Reykjavik: Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

Wildlife is never perfectly scheduled. This Reykjavík combo makes the most of that fact by pairing a close puffin cruise with a longer search for whales in Faxaflói Bay. I especially like the shallow-draft Old Skúli boat, which can approach the small puffin islands, and the choice between a spacious classic whale boat and a faster express option. The main drawback is simple: whales are wild animals, and rough seas or shy creatures can make the whale portion feel long without a clear sighting.

At $148 per person, this is not a cheap outing, but it combines two separate cruises and includes warm overalls, indoor seating, guides, and binoculars for the puffin trip. I also appreciate the free return whale ticket if no whales are spotted, though you still need suitable weather and enough time in Reykjavík to use it.

Key details before you book

• Old Skúli gets close to puffin colonies: Its shallow draught lets the small boat approach the islands where puffins breed.
• Choose classic or express whale watching: The Andrea classic cruise lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours, while the faster boat reaches the whale area sooner and watches for the same amount of time.
• Common sightings include four species: Minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises are the usual possibilities in Faxaflói Bay.
• The tours are separate: You can take both on one day or use them on different days.
• No whales means a free retry: If the whale tour finds nothing, you receive another ticket.
• Summer gives you the best odds: April through September is the strongest period for whale watching, while puffins are the more dependable sighting.

Two boats, two very different wildlife trips

This experience works because the two cruises have different jobs. The puffin trip is short, focused, and close to shore. The whale cruise is longer and more open-ended, with a wider search area and much more time exposed to wind and waves.

You meet at the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor, then return to the same harbor after each outing. The package lasts about four hours, although the exact schedule depends on the option you choose. It is worth checking the departure time carefully, since the order of the trips changes.

The available combinations are:

• 9:00 AM: Classic Whale Watching, followed by Puffin Express at 12:30 PM
• 10:00 AM: Express Whale Watching, followed by Puffin Express at 12:30 PM
• 12:30 PM: Puffin Express, followed by Express Whale Watching at 2:00 PM

The tours do not form one continuous cruise. You return to the harbor between them, with a short changeover when the puffin cruise follows the first whale departure. That break is useful for a quick reset, but you should not treat it as a long meal stop. Drinks and snacks are not included, though you can buy refreshments on board.

Old Skúli and Reykjavík’s puffin islands

The puffin section uses Skúlaskeið, known as Old Skúli, a small boat built for getting close to the low islands near Reykjavík. Its shallow draught matters. A larger vessel needs to keep more distance, while Old Skúli can approach the places where puffins gather.

The ride to the islands takes about 15 minutes according to the practical timing of the trip, and the puffin cruise lasts about an hour. That gives you a fairly direct wildlife experience rather than a long scenic sailing trip with a brief stop at the end.

Puffins are small birds, even when they look large in photographs. Bring binoculars if you have them, though binoculars are supplied for the tour. They help you follow birds sitting on the water, flying around the colony, or returning to land. You can see puffins close to the boat, but close does not mean arm’s length. The birds remain in their natural setting, and the boat does not land on the island.

The best part is the activity around the colony. Puffins may fly, land, bob on the water, and call over the noise of the boat. Black guillemots can also appear, adding another bird to watch for. The guide gives information about the local bird life and helps you understand what you are looking at instead of leaving you to scan the rocks and hope for the best.

This is the more reliable half of the package. The puffin tour includes a 100 percent puffin sighting guarantee, while the whale portion depends much more on the animals, the season, and the sea. If puffins are high on your Iceland wish list, this cruise gives you a strong chance to see them without committing to a full-day bird trip.

Still, keep your expectations in check. You are watching a colony from a boat, not posing beside tame birds. The puffins can look tiny, and binoculars make a real difference.

Whale watching aboard Andrea or the faster boat

The classic whale tour uses Andrea, described as Iceland’s largest whale watching boat. It is spacious, family-friendly, and fitted with a cafeteria, indoor seating, and warm overalls. That extra room is useful when the wind rises or several passengers move outside to one side of the boat for a sighting.

The classic trip lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours. A good part of that time is spent traveling through Faxaflói Bay and searching for signs of life. The express option uses a faster boat, cutting the travel time to about 2 to 2.5 hours. The key point is that you still spend the same amount of time in the whale watching area. You are not simply receiving a shorter wildlife session.

I like the express option for a tight Reykjavík schedule. Getting to the viewing area faster means less time spent in transit, and one particularly positive experience found the faster boat to be the better choice for that reason. The classic Andrea option makes more sense if you value space, a cafeteria, and a calmer family setup.

Whale watching is a search, not a performance. The crew watches for blows, dorsal fins, splashes, and groups of birds that may indicate feeding activity. When a whale appears, the captain works to place the boat safely without crowding the animal. A sighting may be a quick back, tail, or spray. On a good day, you might see a humpback surface again and again, or watch several whales in one area for more than an hour.

The most common possibilities are:

• Minke whales
• Humpback whales
• White-beaked dolphins
• Harbor porpoises

The supplied experiences include sightings of six minke whales, groups of dolphins, and several humpback whales, including mothers with calves. Other outings produced only brief tails, sprays, and splashes. That range tells you exactly how to approach this cruise: hope for a memorable encounter, but judge the trip by the effort, guiding, and time spent searching as well as by the final photograph.

What the guides add to the day

The guides are a major part of the value here. They explain what you are seeing, point out animals that are easy to miss, and answer questions during both cruises. The strongest outings combine facts about animal behavior with a little humor, which helps during quiet stretches on the water.

One guide, Patrick, was praised for keeping children laughing with puffin jokes. Another guide used the nickname Patrick Pirate Puffin and mixed science-based facts with entertaining storytelling. Rebecca was also singled out for her whale knowledge and for pointing out a humpback close to the boat.

You should not expect a formal lecture every minute. The tone is more practical and interactive. The guides help you read the sea, identify species, and understand why the captain may slow down or change direction. That matters because wildlife can be easy to miss if you do not know where to look.

An app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. The live guide language is English. The app is useful if you want extra background or prefer to review information at your own pace.

Cold weather, rolling seas, and staying comfortable

Iceland’s summer can still feel cold on the water. Warm overalls are supplied, and both boats offer warm indoor seating. Wear your own warm layers anyway, along with comfortable clothing. The overalls help, but they are not a replacement for proper socks, gloves, and weather protection.

The sea can change the character of the whale trip. One outing had calm water and excellent sightings. Another became quite choppy during the journey to the whale area, and several people felt seasick. The boat may carry medication for seasickness, and on at least one rough-weather outing passengers were offered tablets in advance. Ask the crew if you need help.

You may want to spend the entire cruise outside for the best view, but that is not always sensible. Use the indoor seating to warm up, then go outside when the crew identifies activity. Bring wet-weather gear even if the forecast looks acceptable. A waterproof outer layer helps with spray, rain, and wind, especially when you are standing still while watching the water.

The captain decides whether to sail based on weather conditions and passenger safety. A cancellation or change caused by weather is not a flaw in the wildlife experience. It is part of operating responsibly in Icelandic waters.

How to plan the timing

The schedule deserves attention because the package can run in different directions. The 9:00 AM departure begins with classic whale watching and connects with the 12:30 PM puffin cruise. The 10:00 AM departure uses express whale watching before the 12:30 PM puffin trip. The 12:30 PM departure starts with puffins and continues with express whale watching at 2:00 PM.

If you want the large Andrea boat, choose the 9:00 AM classic departure. If you want to reach the whale area sooner, select the 10:00 AM express option. If you prefer to begin with a shorter, more predictable wildlife trip, start at 12:30 PM with puffins.

Because the tours are separate, you do not have to take both on the same day. That flexibility can help if the weather forecast looks poor for one part of your visit or if you want to spread out activities. Check availability for the exact starting times before building the rest of your Reykjavík plans.

Is $148 a fair price?

At $148, the price is high for a half-day boat outing, especially if you think of the puffin trip alone. The package becomes easier to justify when you count the two cruises, two guides, warm overalls, indoor seating, binoculars for the puffin tour, and the free whale retry if nothing is seen.

The strongest value comes when you see several types of wildlife. Humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and puffins can turn this into one of the most memorable days in Reykjavík. Even a less dramatic outing still gives you two different marine experiences and an introduction to Faxaflói Bay.

The price is less appealing if puffins are your only goal. The puffin cruise is shorter, and the birds may look smaller than you expect. If you have already seen puffins in Iceland, you may prefer to spend the money on another activity. If you have never seen them, the close approach by Old Skúli makes this part easier to recommend.

The free whale ticket improves the deal, but only if you can return. The retry does not guarantee whales on the second outing, and you still need the time and suitable sailing conditions.

Best season and best type of visitor

April through September offers the best conditions for whale watching in Iceland. Outside those months, sightings may be less likely. Puffins are the steadier target, since their colony is in a known location, but the birds are still affected by seasonal patterns and weather.

I would recommend this for:

• Families who want an easy wildlife outing with indoor seating
• First-time visitors hoping to see both puffins and whales
• People who enjoy guides, facts, and live animal spotting
• Visitors with enough time to use a free whale return ticket
• Anyone who prefers an organized cruise from central Reykjavík

I would think twice if you dislike boats, get sick easily, or have only a narrow window in the city. Rough water can make the whale section uncomfortable, and nature may provide only distant or brief sightings. The crew works hard, but no guide can order a whale to surface.

What to bring and how to improve your chances

Wear warm, comfortable clothing and bring a waterproof outer layer. Take binoculars if you own a pair, even though the puffin cruise supplies them. They are particularly useful when birds sit farther away or fly beyond the first group you notice.

Keep your camera ready, but do not watch the whole trip through a screen. A whale may surface on the opposite side of the boat, and the guide’s pointing is often more useful than a long camera lens. Listen for directions, look for changes in the water, and be ready to move without blocking other passengers.

For whale watching, patience is part of the activity. A quiet first hour does not mean the trip has failed. Some outings find animals quickly, while others produce a few distant signs after a long search. The free retry gives you some protection against a completely empty whale trip.

Should you book the Reykjavík whale and puffin combo?

Book it if you want two distinct wildlife outings from Reykjavík and can accept that the whale portion is never certain. The puffin cruise is the package’s dependable anchor, while the whale cruise offers the bigger possible reward.

I would choose the express whale option if your schedule is tight or you want to spend less time crossing the bay. Choose the classic Andrea departure if you prefer a larger boat, a cafeteria, and more space. Go in summer when possible, dress for wind and rain, and keep enough flexibility to use the free whale ticket if the sea is quiet.

At $148, this is best for someone who values expert guiding and the chance to see several marine species, not for someone seeking a guaranteed close-up whale performance. With that expectation, it is a well-planned Reykjavík activity that can deliver puffins, dolphins, minke whales, humpbacks, and a memorable day on the water.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor. The activity returns to the same meeting point.

How long does the combo tour last?

The listed duration is four hours. The whale portion lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours on the classic tour or about 2 to 2.5 hours on the express tour, while the puffin cruise lasts about one hour.

Can I take the puffin and whale cruises on different days?

Yes. The two cruises are separate, so you do not have to take them on the same day.

Which boat is used for the puffin cruise?

The puffin trip uses Skúlaskeið, also called Old Skúli. Its shallow draught allows it to approach the small islands where puffins live.

Which whales and other animals might I see?

Common sightings in Faxaflói Bay include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

What happens if no whales are seen?

You receive another whale watching ticket free of charge if nothing is spotted on the tour.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls and warm indoor seating are included. You should still bring warm clothing and wear comfortable clothes.

Is food included?

No. Hot drinks and refreshments are not included, but they are available for purchase on board.