Stop by the island of Akurey to look for adorable puffins during the summer. See their nests along the coast during their breeding season. Head out to the bay on a fast and thrilling ride with the wind in your hair. Reach a comfortable cruising speed of 32 knots and get plenty of time in the feeding grounds. Then, take a scenic route back along the coast of Reykjavik. After your tour, you can visit the Whales of Iceland Museum, located in the Grandi harbor district of Reykjavik. Here, you can discover more about the various whale species of the Atlantic, with exhibits on whale biology, migration, and conservation.

Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise

2. Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Yacht Cruise

The tour begins with a cruise along the beautiful coastline of Reykjavik before heading out to Faxafloi Bay in search of whales. The minke whales and humpback whales are the main goal of this tour, the giants of the ocean. With a bit of luck, you may even spot a group of white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. There's also a good chance that you'll observe different sea birds and puffins throughout the summer. During the summer, the puffins are frequently seen sitting on the ocean and diving for food. This activity enables you to escape the crowds and benefit from a yacht cruise with fewer passengers and more personal service on board. Ride on a stable boat with an on-board bar and lounge and spacious outdoor deck areas for maximum comfort.

From Reykjavik: 2-Hour Whale & Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

3. From Reykjavik: 2-Hour Whale & Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

See whales and puffins seasonally between May and August on a whale-watching tour from Reykjavik. Marvel at the marine fauna of Iceland in its natural environment. Travel aboard a stable boat to search larger areas. Embark on your journey from the Old Harbour in Reykjavík aboard a specially-engineered RIB boat that maneuvers closer to the whales and puffins than bigger boats can. Search wider areas to increase your likelihood of viewing wildlife in this lightweight craft.  Ride out to the islands to see puffins in their natural surroundings before heading out further in search of whales and dolphins. Get as up close as you can without disturbing the magnificent creatures.  Listen as your specially-trained guides enhances your experience with commentary and use their skills to increase the chance of some viewings. On the return trip, sail along Reykjavik's shores and admire the city's skyline and view the Harpa Concert Hall from the water. 

Reykjavik: Half-Day Whales and Puffins Cruise Combo Tour

4. Reykjavik: Half-Day Whales and Puffins Cruise Combo Tour

Discover adorable puffins on a cruise from the Old Harbor in Reykjavík. Search for local whales on a second cruise from Reykjavík to Faxaflói Bay. Stay warm with inside seating and overalls. See local wildlife clearly with the use of binoculars on the puffin tour. Travel by a small boat named Skúlaskeið (Old Skúli), perfect for puffin watching, since it has a shallow draught, and therefore can get really close to the small islands where the puffins live. The guides are very knowledgeable about the thriving bird life in Reykjavík's surroundings. Benefit from this combo tour's included classic whale watching tour, operated on the Andrea boat, lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. The Andrea is the biggest whale watching boat in Iceland, and has an educational and interactive focus. It is also family friendly and spacious with a cafeteria on-board. If you choose to, you can switch to the express tour leaving 1 hour later on a faster boat that gets you out to the whale watching area quicker than the other whale watching boats, but still allows you to have plenty of time. Most common whale sights in Faxaflói Bay are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Note that these are two separate tours and you don't have to do them on the same day.

Reykjavik: 1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour

5. Reykjavik: 1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour

The charismatic puffin has attracted local and tourist attention around Iceland for many years. It is their prismatic appearance and curious behavior that gives rise to this intrigue. Their most obvious characteristic during the breeding season is their brightly colored bill which, added to their striking piebald plumage, has given rise to nicknames such as “clown of the ocean” or “sea parrot.” Depending on tides and weather conditions, you will head to Akurey, Engey or Lundey on a 1.5-hour cruise. These islands are well known for their plentiful birdlife, and in addition to puffins you will have the opportunity to view other birds, such as eider ducks, arctic terns, guillemots, cormorants, fulmars, geese and oystercatchers. The islands' shores are rocky, but the captains know the best spots to get close to the puffins in their natural habitat. If the weather is right he might even turn off the engines so that you can listen to the birds' calls. Luckily the puffins usually stay put for a while, so they are easy to photograph. Although you get close to the islands, the puffins are comparatively small birds and the free use of binoculars on board comes in handy. You can also borrow a rain jacket to keep your dry, and sip authentic seaman's coffee to keep warm.

Reykjavik: Puffin Observation and Birdwatching Boat Tour

6. Reykjavik: Puffin Observation and Birdwatching Boat Tour

Take to the water with two authentic Icelandic sailors for an easy-going yet unforgettable adventure to observe the Atlantic Puffin, Iceland’s most iconic seabird. Hear stories from your hosts, learn about the puffin, and search for other seabird species on a birdwatching tour from Reykjavik Harbour. A typical Icelandic fishing boat will take you on the short 20-minute ride to Lundey, a small, protected island, that is home to thousands of Atlantic puffins in the summer. Lundey is a nature reserve and while it is not allowed to step foot on the island, you'll get a great view of the puffins from the boat. While Atlantic puffins are visible across the North Atlantic, Iceland is surely the best place to observe them. The Bay of Faxaflói, just ashore from Reykjavik, is home to thousands of them in summer. Puffin observation in Iceland is possible from around May 1st until August 15th. They spend the rest of the year out at sea, so this is a unique opportunity to see the elusive birds in the wild. The passionate and experienced crew will take you on a journey to meet this iconic seabird and will share stories only they can tell. Bird enthusiasts will also be happy to observe other spectacular species like guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, eider ducks, and cormorants. The comfortable boat has a restroom onboard and offers indoor and outdoor viewing. Binoculars and blankets are available to use onboard.

From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

7. From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

Get back to nature and look for whales off the coast of Iceland aboard a brand new RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) equipped with 12 suspension seats to enhance your comfort and safety. Make your way to the meeting point in the old harbor of Reykjavik and put on the provided warm waterproof overall, life jacket, googles and your own whale watching scarf. Depart from the harbor and pass the Harpa Concert Hall and Sun Voyager sculpture. Continue to Faxaflói Bay, where up to 23 species of whales, along with dolphins and seals can often be found. Look for the magnificent creatures in their natural environment and encounter sea birds of various species. Keep a look out for the puffins that come to lay their one egg on the many islands in Faxaflói Bay as you cruise up close. Ask your guide any questions you have and hear interesting facts about the whales and other wildlife.

Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

8. Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

Step aboard the Puffin Express for a charming bird-watching adventure in Reykjavik. Enjoy a 100% guarantee of puffin sightings, and learn about these and other local birds from an expert guide. Head out from the Old Harbour of Reykjavik to the surrounding Faxaflói Bay and onto two nearby islands, Lundey and Akurey, covered in small hills and slopes and known for their colorful birdlife. Once arriving at the islands, observe the native birds and picturesque surroundings with the boat's engine turned off. Enjoy seeing puffins as well as other birds, such as northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots. All of this takes place on an old wooden boat, Skúlaskeið, which is fondly referred to as "Old Skuli." It is spacious enough to hold 33 passengers but not too big, in order to ensure that your tour is personal and comfortable.

Reykjavík: RIB Speed-Boat Puffin Watching Tour

9. Reykjavík: RIB Speed-Boat Puffin Watching Tour

Experience the natural wonders of puffins out in the wild. Throughout this 1-hour tour, adorn yourself in a full body suit to keep you warm and dry, with goggles. From there you are taken out to the Bay of Reykjavik on a custom-built speedboat with suspension seats. Travel towards the puffin-populated islands, which are home to approximately 40,000 puffins. Iceland has the biggest puffin colony in the world, with approximately 60% of the world's puffins. This tour allows you to get up close and personal to these colonies, providing you with perfect photo opportunities. Aboard your speed boat you can get much closer to the islands than with bigger boats. This mobility helps in providing you with a more unique experience. At the conclusion of your hour out on the water, your boat returns you to your tour starting point.

Reykjavik: Premium Whale Watching with Flexible Ticket

10. Reykjavik: Premium Whale Watching with Flexible Ticket

Experience the whales and wildlife of Faxaflói bay on a small-group whale watching tour. Board a specially designed RIB speedboat so that you can enjoy up close and personal views of whales, dolphins, and more. The boats are small yet powerful and capable of covering a large area in search of wildlife during a 2-hour tour. The RIB boats are equipped with brand new high-quality suspension seats designed to increase safety and comfort during the adventure. During the summer months (May - August) this tour includes puffin watching as the colorful birds nest just outside the city's harbor. After the whale safari, head back to Reykjavík while enjoying a ride along the city's shoreline. Experience unique views of some of the cities most famous landmarks from the sea.

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What people are saying about Reykjavik

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 399 reviews

Having done whale watching tours on the larger boats before, this experience was so much more comfortable. There were heaters and blankets for if you're cold. The guide was friendly and they spent a good amount of time making sure we got to see the humpback whale that was luckily swimming in the bay. I would definitely recommend spending the little bit extra money to go on this smaller and more comfortable tour over the huge boats. The only thing I will say is that on the previous tours I've been on, the guides seemed more informative and passionate about the conservation of marine life. This was a great experience overall.

It's the luck of the draw whether you see the whales or not. We managed to see some Minke whales and the guide was so knowledgeable about the area and the whales. Overall a good experience, wish we'd seen more but giving 5 stars because the guides were great and it's not their fault we didn't see much! I'd go again maybe in warmer weather next time.

This was a great experience! We had a lot of whale viewings and porpoises! I really enjoyed our boat and the seating, there was no worry of sea sickness.

Really good tour and got some great views of the whales. Very knowledgable guides. Definitely recommend.

Fabulous boat and staff,gorgeous hot chocolate! We got to see numerous whales, amazing day!