From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

The best part of this trip is the mix of wildlife watching and speedboat fun. You leave Reykjavik’s Old Harbour in a small, 12-seat RIB, pass Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager sculpture, then head into Faxaflói Bay looking for whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. The boat itself is half the attraction.

I like the close-to-the-water view and the personal feel of a small group. I also like the serious cold-weather setup: a warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, life jacket, and scarf are supplied. The catch is simple: the ride can be rough, and whales are wild animals, not a scheduled show.

Key points to know before you book

• 12-seat RIB: A small boat gives you a closer view of the water and wildlife than a large sightseeing vessel.
• Suspension seats: These add comfort, but they do not remove the bumps when wind and waves pick up.
• Faxaflói wildlife: You may look for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, seals, harbour porpoises, pilot whales, and many seabirds.
• Puffin islands: The boat approaches islands where puffins come to nest and lay a single egg.
• Harbour views: The trip begins and ends with good views of Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager.
• Age and clothing rules: Children under 10 cannot join, and you need warm clothing plus closed-toe shoes.

A small RIB makes this more than a standard whale trip

This is not a slow harbour cruise on a big sightseeing boat. The vessel is a brand-new rigid inflatable boat with 12 suspension seats, built for speed and open-water travel. That gives you a low, direct view of the sea and lets the skipper move between wildlife areas quickly.

I like that the boat ride has its own appeal. On calm water, the RIB can make the journey feel lively and athletic, with fast runs and sharp turns. On a windy day, the same feature can feel rough. One visitor described the boat as flying over the waves, while another advised choosing a calmer day when possible. That is useful advice, not a minor footnote.

The suspension seats help absorb some movement and are a thoughtful touch. Still, you should expect a bumpy ride if the wind is strong. This trip suits you best if you enjoy a little motion and do not need a perfectly smooth cruise.

The boat holds only 12 people, which is a real advantage for wildlife watching. You are not one face among a crowd, and the guide can give information, answer questions, and help direct your attention when an animal appears. A small boat also lets you feel closer to the water, though it cannot guarantee a closer whale sighting.

Starting at Reykjavik Old Harbour

The meeting point is Ægisgarður 5G, about a five-minute walk from central Reykjavik. That makes this an easy activity to fit into a city stay, especially if you are already exploring the Old Harbour area.

Before boarding, you receive a warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, life jacket, and scarf. Wear warm clothes beneath the overall rather than relying on it as your only layer. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and the open sea usually feels colder than the streets of Reykjavik.

Closed-toe shoes are required. Leave the sandals and flip-flops at your accommodation. The supplied goggles are useful when the boat moves quickly, while the waterproof outer layer matters if spray comes over the side or light rain arrives.

The crew puts safety first, but this is still an active boat trip. Pay attention to instructions when boarding, sitting, and moving around. The supplied safety gear is part of the experience, not just a formality.

Harpa and the Sun Voyager from the water

The first part of the route gives you a different angle on Reykjavik. As the RIB leaves the harbour, you pass Harpa Concert Hall, with its striking glass exterior, and the Sun Voyager sculpture along the waterfront.

These sights are familiar from land, but they look different from the bay. The boat gives you a clean view back toward the city, with the waterfront buildings gathered along the edge. I would not book this trip only for the city views, but they make a good opening and closing scene.

This also helps the outing feel like more than a wildlife gamble. Even if the animals stay hidden, you still get a fast ride through Faxaflói and a water-level look at two of Reykjavik’s best-known sights. The main purpose remains wildlife, but the city portion adds value.

Searching Faxaflói Bay for whales

Once the boat reaches Faxaflói Bay, the pace becomes less predictable. The guide and skipper search the water for signs of whales, dolphins, and other animals. You may see a blow, a dark back, a fin, or a sudden movement before the boat changes direction.

The bay can hold up to 23 whale species, along with dolphins and seals. Possible sightings include humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, pilot whales, harbour porpoises, and various seabirds. That list explains the appeal, but it does not turn wildlife into a promise.

Whales are harder to spot in open water than in an aquarium. A humpback may show only its back and blow before disappearing again. One particularly good sighting involved a humpback feeding, surfacing to breathe several times, and then showing more of its body. Other trips have produced dolphins close to the boat, including groups that circled and moved alongside it for a while.

Dolphins can make the trip feel especially lively because they move more often near the surface. They may appear beside the boat, then vanish before you can point them out. Whales require more patience. Keep watching the water instead of staring only at the place where the guide first spotted an animal.

The crew’s role matters here. The guide provides information about the whales, wildlife, and city, while the skipper handles the boat. The best moments depend on their teamwork, especially when an animal appears briefly and the boat needs to approach without crowding it.

Puffin islands and seabird watching

The boat also heads close to islands in Faxaflói where puffins nest and lay one egg. This is a good part of the trip because it gives you a chance to see seabirds in a natural setting rather than treating whale watching as the only goal.

Puffins may sit on the cliffs and beach areas, swim near the boat, or fly around the nesting sites. Their movements are quick, so you may notice them in the air one moment and on the water the next. The RIB’s smaller size helps it approach the islands closely while still giving you a broad view of the surrounding birds.

You should not expect every puffin to pose neatly for a photograph. The boat may be moving, the light may be grey, and the birds may stay low on the water. Bring patience rather than relying on a perfect picture.

This section also gives the trip a useful change of pace. Whale watching asks you to scan a broad stretch of sea. Puffin watching brings your attention closer to the islands, cliffs, and waterline. Along the way, the guide can explain what you are seeing and answer questions.

What the 2-hour format really means

Two hours is long enough to reach the bay and spend useful time looking for animals, but short enough to fit around other Reykjavik plans. You will not spend an entire day at sea, which is helpful if you are also visiting museums, taking a food walk, or driving outside the city.

The short duration also means the crew must make good use of the available time. The route includes the harbour sights, the bay, wildlife searching, puffin areas, and the return journey. Sightings can affect the timing. If dolphins or whales appear, the boat may spend longer in one area rather than rushing through a fixed list of stops.

That flexibility is valuable, but it means the trip will not feel like a tightly timed sightseeing circuit. Nature sets the schedule. If the sea is rough or wildlife is distant, the experience may feel more like searching than watching.

Comfort, safety, and the rough-water question

The equipment is one of the strongest practical features. The waterproof overall helps keep spray and rain off, while gloves and goggles protect your hands and eyes. The life jacket is available as part of the safety setup, and the 12 suspension seats give you more support than a basic inflatable boat bench.

Still, this is not a calm-water guarantee. Wind and wave direction can change the ride. A calm morning may feel gentle, while a windy outing can bring hard bumps and sharp movements. If you are prone to seasickness or dislike fast boat rides, think carefully before booking.

The operator does not present the RIB as a quiet luxury cruise. It is a small, fast boat with safety gear and suspension seating. I would describe the comfort as good for an active open-water trip, not luxurious in the usual lounge-chair sense.

Wear warm layers even when the forecast looks mild. Iceland’s weather is famously changeable, and the bay can feel cold once the boat is moving. Keep your footwear practical and secure. Open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Is $192 a fair price?

At $192 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for whales from Reykjavik. You are paying for a small group, a new 12-seat RIB, suspension seating, protective clothing, a guided wildlife search, and the extra speed and excitement of the boat.

The value depends on what you want. If your priority is the lowest possible price or the smoothest possible ride, a larger vessel may make more sense. If you want a more personal outing with fewer people and a lively ride, the cost is easier to justify.

I also think the included gear matters. Buying or packing a full waterproof setup for one short excursion would be inconvenient, especially if your Iceland trip is otherwise city-based. The gear does not remove the need for warm layers, but it makes the activity more practical.

Wildlife sightings remain uncertain at any price. You could see humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, puffins, and harbour porpoises. You could also have a quieter day with only brief sightings. The boat ride, city views, seabirds, and guide’s explanations help protect the value, but they cannot replace a whale encounter.

Who should choose this speedboat trip?

I would recommend it to adults and older children who enjoy an active ride and want a small-group wildlife outing. The minimum age is 10, so families with younger children need another option.

This is a good match for you if:

• You want a fast RIB rather than a large sightseeing boat.
• You like being close to the water.
• You can handle bumps and changing sea conditions.
• You are happy to watch patiently for animals.
• You value puffins and dolphins as much as whales.
• You want a two-hour activity near central Reykjavik.

It is less suitable if you want a guaranteed whale sighting, a fully smooth cruise, or a quiet boat with lots of indoor shelter. The trip is also a poor choice if you dislike cold, spray, or quick turns.

Booking advice for a better outing

Use the flexible cancellation policy to watch the forecast when possible. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some planning flexibility.

Do not treat a poor forecast as an automatic cancellation, since Icelandic weather can change and wildlife outings can still work in light rain. But strong wind deserves respect because it affects both comfort and how much time you can spend watching the water.

Keep your expectations realistic. The crew will look hard for whales and share information, but no guide can control where wild animals surface. A day with dolphins and puffins can still be excellent even if a whale appears only briefly.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a small, fast, hands-on wildlife trip and you are comfortable with the possibility of rough water. The combination of a 12-seat RIB, supplied cold-weather gear, puffin islands, city views, and a two-hour schedule gives it a strong sense of value for the right person.

Skip it if you need guaranteed sightings or a gentle cruise. For everyone else, the best reason to book is not simply the chance of seeing a whale. It is the whole package: a lively ride from the Old Harbour, a close search of Faxaflói, seabirds near the islands, and a guide who helps you understand what is happening on the water.

FAQ

Where does the whale watching tour meet?

Meet at Ægisgarður 5G in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, about a five-minute walk from the city center.

How long is the tour?

The cruise lasts two hours.

What kind of boat is used?

You travel aboard a 12-seat luxury RIB, or rigid inflatable boat, with suspension seats.

What wildlife might I see?

The trip looks for whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. Possible whale species include humpbacks and minkes, and the bay can contain up to 23 whale species. Puffins may also be seen near nesting islands.

Is whale watching guaranteed?

No. Whales are wild animals and can be harder to spot in open water than in an aquarium.

What should I wear?

Wear warm clothes and closed-toe shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed. A warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, life jacket, and scarf are provided.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 10 are not permitted. The available tour languages are English and Icelandic.