RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik

Whales can make Reykjavik feel wonderfully wild. This two-hour RIB tour leaves the Old Harbour, carries no more than 12 people, and gets you close to puffins, whales, dolphins, and seabirds at sea level. I like the small-group setting, which gives everyone a better view than a crowded deck, and the fast boat, which can cover more water while searching Faxaflói Bay. The catch is the ride: open-water conditions can be rough, especially on the return, so this is not a gentle harbor cruise for anyone with knee or back trouble.

I also like that a marine biologist leads the trip and that warm coveralls, gloves, hats, and safety gear are supplied. The strongest sightings can be spectacular, including humpbacks surfacing near the boat and, on lucky days, breaching several times. At $208.09 per person, it is a premium outing, but the close-up access and tiny group make it a fair splurge for wildlife lovers who want more than a standard boat tour.

Key points to know before you go

• Puffin season runs from early May through the end of August, with visits to Akurey, Engey, or Lundey.
• The RIB holds a maximum of 12 people, making it easier to see wildlife without a crowd around you.
• High-performance suspension seats soften the impact when Faxaflói Bay gets choppy.
• The trip covers about 90 minutes in the bay, with the remaining time used for departure, puffins, and Reykjavik’s shoreline.
• A marine biologist guide leads the outing, and guides may share photos afterward when conditions allow.
• Children must be over 10 and taller than 145 centimeters, and the tour is not recommended for young children or people with knee problems.

Leaving Ægisgarður and Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

You meet at Ægisgarður 5d, beside Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The tour returns to this same point, and the harbor is near public transportation, so getting there is straightforward if you are staying in central Reykjavik.

Before departure, you receive coveralls and the required safety equipment. The supplied gear matters more than it may sound. Icelandic weather can turn cold and wet on the water, even when the city feels manageable, so wear a wool or fleece sweater underneath. Add a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear.

The boat is built for speed, stability, and close wildlife viewing. Its suspension seats are designed to absorb shocks, which is a welcome feature when the sea is unsettled. Still, suspension seats do not turn the North Atlantic into a lake. You should expect a lively ride, with spray, wind, and some bouncing possible.

The boat’s small size is the main reason to choose this trip over a large vessel. You have fewer heads blocking your view, and the guide can speak to a compact group instead of addressing a full deck. It also lets the captain change direction quickly when wildlife appears.

Puffins near Akurey, Engey, or Lundey

During puffin season, the first wildlife stop is usually one of the small islands just beyond Reykjavik. The exact island can be Akurey, Engey, or Lundey, depending on the outing and conditions.

The ride to the islands is short, and you spend roughly five to ten minutes near the birds. Puffins are the headline act, but you may also see auks, gannets, and other seabirds filling the air and rocky edges around the islands.

This is a quick stop, not a long bird-watching session. The RIB can approach the islands quickly and get close enough for good views, but the boat does not linger for a large part of the tour. If puffins are your main goal, schedule this experience between early May and the end of August. Outside that period, the focus is whale watching.

The small boat helps here. You are lower to the water than on a large whale-watching vessel, and the short approach gives you a more immediate sense of the islands and their bird colonies. Bring a camera, but keep your attention on the birds. The boat may move again before you have captured the perfect photograph.

Ninety minutes searching Faxaflói Bay

After the puffin stop, the main event begins in Faxaflói Bay. About an hour and a half of the two-hour outing is set aside for searching for whales, dolphins, and more birdlife.

Whale watching is never a guaranteed performance. The crew can search a broad area, but no responsible operator can promise a breach or a whale beside the boat. The no-sighting policy helps reduce that risk: if poor luck means you see nothing, you receive a ticket for an alternative tour.

The experience can reward patience. Sightings have included humpback whales, minke whales, porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, and even a basking shark. Some outings produce a handful of whales, while especially productive trips have included around 15 whales, several humpbacks, dolphins, and birds.

Humpbacks are the animals most likely to create the big moment. A whale may surface close to the boat, show its back and blow, or remain in the area long enough for repeated sightings. Breaching is much less predictable, but some outings have included a whale breaching four times and even two humpbacks breaching together.

The RIB design changes the feeling of these encounters. From a large boat, you often watch wildlife from a higher deck and share the rail with many other people. Here, you sit close to sea level in a group of 12 or fewer. That lower viewpoint can make a whale seem much larger and nearer, although it also means more spray and a stronger sense of the boat’s movement.

Your guide plays an important role during the quiet stretches. Guides such as Maria, Sam, Ann, and Lefterius have been praised for explaining the animals, helping with seasickness, spotting wildlife, and keeping people engaged while the boat searches. The guide names and crew can change, so you should not book on the assumption that one particular person will lead your trip.

Some guides also take photographs and share them afterward. That is useful because you can watch the water instead of trying to operate a camera while the boat moves. It is a welcome extra, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed part of every departure.

The RIB ride is part of the attraction

If you enjoy fast boat rides, the journey itself adds real value. The RIB is quick and responsive, and the crew can cover more water than a slower boat. That increases the search range, which matters when whales are spread across the bay.

The same feature creates the tour’s main physical drawback. One particularly rough outing involved a long, choppy ride far offshore before the first whales appeared. Other departures were described as smooth, and one person with a tendency toward seasickness found the ride manageable. Conditions can vary sharply from one day to the next.

I would avoid this tour if you have knee problems, significant back issues, or difficulty handling a bouncing boat. The supplied safety gear and suspension seats help, but the operator specifically warns about knee problems and asks for a moderate level of physical fitness. Children must be older than 10 and taller than 145 centimeters, and the experience is not aimed at young children.

If you are unsure about sea conditions, remember that the tour can be canceled for poor weather. You may then be offered another date or a full refund. A separate cancellation by the operator resulted in a switch to a larger boat, with a late departure and no whale sightings, so an alternative option may not feel equivalent to the RIB experience.

Reykjavik from the water: Sun Voyager and Harpa

After the whale search, the boat turns toward Reykjavik. The return includes a ride along the city shoreline, giving you a different view of the capital than you get from the streets.

The route passes the Sun Voyager sculpture, the polished steel ship shape on the waterfront. From the water, the sculpture becomes part of a wider harbor scene rather than a quick photo stop on land. This is one of the best moments to keep your camera ready, especially if the sea is calm enough for a clear view.

The boat also passes Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre. Its glass exterior catches the changing light, and seeing it from the harbor gives you a useful sense of how the building relates to the waterfront.

These stops are brief, around five minutes each, and they are not separate excursions from the boat. Think of them as a scenic finish after the wildlife search. If the ride back is rough, you may be more focused on holding your position than admiring the skyline.

Is $208.09 a fair price?

At $208.09 per person, this is not the budget choice for whale watching in Reykjavik. You are paying for a maximum group of 12, a fast RIB, suspension seating, a marine biologist guide, coveralls, and a more personal viewing position.

The price makes the most sense if you care about space and access. With fewer people aboard, you can shift your attention quickly when a whale surfaces. You also avoid the crowded railings and long waits that can come with a much larger boat.

The cost includes the guide, safety equipment, and protective clothing. Food, drinks, and hotel pickup are not included, so you need to reach the Old Harbour yourself and eat before or after the outing.

I would call it good value for someone who sees whale watching as a major Iceland activity, especially during a short Reykjavik stay. If you are simply curious and would be disappointed by an expensive day with no sightings, the alternative-tour policy may not fully remove that concern. Wildlife remains unpredictable.

Who should book this small-group tour?

You are a strong match if you want a lively outing, enjoy being outdoors in cool weather, and value a small group. It also suits photographers who want a clear line of sight and wildlife fans hoping to see several species in one trip.

The tour is especially appealing during puffin season. Seeing puffins near Reykjavik, then searching for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and porpoises, gives you a compact wildlife program without leaving the capital.

You should think twice if you dislike speed, get uncomfortable on rough water, or have knee or back problems. The boat’s suspension seats improve comfort, but they do not remove the physical demands of a fast trip on the North Atlantic.

Dress for the water, not the city. A warm sweater, hat, gloves, and sturdy shoes are recommended even if the morning looks mild. The supplied coveralls add warmth and protection, but your base layers still matter.

Should you book the Reykjavik RIB whale tour?

I would book it if you want the most personal version of Reykjavik whale watching and accept that the ride may be rough. The best moments are genuinely special: a humpback surfacing beside the boat, dolphins moving through the water, or puffins gathered near a nearby island.

I would choose a larger boat instead if comfort matters more than speed and closeness. For everyone else, this is a strong two-hour use of your time, particularly from May through August when puffins join the whale search. Book ahead if your dates are fixed, since departures are commonly reserved well in advance, and leave room in your schedule for weather changes.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Ægisgarður 5d, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, at the Old Harbour.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Are puffins seen on every departure?

Puffin visits take place during the puffin season, from early May through the end of August. The islands visited may include Akurey, Engey, or Lundey.

What wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, gannets, auks, and other seabirds. A basking shark has also been seen on an outing.

What should I wear?

Wear warm layers, such as a wool or fleece sweater, along with a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear. Coveralls and safety equipment are provided.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children must be over 10 years old and taller than 145 centimeters. The activity is not recommended for young children.

What happens if there are no whale sightings or the tour is canceled?

If there are no sightings, you receive a ticket for an alternative tour. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.