2-Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik

Whales can turn a fast ride into a story. This two-hour Special Tours outing combines a speedy 12-meter RIB boat, a small group of no more than 12 people, and expert wildlife spotting in Faxaflói Bay. I like the quick boat because it can reach feeding areas faster than a standard vessel, and I like the personal feel of having a guide close by. The padded suspension seats and full cold-weather gear are also welcome in Iceland’s wind.

The catch is the ride itself. A RIB is quick, open, and exciting, but it can be rough when the sea is up. You may bounce hard over the waves, so this is not the best pick if you have back or joint problems, a heart condition, limited mobility, or a low tolerance for roller-coaster motion.

Key points before you book

• A 12-meter RIB reaches the bay’s feeding grounds quickly, giving you more time in areas where humpback and minke whales are often seen.
• The group is limited to 12 people, which makes it easier to hear the guide and watch the water without a crowd around you.
• Suspension seats help soften the ride, but they do not remove the bumps in rough water.
• Puffin island Akurey is included in summer, when puffins return to Iceland to nest.
• Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and life vests are supplied, though you should still dress warmly and wear sturdy shoes.
• No whale sighting means a free return opportunity, using a ticket for the Classic or Express whale watching tour.

From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour to the RIB

Your outing begins at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. If you pay for hotel pickup, a bus brings you to the Special Tours ticket office. Without pickup, you go straight to the meeting point yourself.

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. That extra time is used for check-in, changing, and the safety briefing, and it prevents a rushed start. The changing area can feel cramped when several departures are preparing at once. Follow the staff’s directions carefully, since the gear area may be in a separate hut and is not always obvious at first glance.

You will receive warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and a life vest. The overalls help block the cold wind, while the goggles protect your eyes once the boat gets moving. Wear warm layers underneath, since Iceland’s air can feel cold even when the weather looks mild from the harbour.

The boat is a new, custom-built 12-meter RIB designed for speed and stability. It has special shock-absorbing seats, sometimes called adventure seats, arranged so you can hold on and face the water. These seats make a real difference, especially during a long run across the bay, but they cannot make rough seas smooth.

Before boarding, your guide should explain how to sit, hold on, and respond to instructions. The trip has a safety focus, and the crew supplies flotation equipment. Still, take the briefing seriously. Once the RIB leaves the harbour, it can travel close to 30 knots.

Why the RIB ride is part of the attraction

Many whale trips are mainly about reaching a viewing area. Here, the journey itself is a major part of the outing. The RIB skims across Faxaflói Bay, with the wind, spray, and open water creating a brisk, lively ride.

I like this format for people who want more than a quiet boat cruise. The speed helps the crew cover ground during a short two-hour outing, and the smaller boat can feel closer to the water than a large whale-watching vessel. You may find the ride thrilling even if the wildlife stays hidden.

That same speed is the main reason to think carefully before booking. Several passengers described the ride as bouncy or like a roller coaster, particularly when the sea was rough. One person reported serious back pain after a hard landing on the seat, while another person who had taken an older parent found the experience enjoyable despite the motion.

The best choice depends on the sea and your body. If you have back trouble, joint problems, a heart condition, or limited mobility, choose a calmer boat option instead. Children under 10 or under 145 centimeters are not recommended for this experience. The operator also advises against joining if you are pregnant or have back problems.

Faxaflói Bay and the view of Esja

As the RIB speeds away from Reykjavik, you get wide views across Faxaflói Bay. Esja mountain is the key landmark, rising beyond the city and helping you understand Reykjavik’s setting between water and mountain.

The bay is not just a scenic backdrop. It is the search area for the tour, and the crew watches for signs of feeding whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Your guide may point out birds and explain what you are seeing as the boat moves between possible sightings.

The small group works well here. With a maximum of 12 people, you are less likely to lose the guide’s comments in a crowd, and you can shift your gaze quickly when a captain changes direction. Guides have been praised for patient explanations, humor, and strong animal knowledge. Jonathan, Yoda, and Blanca are among the crew members singled out for making the trip especially enjoyable, though the guide and captain on your boat may be different.

Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole tour looking through a screen. A whale can surface for only a few seconds, and the captain may turn quickly toward a fin, blow, or tail. The return trip also offers good views of the Reykjavik shoreline.

Humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises

The main species sought on this tour are humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. Sightings are never guaranteed, since these are wild animals moving through a large bay.

Humpbacks are the biggest prize for many people. They may surface repeatedly, show their backs, spray water, or raise their flukes before disappearing. Some outings have followed humpback whales for close to an hour, including a mother and calf. Other lucky departures have seen two whales moving near a pod of dolphins.

Minke whales are smaller and can appear more briefly. You might get a quick glimpse of one surfacing, then spend time searching for it again. That can be exciting, but it can also feel thin if you expected constant action.

White-beaked dolphins are often active around boats. A large pod can make the trip memorable, especially when the dolphins swim alongside the RIB or interact with whales. Harbour porpoises are another possible sighting, though they can be harder to spot because they are small and surface quickly.

The crew’s skill matters. The captain handles the boat while the guide scans the water and explains animal behavior. Reports of careful tracking, quick turns, and close but respectful viewing are common. The boat follows the IceWhale code of conduct, so getting close does not mean chasing animals recklessly.

Still, keep expectations realistic. One outing produced only a single whale sighting, and another saw no whales at all. This is a wildlife search, not a scheduled performance. The free retry option helps soften that risk, though a second trip requires another available departure during your stay.

Akurey, Reykjavik’s summer puffin island

During the summer nesting season, the RIB stops near Akurey, one of the area’s popular puffin islands. Puffins return to Iceland for the warmer months, and the island gives you another kind of wildlife encounter after the open-water search.

The stop is brief and viewed from the boat. Puffins may be numerous, but they can look small from the water, especially if the RIB cannot approach closely. Bring binoculars if you already have them, but do not expect a walk on the island or a close land-based visit.

This stop adds variety to the tour. Even if the whales stay out of sight, you still get a chance to see seabirds and learn about the island’s nesting role. The timing also breaks up the fast ride and gives you a calmer moment to take photographs.

Comfort, safety, and the cold

The provided gear is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and a life vest cover the basics, and the equipment has been described as clean and well maintained.

You should still wear warm clothing underneath. Good shoes matter when stepping into the boat and moving around the harbour area. The wind can feel sharp before the boat even reaches open water, and the RIB’s speed makes the cold more noticeable.

The suspension seats are designed to reduce the force of the ride. They were praised by people who found the boat surprisingly smooth in moderate conditions. But do not read shock-absorbing as rough-water proof. If the swell grows, you can still be jolted when the boat drops onto a wave.

Ask yourself how you normally react on a fast boat. If you enjoy motion and open water, the ride may be half the fun. If you prefer a quiet, steady cruise, the standard whale-watching boat is likely a better match.

Is $189.87 a fair price?

At $189.87 per person, this is a premium whale-watching outing. You are paying more than you would for a basic harbour cruise, but the price includes the RIB, a small group, safety equipment, warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and a guide speaking English.

The best value comes if you care about the ride as much as the animals. The boat’s speed is useful during a two-hour schedule, and a smaller group gives you more room and better access to the guide. You also get the summer stop at Akurey when puffins are nesting.

The value is weaker if your only goal is to see a whale. Wildlife remains uncertain, and some trips produce only a quick sighting or none at all. The complimentary retry on a Classic or Express whale-watching tour makes the purchase less risky, but it is not the same as a guaranteed second RIB trip.

Hotel transfers cost extra. If you are already in central Reykjavik, meeting at the Old Harbour may be simple enough without paying for pickup. If you are staying farther out or have an early departure, the transfer option may save hassle.

Timing, cancellations, and practical limits

The activity lasts about two hours and ends back at the Old Harbour. Hotel drop-off is available if you selected the transfer option, and a bus waits after the tour for that return journey.

Free cancellation applies when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The tour needs suitable weather, so poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund. A departure that fails to meet the minimum group size is handled the same way.

Build flexibility into your Reykjavik schedule if this outing matters to you. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and a weather cancellation may not leave room for a replacement before you move on.

The tour is offered in English. It is near public transportation, but the exact pickup arrangement depends on the option you choose. You should be ready for a moderate level of physical effort when dressing, boarding, and sitting through the ride.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this RIB trip if you want a compact, active outing from Reykjavik and you like the idea of chasing wildlife across open water. It suits couples, families with older children, and anyone who enjoys speed, spray, and a bit of uncertainty.

It is especially appealing during summer, when Akurey adds puffins to the outing. It also works well early in a Reykjavik stay, since a missed sighting leaves you time to use the complimentary whale-watching ticket later.

I would be cautious if you have a back or heart condition, are pregnant, have trouble climbing into a small boat, or dislike bumpy rides. The operator does not recommend it for children under 10 or under 145 centimeters, and the short duration does not make rough water harmless.

Should you book the Reykjavik RIB whale tour?

Book it if you want a fast, small-group wildlife trip and see the boat ride as part of the fun. The strongest outings can bring you close to humpbacks, dolphins, and a mother with a calf, while the captain and guide work together to follow signs of activity.

Choose another boat if comfort and steadiness matter more than speed. At this price, the tour is worth it for the RIB experience, the small group, the quality gear, and the chance of close sightings, but no operator can promise whales. Leave room in your schedule for weather and wildlife, then this can be one of Reykjavik’s most memorable outdoor activities.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour start?

The tour starts at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavik, in the Old Harbour. Hotel pickup can be added for an additional fee.

How long does the RIB whale-watching tour last?

The outing lasts approximately two hours and ends back at the meeting point in the Old Harbour.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. You need time to check in, receive your equipment, and hear the safety information.

What wildlife might I see?

The tour searches for humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. During the summer nesting season, it also visits Akurey, a puffin island.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. If you see no wildlife, you receive a complimentary ticket to try the Classic or Express whale-watching tour.

What equipment is provided?

The tour includes warm overalls, life vests, gloves, goggles, and access to the RIB’s suspension seats.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is not recommended for children under 10 years old or children under 145 centimeters tall.

Is the RIB ride rough?

It can be. The boat is fast and may bounce hard in rough seas. You should have a moderate level of physical fitness and consider another option if you have back, joint, or heart problems.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Poor weather or an insufficient number of participants can also lead to a new date or a full refund.