2-Hour Whale & Puffin Watching Boat Tour from Reykjavik

Marvel over the bountiful marine and avian life just off the coast of Reykjavík with this whale- and puffin-watching tour. Conducted in a RIB boat, this excursion will get as close as possible to the animals, without disturbing their natural behaviour, and is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.

Your RIB will be waiting for you at the floating pier by Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. Each boat has just twelve seats, ensuring a personal and intimate experience. After getting into your overalls and life-jacket, you’ll board, strap up, and zip out into Faxaflói Bay.

Before reaching open water, you will be able to marvel over Reykjavík’s coastal landmarks. The most notable of these is the Harpa Concert Hall, an incredible feat of modern architecture, and the Sun Voyager, a beautiful sculpture representing adventure into the unknown.

As you get further to sea, more scenery will unfold around you. You will be able to see the mountainous and verdant Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord), and the barren and volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula. In particularly clear weather, you will be able to see all the way over to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

The wildlife you seek could appear at any time. The species that frequent Iceland’s waters most regularly are minke and humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. However, it is not unheard of to see other creatures, such as orcas, pilot whales, fin- and sei whales and the great blue whale (although rare in our waters).

The guide on board is an expert at locating these cetaceans and can tell you all about them throughout the tour. Due to how small your vessel is, these explanations will hopefully go on when one of the marvellous creatures of the deep is mere metres away.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are not the only highlights of this tour, however. The birdwatching opportunities are also incredible. Dozens of species, such as kittiwakes, fulmar and arctic tern, can all be seen in the sky and water, and you are also very likely to see puffins (during the season 15 May - 15 August) as the puffins are here during that time for their annual breeding season.

After admiring the marine life of Faxaflói bay, you will be whisked back to Reykjavík’s harbour. On the way back you have ample views of the bay’s surrounding areas and the astonishing view of the city from sea.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see some of Iceland’s most beautiful animals!

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