Reykjavik: RIB Whale Watching & Puffin Islands Small-Group Boat

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration2h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Speed Across the North Atlantic to Whales at Eye Level

You board a fast RIB from Reykjavik's Old Harbour and head straight into Faxaflói Bay with a marine biologist guide and eleven other passengers. Between May and August, you stop at puffin islands first, then search for whales at close range from a boat that can reach them faster than larger vessels. On the return, you get a panoramic view of the city's shoreline, including the Sun Voyager sculpture and Harpa. The whole trip takes roughly two hours, and if no whales appear, you receive a free ticket to try again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale and puffin watching tour

Start at Old Harbour of Reykjavík
Visit puffins at nearby islands
Search for whales in Faxaflói Bay
Enjoy panoramic views of Sun Voyager
Pass by Harpa Concert Hall
Return to harbour

The Experience

The RIB cuts through Faxaflói Bay at a clip that a traditional whale-watching boat can't match. You're sitting low on the water in a custom-built speed-boat, twelve people maximum, and the captain knows the routes where humpbacks and minke whales surface. The boat's small enough to pivot fast when something breaks the surface, stable enough that the high-performance suspension seats keep you comfortable even when the North Atlantic gets choppy. Your guide is a marine biologist, not just someone who points and talks — they read the water, spot the dorsal fins, and know what you're looking at before you do.

If you're going between early May and late August, the tour swings past the puffin islands — Akurey, Engey, or Lundey, depending on the day — just a few minutes' sail from the Old Harbour. You get maybe five to ten minutes watching them nest on the cliffs, auks and gannets wheeling overhead, the whole colony in motion. Then it's back out to the bay to hunt for whales. The speed matters here: you cover more water, which means better odds of a sighting. If nothing shows up, you get a free ticket for the Classic Whale Watching tour on another day, so you're not left empty-handed.

On the way back to Reykjavik, the boat hugs the shoreline. You pass the Sun Voyager sculpture — that bronze ship frozen mid-voyage on the seafront — and then Harpa, the glittering concert hall that catches the light even on a gray day. It's the kind of view you can't get from the street, and it's built into the tour, not tacked on as an afterthought. The whole thing runs about two hours from start to finish, which means you're back at the Old Harbour with time left in your day.

What’s included

Your tour includes a professional marine biologist guide, all necessary safety equipment, and use of coveralls.
The RIB departs from Reykjavik's Old Harbour and covers Faxaflói Bay in search of whales and dolphins.
During puffin season (early May to late August), you also visit one of the nearby puffin islands.
On the return to the harbour, you pass the Sun Voyager sculpture and Harpa Concert Hall for panoramic city views.
The entire experience lasts approximately two hours.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Whale Safari

Is this one for you?Book this if you want close-range whale watching without the size and slower pace of a traditional tour boat — the RIB's speed and manoeuvrability mean you cover more ground and get nearer to the animals, which is what increases your odds of a real sighting.