Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

Whales make Reykjavik feel wonderfully wild. I like the small 12-seat RIB boat because it gets you away from the crowds, and I like the fast route among Faxaflói Bay’s islands, where whales, dolphins, porpoises, and puffins may appear. The tradeoff is real: the ride can be cold and bumpy, and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

You’ll also get warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety gear, which matter when wind rushes across open water. Guides such as Claudia, Julian, Julien, and Bianca have earned praise for clear explanations and good humor, but you should still come prepared for a weather decision, a possible rescheduling, or a replacement trip on a larger boat if conditions turn rough.

Key points to know before booking

• A 12-seat boat keeps the experience personal: You are not one face among hundreds on a large sightseeing vessel.
• The RIB is fast and maneuverable: It can cover a lot of water and move toward whale activity quickly.
• Wildlife can include humpback and minke whales: Dolphins, harbour porpoises, puffins, and seabirds may join the show.
• The ride is physical: You half-sit and half-stand to absorb the bumps, so it is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, or anyone under 145 centimetres.
• The backup policy reduces the gamble: If you see no wildlife, you receive a complimentary ticket to try again.
• Summer gives you the best odds: April through September is identified as the best whale-watching period.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

The tour begins at the Old Harbour, a handy departure point close to central Reykjavik. You check in at Old Harbour House, Aegisgardur 2, and you should arrive 30 minutes before departure. The self-service kiosk accepts the barcode or QR code on your ticket, so have it ready on your phone.

There is no hotel pickup. If you are staying in central Reykjavik, the harbour is generally easy to reach, but allow enough time to find the meeting point and get suited up. Drivers should check the provided parking information carefully, since the nearest free parking is not directly at the departure desk.

The first practical surprise is the clothing. The operator supplies warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety equipment. You still need comfortable shoes and warm clothes underneath. Bring a camera, but protect it from spray and cold. A face covering and extra ear protection are smart additions if wind bothers you.

The boat carries only 12 people. That small capacity is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip over a standard whale-watching cruise. You have a better chance of seeing around other passengers, and the guide can speak to a compact group rather than trying to address a large deck.

The RIB ride across Faxaflói Bay

The speedboat itself is part of the attraction. A rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, sits low on the water and moves with a lively, quick feel. It is not a quiet sightseeing cruise. You may need to hold your position and use your legs to soften the impact as the boat meets the waves.

That physical motion is fun for many people. One description of the ride compares it to half-sitting and half-standing, which is a useful way to picture it. You are not simply relaxing in a padded chair while the scenery glides by. The boat can be bumpy, especially in wind and waves.

The speed has a practical purpose. The boat can cover a broad section of water and move toward distant blows or active pods. Several trips reported dolphins close to the boat and multiple humpback whales in the same outing. In good conditions, the combination of speed and low passenger numbers can make wildlife watching feel immediate rather than distant.

The same design has limits. The ride can be tiring, and spray or wind can make the two-hour outing feel more intense. People with back problems, pregnant women, children under 10, and anyone shorter than 145 centimetres should not book this activity. If you would dislike a rough amusement-park ride, think carefully before choosing a small speedboat.

Reykjavík’s skyline from the water

Before the wildlife search fully takes over, the boat gives you a fresh view of Reykjavik. From Faxaflói Bay, you can look back toward the city and see landmarks including Harpa concert hall. The harbour, coastline, and surrounding mountains help you understand how closely Reykjavik is tied to the sea.

This is not a city tour with long stops for architecture. The views arrive while the boat is moving. You might get a clear, wide view on a calm day, or a colder, more dramatic one when the weather changes. The captain’s main job is to run a safe wildlife trip, so sightseeing is a useful extra rather than the central purpose.

The route passes among small islands in the bay. Engey, the second-largest island in Kollafjörður, is one of the places you pass. These islands add variety to the ride and give the boat a sense of place. You are not simply heading into anonymous open water. You are moving through the island-studded waters just off the capital.

Engey and the search for whales

The whale-watching section depends on conditions, animal movement, and luck. Minke whales and humpback whales are the main large animals reported on this trip. Humpbacks can be especially memorable when they surface, blow, slap the water, or show more of their bodies.

You might also see white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, puffins, and other seabirds. Some outings have included several species in one trip. Others have produced puffins and no whales. That range is normal for wildlife watching, even with an experienced captain.

The RIB’s biggest advantage is its ability to search. A captain can notice a distant blow and head toward it faster than a large vessel. The boat can also maneuver around active animals without carrying a huge crowd. That does not mean you are guaranteed a close encounter. It means the boat gives the crew useful tools when sightings happen.

Guides add a lot to the experience. Claudia was praised for explaining things clearly and answering questions patiently. Julien was described as passionate about marine life, while Bianca was noted for keeping her excitement fresh even after seeing whales many times. Those details matter because a good guide helps you understand what you are seeing, not just point toward a fin.

There is one small challenge with a fast, noisy boat: it can be hard to hear every instruction. One passenger had trouble hearing where the captain wanted people to look. Stay alert, watch the crew’s gestures, and do not assume the whale will surface in the same place twice.

Lundey, Iceland’s Puffin Island

On the return route, the boat passes Lundey, whose name means Puffin Island in Icelandic. This small, uninhabited island lies off Reykjavik’s western coast and can provide a welcome change of focus after the larger animals.

Puffins are seasonal. Sightings in the supplied experiences were especially common from spring through summer, with some trips reporting hundreds and others seeing only a few. The best whale-watching period is given as April through September, but that does not promise the same mix of animals on every date.

Lundey is not a landing stop. You pass by on the water, looking for birds and marine activity. Bring a camera with a zoom if you have one, but keep your expectations flexible. Puffins may be busy on the water or flying around the island, and conditions can affect how clearly you see them.

The return toward Reykjavik also gives the captain a chance to look for wildlife closer to the harbour. At least one trip stayed out longer to find a minke whale near Reykjavik. That kind of flexibility can make the difference between a pleasant boat ride and a memorable wildlife outing, though the exact timing is not guaranteed.

What two hours really feels like

The advertised duration is two hours, but the time is divided between travel, searching, watching animals, and returning to the harbour. If whales are far from the city, part of the outing is spent reaching the right area. One account described roughly half an hour to reach the main whale zone, about 45 minutes watching whales and dolphins, and a shorter visit near Puffin Island before returning.

That breakdown helps set expectations. You may not spend two straight hours beside whales. The boat has to reach the animals and return safely. On the other hand, the journey itself is active and scenic, so the travel time is not wasted if you enjoy speed, sea air, and views of the coast.

Weather can reshape the experience. The captain decides whether to sail based on conditions, safety, and passenger comfort. Wind and waves can cancel the RIB trip or lead to a different boat being offered. A larger yacht is slower and less thrilling, but it may be the better option in rough conditions.

A few trips were changed at short notice because of wind. In one case, passengers went out on the Amelie Rose Yacht instead. The slower pace was disappointing for people who specifically wanted the RIB, but the outing still produced a close humpback sighting. If your heart is set on the speedboat, leave some flexibility in your schedule and understand that safety comes first.

The operator may also reschedule if the minimum number of participants is not reached. This is worth remembering if your Iceland itinerary is tightly packed.

Is $200 a fair price?

At $200 per person, this is an expensive two-hour activity. Iceland is costly in general, but price alone does not make the tour good value. You are paying for a small boat, a captain, a live English-speaking guide, specialist clothing, safety equipment, and the ability to cover a wide search area.

The small group is the main value point. A standard cruise may offer more room to walk around, a steadier ride, and better shelter, but you can feel far removed from the animals when the boat is large and the decks are crowded. Here, the 12-seat format puts you closer to the water and gives the crew a more direct way to manage sightings.

The free return ticket also softens the risk. No operator can control where whales appear. If you see nothing, you can try again without paying for another ticket. That policy is useful if you are staying in Reykjavik for several days, but it has limited value if this is your final morning in Iceland or your schedule is already full.

I would consider the price reasonable for someone who places a high value on wildlife and wants the RIB experience itself. I would be less enthusiastic if your main goal is a guaranteed whale sighting, a gentle ride, or a low-cost harbour cruise.

Who should choose this boat?

I would recommend the RIB to adults and older children who enjoy speed, open water, and a bit of physical movement. It suits you best if you want a small group, close views, and the excitement of moving quickly between islands and possible sightings.

It is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, or people under 145 centimetres. Those restrictions are not minor technicalities. The boat’s motion can be demanding, and cold wind adds to the strain.

You should also think about your tolerance for uncertainty. The best trips can include humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, and seabirds. Another day may bring only some of those animals, or none at all. The complimentary return helps, but only if you have time to use it.

For anyone prone to seasickness, prepare carefully. Even a calm-weather trip left some people feeling unwell. The provided overalls help with cold, but they do not stop the boat from moving. Take sensible precautions before departure and tell the staff if you are nervous. One passenger who felt anxious said the crew helped them feel safe.

Practical tips for a better outing

Arrive 30 minutes early. The check-in is done at a kiosk, so do not leave your ticket buried in an email thread.

Wear warm layers beneath the supplied suit. Add a face covering if cold wind affects you, and cover your ears well. The speed creates a strong wind chill even when the day looks pleasant from the harbour.

Use a camera strap and keep your phone secure. Wildlife can appear suddenly, and you may have only a few seconds to frame a shot. Look up from the screen often. The most memorable moment may be the animal surfacing beside the boat, not the photograph you take afterward.

Listen closely to the guide and captain. If you have trouble hearing over the engine, ask for directions to be repeated. The crew’s experience is especially useful when a whale surfaces at a distance or a pod changes direction.

If your schedule allows, place this trip earlier in your Reykjavik stay. That gives you a chance to use the free return ticket if conditions produce no wildlife. It also leaves room for a weather-related change.

Should you book the Reykjavik RIB whale tour?

Book it if you want an active, intimate whale-watching trip and accept that nature controls the result. The combination of a 12-seat boat, fast travel, warm gear, island views, and the possibility of humpback whales makes this one of Reykjavik’s stronger sea outings.

Skip it if you need a smooth, sheltered cruise or cannot handle bumps, cold wind, or uncertain sightings. For everyone else, I think the tour offers good value despite the high price, especially during the April to September season and when you have enough time to try again if the first trip is quiet.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour depart?

It departs from Old Harbour House at Aegisgardur 2, 101 Reykjavik.

How early should I arrive?

You should check in 30 minutes before departure.

How do I check in?

Scan the barcode or QR code on your ticket at the self-service kiosk inside Old Harbour House.

How long is the tour?

The boat trip lasts two hours.

What wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, harbour porpoises, puffins, and other seabirds.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. If you see nothing, you receive a complimentary ticket to try again.

What clothing and safety equipment are provided?

The tour provides warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and all necessary safety equipment.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. Children under 10 are not permitted. The tour is also unsuitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, and anyone under 145 centimetres tall.

What happens if the weather is unsuitable?

The captain decides whether conditions are safe and comfortable. The tour may be rescheduled, and the RIB can sometimes be replaced by a larger boat if conditions require it.