Reykjavik: Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

The best part of this small RIB boat tour is the access. From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, you can reach open water quickly, cover more ground than a larger boat, and get low, close views of whales, dolphins, puffins, and seabirds. Guides such as Maya, Alex, and Sam have added sharp wildlife commentary and, when conditions allow, shared good-quality photos afterward.

I like two things especially: the tiny group of up to 12 keeps the boat personal, and the warm waterproof gear means you can focus on the sea instead of shivering. I also like the return past Harpa Concert Hall and the Sun Voyager sculpture, which gives this wildlife outing a pleasant city finish.

The trade-off is simple: this is a fast, bouncy boat on cold North Atlantic water. You may get wet, the front seats take the strongest jolts, and sightings are never guaranteed. If you want a calm ride, indoor seating, or an onboard toilet, choose a larger vessel instead.

Key points at a glance

• Small RIB, wide search area: The light boat can move quickly and cover more water in two hours.
• Marine biologist guidance: Guides explain whale behavior, puffin nesting, dolphins, porpoises, and local geography.
• Seasonal puffins: Puffins are expected from about April 20 into August, with the exact end of the season varying in the published information.
• Proper cold-weather kit: Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety equipment are supplied.
• Wildlife first: You can see humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, puffins, and seabirds, but nature sets the schedule.
• A lively ride: Expect spray, wind, and bouncing, especially near the front.

Why the RIB makes a difference in Faxaflói Bay

A RIB, or rigid inflatable boat, gives this outing a different feel from a standard whale-watching vessel. You sit close to the water, in an open-air position, while the captain searches a broad area around Reykjavik. The craft is small enough to turn and reposition quickly, yet the seats are designed to absorb some of the impact from the waves.

That combination matters during a two-hour trip. A large boat may offer more room and a smoother ride, but it can take longer to reach promising water and cannot maneuver in quite the same way. The RIB gives you a better chance of covering distance, which can help when whales are scattered or surfacing only briefly.

You should not read this as a promise of close contact. The captain and guide still need to keep a respectful distance from the animals. The appeal is the low viewpoint and the chance that a whale, dolphin, or porpoise may surface near the boat without being chased.

The ride itself is part wildlife outing, part sea adventure. At speed, the boat can feel like a fairground ride, though that comparison has a cold and wet Icelandic twist. The front is the roughest place to sit. Even the middle and rear can bounce when the sea is active.

From the Old Harbour to the puffin islands

You meet at the ticket office in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour at least 30 minutes before departure. That early arrival matters because you need time for check-in, the signed waiver, and your protective clothing. Wear hiking shoes and layers that suit the weather. High heels have no place here, and slippery or unsuitable footwear will make boarding less comfortable.

The crew provides warm overalls, gloves, and goggles, along with the required safety equipment. Some outings also include a neck gaiter that you can keep. Bring your own warm hat, wool layers, and sturdy footwear if you have them. The protective suit helps with wind and spray, but it does not turn the North Atlantic into a warm bath.

Once underway, the boat first heads toward the islands where puffins gather during the nesting season. This is one of the tour’s most appealing moments because you see the birds in their own setting rather than in a zoo or a staged display. Depending on the time of year and the conditions, you might see many puffins sitting on the water or moving around the nesting islands.

The puffin window is seasonal. The activity runs from April 1 through October 31, but puffins are listed for roughly April 20 to August 15, with another notice extending that date to August 20. Treat late April through July as the safer planning period, and regard late August as a bonus rather than a promise.

Puffins may be numerous but still appear small from a moving boat. If your main goal is a close bird portrait, bring realistic expectations. The RIB can reach the islands efficiently, but it is not a landing trip, and the boat does not stop for a long walk among the birds.

Searching for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and porpoises

After the puffin area, the captain takes the boat farther out to search for whales and dolphins. The guide watches the water and reads signs such as seabird activity, blows, fins, and repeated surface movement. A marine biologist guide can make quiet stretches useful by explaining what you are seeing and why the crew is changing direction.

The species reported in this area include humpback whales and minke whales, along with white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Encounters vary widely. Some outings produce one whale or a few distant sightings. Others have included several humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and even a whale breaching near the boat.

The most exciting moments come when a whale surfaces within view and remains in the area. You may hear its exhalation, see a back roll through the water, or catch a tail as it goes down. On rare, fortunate outings, humpbacks have surfaced close to the RIB, including a mother and calf. Those moments are extraordinary precisely because they cannot be scheduled.

You also need patience. Whales spend much of their time below the surface, and the boat may wait or circle carefully while the guide looks for the next appearance. A two-hour trip is enough for a focused outing, but it is not a long expedition. One useful piece of advice from the experience itself is to consider a longer whale tour if your only goal is to maximize search time.

This is also why you should not book the trip on the assumption that you will see every species. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, even in a productive season. One outing may bring dolphins and puffins but no humpback. Another may produce several whales but only distant puffins.

What the guide adds to the ride

The guide is not simply there to point at a fin. The best guides combine field knowledge with practical spotting help. Marine biologists such as Maya, Alex, Max, Emily, and Sam have explained whale behavior, bird life, local geography, and the need to give animals room.

That commentary changes the experience. A whale surfacing for two seconds is easy to miss when you do not know where to look. The guide can tell you which direction to watch, what a blow looks like, and why the boat is slowing or changing course.

The guide also helps create a respectful encounter. One particularly good account of the outing described the crew maintaining distance while other boats moved closer. That approach may mean you occasionally get a less dramatic angle, but it puts the animals first and keeps the experience responsible.

The crew may take photographs during the trip and share them afterward. This is a real benefit on a bouncing boat, where holding a phone steady is difficult and looking through a viewfinder can mean missing the animal entirely. Sam, in particular, was praised for sharing good-quality images. Treat the photos as a welcome extra, not a guaranteed personal photo session.

The ride: warm gear, spray, and serious bouncing

Do not dress for the Reykjavik pavement alone. The temperature can feel mild near the harbour and sharply colder once the boat reaches open water. Wind, rain, hail, and spray have all been part of these outings.

The supplied overalls are important, not decorative. Add a warm base layer, a fleece or puffy jacket, and warm footwear. Sunglasses can help in bright conditions, while the provided goggles protect your eyes from wind at speed. Gloves are supplied, but your own warm pair is still useful.

The seats are one of the better features of this RIB. They are built to soften the impact, and following the crew’s instructions about posture and hand placement makes a difference. Still, do not expect a gentle cruise. The boat rises and drops with the waves, and the front section takes the most punishment.

This is not a good match for anyone who dislikes fast movement or gets motion sick easily. It is also not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, people under 145 centimeters tall, anyone over 140 kilograms, or people over 75. The minimum age is 10, so this is a family activity only for older, tall enough children who are comfortable with a rough ride.

There is no toilet on board and no food. Use facilities before leaving the harbour and bring any snack you need for before or after the trip. Keeping the boat uncluttered helps the crew work safely, but it is worth knowing before you book.

The return past Harpa and Sun Voyager

The wildlife search is the main event, but the return toward Reykjavik gives the trip a second character. After open water and seabirds, you approach the city from the sea and see the shoreline with fresh eyes.

The boat passes Harpa Concert Hall, whose glass exterior catches changing light, and the Sun Voyager sculpture along the waterfront. From the water, these familiar Reykjavik sights feel less like a checklist and more like landmarks marking your way home.

This final stretch is usually calmer in purpose, even if the sea remains lively. You can take in the city skyline, the harbour, and the surrounding Icelandic scenery while the guide adds local context. If the whale sightings have been modest, this return route still gives you a worthwhile view of Reykjavik that you cannot get from the street.

Is $200 a fair price for two hours?

At $200 per person, this is not a cheap harbour activity. The price makes more sense if you value the small group, the faster RIB, the marine biologist guide, the supplied protective clothing, and the chance to cover a larger search area in a short time.

You are also paying for a specialized experience rather than a simple boat transfer. The captain, safety equipment, warm suit, guide, wildlife search, and crew photographs are included. For someone who wants a lively sea ride as much as a wildlife sighting, the value is stronger.

A larger whale-watching boat may suit you better if comfort, indoor space, or a lower price matters most. The RIB is the better use of money for an adventurous visitor who wants to feel the speed, sit close to the water, and accept that the ride can be rough.

I would also weigh the length of your Reykjavik stay. If you have only one chance to see whales, a longer trip may give you more search time. If you have a flexible schedule, the free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the reserve-now, pay-later option make it easier to choose a good weather window.

Who should book this Reykjavik wildlife trip?

I would choose this tour if you:

• Want a small group rather than a crowded boat
• Enjoy speed, spray, and a bouncy ride
• Care about learning animal behavior, not just taking a quick photo
• Are visiting during the puffin season and want both birds and marine life
• Like the idea of seeing Reykjavik from the water
• Can handle cold weather and unpredictable sea conditions

I would choose something else if you need a calm, dry, accessible boat, a toilet on board, or a strong guarantee of seeing whales. I would also avoid making this your only puffin plan if you are visiting near the end of August.

Should you book the Elding RIB tour?

Book it if you want the most energetic version of whale watching from Reykjavik. The small boat, skilled crew, marine biology commentary, warm gear, and city views make the two hours feel full. The strongest value comes when you see the RIB for what it is: a fast wildlife search with real sea conditions, not a smooth sightseeing cruise.

Go in with warm layers, a willingness to get bounced around, and no fixed expectation about the animals. If you can accept that bargain, this is a memorable way to meet Iceland’s marine life without leaving the capital for a full-day excursion.

FAQ

Where does the whale and puffin tour depart from?

The tour departs from the ticket office at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.

How long is the RIB tour?

The tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

When can I see puffins?

Puffin season is listed from April 20 to August 15, with another notice extending it to August 20. The activity itself operates from April 1 through October 31.

What wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include puffins, humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, and other seabirds. Wildlife is free-moving, so sightings are not guaranteed.

Is warm clothing provided?

Yes. The crew provides warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and all necessary safety equipment. You should still bring weather-appropriate layers, warm footwear, and hiking shoes.

Who cannot take this tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under 10, people under 145 centimeters tall, people over 140 kilograms, pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or people over 75.