Húsavík: Whale & Puffin Watching Skjálfandi Bay

Humpback Whales & Puffin Island in One Boat Trip

You board a traditional oak boat in Húsavík and spend three hours on Skjálfandi Bay watching puffins on their nesting island and scanning for humpback whales and dolphins. Warm overalls, a professional guide, hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies are included, along with discounts to local restaurants and attractions. No transport or logistics to arrange. Just show up at the dock.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale and puffin watching tour

• Board traditional oak boat
• Sail around Puffin Island
• Observe puffins and seabirds
• Continue sailing in Skjálfandi Bay
• Watch for humpback whales and dolphins
• Enjoy hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies
• Return to shore

The experience

The boat is already moving when you step aboard: the captain's already pointing toward the first cluster of puffins near the rocky cliffs of Puffin Island, where over 100,000 of them nest between April and August. You're wrapped in a warm overall before you leave the dock, and the crew hands you hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies as the traditional oak boat cuts into Skjálfandi Bay. The whole thing takes about three hours, and you're not sitting in some glass-walled tour bus. You're actually out there on the water, watching the birds dive and the horizon shift.

The puffins come first. They're smaller than you'd think, and they move fast, but from the boat you get close enough to see them actually doing puffin things: landing on rocks, paddling, occasionally looking directly at you like they're mildly offended. After the island, the boat heads further into the bay where the real waiting begins. Humpback whales show up here regularly, along with dolphins and other marine life, but it's not a guarantee. That's the honest part. Your guide knows the bay and reads the water, but the animals decide. When a whale surfaces, though, it's not something you forget. The size of it. The slowness. The way the whole boat goes quiet.

Since you're on the water for three hours straight, the warm overalls actually matter. The wind off the bay is real, and the hot chocolate isn't just a nice touch. The crew knows what they're doing with a traditional boat in these conditions. You also get a 10% discount to Geosea geothermal spa and the Húsavík Whale Museum, plus 20% off at Gamli Baukur Restaurant if you want to eat after, which most people do. The tour runs year-round, though the puffins are only there in summer. If you're going between April and August, you'll see them. Winter trips are quieter and darker, but the whales are still there.

What’s included

Your three-hour tour includes a professional guide, warm overalls, hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies served on board, and entry to the boat itself. You also receive a 10% discount voucher for Geosea geothermal spa in Húsavík, a 10% discount to Gamli Baukur Restaurant, and a 20% discount to the Húsavík Whale Museum.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 16 Apr 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (7 to 15 years) · Child (under 7): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by North Sailing

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see both puffins and whales without arranging separate trips or transport. The boat handles the logistics and timing, leaving you to focus on what's actually in the water.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 15 years); Child (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the best time to see puffins on this tour?

Mid-April through August, when puffins are nesting on Puffin Island. Winter tours still run but without puffins.

How long is the boat trip?

Approximately three hours on the water in Skjálfandi Bay.

Are whales guaranteed on this tour?

No. Humpback whales and dolphins are frequently spotted but not guaranteed. The guide reads conditions to find them, but sightings depend on wildlife activity.

What's included in the price?

Boat tour, professional guide, warm overalls, hot chocolate, cinnamon cookies, and 10% discounts to Geosea spa and Húsavík Whale Museum plus 20% off Gamli Baukur Restaurant.

What should I wear?

Warm overalls are provided, but wear warm layers underneath. The wind on the water is cold even in summer.

Where does the boat depart from?

Húsavík, a small town on the north coast of Iceland. The tour operates from the harbor there.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.