3 Day Animals of Iceland Tour with Horse Riding plus Whale & Puffin Watching near Reykjavik

Make your way to the Old Harbor in the center of Reykjavík to embark on your whale watching tour. Excursions leave in both the morning and after lunch, and you will have the option to choose your departure time in the booking process.

As you cruise away from Reykjavík, your expert guide will point out landmarks such as Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes peninsulas and Hvalfjörður, which translates to 'whale fjord'. Once you have made it far enough out to sea, your guide will point out any marine mammals as soon they spy them.

It's not just whales you can see on this adventure but porpoises and dolphins too! The four most commonly spotted species are white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, harbor porpoises, and humpback whales. Slightly more rare sightings are of orcas (killer whales), pilot whales, fin whales, and basking sharks. Whatever the species, your guide will be able to identify them and teach you more about them.

Each venture out is unique, and it is never clear which species you will encounter. If you do not get to see any marine life, not to fear, you will be given another free ticket to join another tour for your second opportunity at your leisure.

Your last but certainly not least tour gives you the chance to spot Iceland's arguably most iconic animal, the puffin. The Atlantic puffin loves to nest in Iceland, and over 60% of the world's population likes to call this country's rugged cliffs home in the summer months. They burrow into the cliffsides, their young pufflings safe inside while the parents go hunting for food at sea.

These little cuties are called the clowns of the sea and are recognizable for their adorably rotund facial features and brightly colored beaks. It's impossible not to fall in love with these charismatic critters, and on this tour, you will get to see them up close.

You will make your way to the Old Harbor, board your vessel for the day, and meet your guide. Once again, you will have the option to choose a tour departing in either the morning or the afternoon.

From the harbor, you will make your way to one of two islands and popular nesting grounds: Akurey or Lundey. Watch in amazement while you see the majestic puffin hunt for food for its young, flapping its wings sometimes up to 400 times a minute.

These nesting grounds are popular with puffins and a wealth of other seabird life, including arctic terns, guillemots, eider ducks, and cormorants. The crew onboard will be ready to point out the various species and answer any questions you might have.

After stopping at the island, getting as close as possible without disturbing any wildlife, you will return to Reykjavík. The whole tour takes approximately one hour, and by the end, you and your family will be truly familiar with Iceland's remarkable animals.